Saugatuck,Michigan – Day 2

Days on cruise:  149

In many places in the northern regions of the world, cairns or Inukchuks or other similar devices are constructed and used by people to “mark the way”. They began in places where there was lots of ice or tundra, but few trees or other landmarks for making route-finding easy. When we were in Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron in Canada, beaches were over-run with these sorts of markers, some small, others very large. Yesterday Christelle of Time and Tide, a fellow Looper whose company we’ve enjoyed along with her husband Gary, gave us an Inukchuk which she made from small rocks collected in the North Channel. We were so touched to receive as a gift a memento of our time in that region. This Inukchuk is about 4 inches tall and is beautiful!

The Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck where we’re anchored for a second night has a “chain ferry” to take people from one side to the other of the river. Boaters like us have to be careful going up or down river, to make sure the chain which pulls the ferry from one side to the other is not on the surface as we cross it.  As the ferry crosses, the chain or cable sinks low enough for boats to pass over.

The shops and streets of Saugatuck are filled with art, both private and public. It’s interesting, whimsical and fun.

Gardens in this town showcase lots of yard art.

An historical garden show-cased LOTS of yard art.

We have a very dear friend, Cathy M, who was also a next-door neighbor on Beaver Lake for 13 years and taught Cathryn the phrase “It is what it is”, suggesting that trying to change other people or circumstances is generally fruitless energy expended, so learn to accept. This phrase has stood us in good stead over the years, so today as we came upon a gallery/shop here in Saugatuck called “It Is What It Is”, of course we thought of Cathy!  Lots of things in the shop contained this iconic phrase and cried out for us to purchase them, but mostly we resisted.

At 5:30 this afternoon, ELEVEN of us Loopers convened on Wild Goose for cocktail hour.  Wild Goose (Florida), Time and Tide (Ontario), Flying Free (Saskatchewan), Teasa (Brazil) and Next To Me (Seattle) make for a very diverse crowd, and we had a ball, sometimes laughing til our sides hurt!