Sturgeon Bay, WI – Manitowoc, WI – August 25, 2008

We were up early this morning and left the dock at 6:30. It was a cool morning and sunrise was noticeably later than it had been earlier in our trip. All signs that fall is approaching and we need to be heading south.

We cruised south, about 1 mile off the western shore of Lake Michigan, using both engines. This is the first time we’ve been able to run on both engines since Peterborough, Ontario. We had following seas with swells of 2-4’. Our speed fluctuated between 7.5 to slightly over 10, depending on whether we were climbing up or surfing down the waves.

On our way into the marina we met the carferry Badger, based in Ludington, Michigan. The Badger is the last remaining coal-fired ferry operating on the Great Lakes.

We docked at Manitowoc Marina at 1:45. Manitowoc is proud of its boating heritage and built more than 100 vessels during World War II, including 28 submarines. That was the only time in history submarines have been constructed in an inland port. The submarines were longer than the locks (at that time) on the St. Lawrence Seaway, so they were transported to Louisiana on floating drydocks via the Illinois and Mississippi River.

We went to visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, located close to the marina. The museum also houses the USS Cobia, a Navy Submarine memorial established to honor those who served on and built submarines in Manitowoc and throughout the nation. Among our small group touring the submarine was a navy sailor, currently serving on a sub. He added a lot of information to the tour about how newer submarines have changed and improved.

Notice the swimsuit picture of Betty Grable posted in the mess hall. There is also a sample menu shown. Submariners ate better than anyone else in the Navy.