Timing our arrival in Roche Harbor Marina to coincide with the Customer Appreciation Party!

In 1845, the quaint waterside marine village of Roche Harbor, on San Juan Island, started out as a trading post for the Hudson Bay Company. By 1857 both the United States and Britain were claiming the San Juan Islands as their territories, based on a dispute over the western border of the islands. The dispute was settled in 1872 when arbitration was rendered in favor of the United States. In 1881 the Scurr brothers bought Roche Harbor and started mining the rich limestone deposits, turning the harbor area into a mining town of 800 people. By 1956 the limestone mining business came to a close and Roche Harbor changed hands again – this is when the area started to transform into a small resort town and boating mecca.

We timed our arrival at the marina on Saturday, to coincide with their annual Labor Day Customer Appreciation party, which we know from past experience is always held on Sunday; this gave us time to give Kismet a much-needed bath; she was fairly dirty after six weeks of cruising in Canada. We toured the town, played bocce ball, and Lisa did a little shopping.

We always notice things in a marina that are a little different, not typical, or just a better idea. The cleats (above) are the best, in design and sturdiness, we’ve ever encountered. Loved tying up to these.

Cocktail time!

Sunday was spent getting ready for the big mid-day party, we wanted to arrive early so we could get a good spot to watch the band – we ate, drank, danced, and met other friendly boaters in attendance. The event took place on a large floating platform with complimentary entertainment food, wine, and beer.

After many months of careful planning to rendezvous with a group, from our yacht club in Traverse City (Grand Traverse Yacht Club), while we were all cruising in the San Juans, we finally met up while we were all in Roche Harbor. Part of the group met up downtown (above) and a few more joined us on the back deck of Kismet later in the evening (below).

We dinghied over to the harbor dock just before sunset and rafted up with a dozen or so other dinghies to watch the marina’s employees put on their nightly sunset celebration… complete with British, Canadian, and American national anthems played over the loudspeaker as they lower the flags. The docks are lined with onlookers and the water is filled with boats and dinghies. To end the celebration the marina staff lines up in groups, fully clothed in their uniforms, to jump off the top of the marina office into the water below. It definitely adds an element of excitement to the sunset celebration. The ceremony is a rather moving experience and a summer tradition we’ve only encountered at Roche Harbor. Needless to say, we had a blast in Roche Harbor.

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Charlevoix the Beautiful!

In stark contrast to our time cruising the North Channel this summer was our five-day stop in Charlevoix, while on our way home, for the 2012 Venetian Festival. One of our all-time favorite festivals. We called Charlevoix’s harbormaster, Hal (below-right) to receive our slip assignment soon after we arrived in Round Lake. Before we knew it we were tied up snug on B dock ready to partake in the festivities. Thanks, Hal!

Our dock mates, Jan and Jean (above), spent considerable time and effort planning a weekend-long dock party on B dock complete with a tiki hut and decorations. Nice job guys!

We even had entertainment as Hal lead the way playing his guitar and singing some popular songs. We sang, we ate, and we had a great time with our friends.

Jim is talking about boats with “Iceman.”

The Friday night band was none other than Herman’s Hermits. We enjoyed the old hits and Peter Noone’s humorous side. We listened to the concert while sitting on top of one of the statues in the park with friends, Denise (below-left) and Jeff (below-right).

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Lots of Crazy Fun at the MTOA Low Country Boil

As you can see there were a lot of fun and creative hat constructions during the Crazy Hat Beach Party and MTOA Low Country Boil event on Wednesday night during the MTOA 2012 Southern Rendezvous. MTOA members pulled out all the stops and showed up in some very colorful and creative hats. We’ll let the photos speak for themselves – the MTOA Low Country Boil sure was a lot of fun.

We think Robert, here with his wife Kaye, on C-Life,  should have won first prize for his hat creation – we know he had a lot of fun making it.

Frank Erwin (above), recent, past President of MTOA, is ready with his hat, a big smile, and a good display of turtle pins and attire.

