Every summer as Kirk was growing up, his family would visit Charlevoix, a quaint vacation town located on a skinny isthmus between Round Lake and Lake Michigan.

Round Lake was a boating mecca; all sorts of craft paraded across its waters, waiting for the fuel dock, or a city marina slip, heading to and from the private residential docks, or passing through en route to Lake Charlevoix or Lake Michigan.

As a kid walking the marina docks, Kirk would wonder about the lives of the boat owners. What do they do? Where are they coming from, where are they going to? The idea that a boat could leave Round Lake for Lake Michigan, and then travel anywhere in the world was exhilarating. Kirk dreamed one day he would sail his own boat to Charlevoix.

In this episode we spend our first night ever at anchor, at South Manitou Island. the winds are higher than we would’ve liked, and we worry about the anchor dragging. Kirk endures a mostly sleepless night, because he worries more than me.

From South Manitou we sail to Leland, where we meet up again with Kirk’s dad. The three of us explore Fishtown, a cluster of old fishing shanties — a window into Michigan’s commercial fishing history.

And then… Kirk achieves his childhood dream. We depart Leland, hug the Leelenau Peninsula, pass Grand Traverse Bay, and join a line of boats in the Round Lake Channel. We pass through the drawbridge, and find ourselves in bustling Round Lake, among classic wooden boats, harbor boats, cabin cruisers, trawlers, pontoons. We have arrived in Charlevoix, on our very own sailboat. Kirk is pretty darn stoked.

Hope you enjoy!

Lauren & Kirk

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WE’RE LOOKING FOR MUSIC! If you or someone you know makes good tunes, give us a shout at hello@sailingsoulianis.com.

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Music:
The Lookout – Wandersound https://soundcloud.com/wandersoundradio

Air – MÆSON https://soundcloud.com/maeson-1

Eggs T C 5 Guitars-JP – Wolf Dick https://jinglepunks.com

The Way You Feel – Kronicle https://soundcloud.com/the-chemist-10

Adventures – A Himitsu https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

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