George Kay, here with his wife Mary (above-left), is the Awards Director for MTOA – this basically means he hands out the turtle pins to members when they volunteer for jobs and events or bring in new members to the club.

Barry and Barbara Kipnis (above), co-chairs of the rendezvous, worked hard to make the MTOA 2012 Summer Rendezvous run smoothly.

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The 2012 Third Annual Looper “Sunset Celebration” was a huge success with over 120 in attendance. It was a little windy (not a problem for Loopers) – lots of good food was shared along with a chance to reacquaint ourselves with old friends. Thanks, Patricia & George Hospodar for organizing the event and providing Loopers in the area with an opportunity for this fun reunion.

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Another fun party in Marathon. Ken Chumley, on Mosey, organized the 2012 MTOA Gathering on the docks of Sombrero Dockside Marina (the same spot as our Tuesday night potluck a few days ago). It was a good time with lots of food and conversation.

Lorenzo (Little David), Lisa, Ellen, and Roy (Our Turn) (below) are trying to hide from the sun under that sad little palm tree at 1 Palm Tree Ct. It was a hot one but we don’t look to be suffering too much.

We also got to meet Pete Donnelly (above – member 0001 – First member of MTOA). Pete shared some of the founding ideas and early events of MTOA! He was pretty excited to be at the event and we enjoyed his recollections about the club’s beginnings.

MTOA members are big turtle fans. This is a volunteer-run organization and the more you contribute the more “turtle” pins you earn. The member (below-left) found an unusual way to display his collection of pins.

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Tuesday night was the first of three boat parties this week in Marathon. It will be followed by an MTOA get-together on Wednesday night (same spot as tonight – on the docks at Sombrero Dockside Marina) and a Looper Sunset Celebration at Banana Bay Marina on Sunday night.

The 1 Palm Tree Ct. gathering (a private event – by invitation only) is held weekly by several of the boats docked close to the restaurant at the marina. Every year they put together a “boater’s lounge,” so to speak, right on the dock under a sad-looking, half-dead palm tree. They bring with them, or they scrounge up, tables, chairs, a fire pit, a grill, an umbrella, and an old TV, and voila, an instant outdoor boater’s lounge. The sign has been updated this year and it pretty much says it all. Our friend, Ellen, on Our Turn (below), looks cool and happy at the beginning of the “Meeting.”

The chefs are just waiting to start the grills (above) to cook meat, chicken, sausages, or whatever people bring with them. I think they are also trying to stand in the only shade available on the dock. Our friends Louis and Diane, on Bella Luna, (below-left) are a couple of the original founders of 1 Palm Tree Court. We were their guests tonight. Louis procured and cooked some good-looking steaks for the four of us and we brought a couple of dishes to share with everyone.

Louis and Diane again (above-left) and Ken and Darla, on Mosey (above-right).

Louis is getting ready to grill the steaks and later on, Roy, on Our Turn, (above-right) is getting ready to make a special treat tonight for the 1 Palm Tree Ct. crowd – freshly cooked cinnamon sugar donuts. Hmmmmmm Yummy!!!

Tuesday nights always end sitting around the fire pit telling stories or, like tonight, star gazing.

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Two days after the Ranger Tug 2012 Southern Rendezvous planned festivities there are still five Ranger Tugs at the dock, including Roam, Kismet, Illusions, Gepetto, and Caroline Ann, most staying for the week. This really gives us an opportunity to spend some quality time, as a smaller group, with those still here.

We figured since we are situated almost across from the shrimp boats in the harbor that we should track some down and have a party on the dock tonight. Jim and Mike, on Illusions, took a dinghy ride over to where the shrimp boats are tied up, found a seafood market, and picked up some of the freshest and biggest jumbo shrimp we’ve seen in a long time, a bag for almost every boat. Jim came back to Kismet with our stash, cleaned, and deveined them while I made cocktail sauce, cole slaw, and a nacho dip. We all met on the dock at the appointed time with our differently prepared shrimp dishes and sides and ate and talked till way after dark. Fun night!

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