Kahn Voyage - Ephraim, WI

Kahn Voyage - Ephraim, WI Welcome to Kahn Voyage! Follow along as we explore the beauty of Lake Michigan aboard our "Fleming".

This is where slow cruising leads us to lazy days, quiet anchorages, and the sound of water against the hull from Wisconsin and along "The Great Loop".

Nothing better than watching the Chicago Air Show with courtside seats!
08/17/2026

Nothing better than watching the Chicago Air Show with courtside seats!

I've never been a fan of waking up early... unless it's for fishing, boating, or a flight to somewhere warm in the winte...
07/31/2026

I've never been a fan of waking up early... unless it's for fishing, boating, or a flight to somewhere warm in the winter.

Last night I slept on the boat and this morning, as I walked down the dock heading to work, I happened to glance back over my shoulder... and suddenly the early wake-up didn't seem so
offensive.

Kahn Voyage was quietly sitting there with the sun rising behind her, looking like she belonged in a Fleming brochure instead of waiting for me to go earn a living.

I still don't like getting up early... but if Mother Nature is going to put on a show like this, I suppose I'll consider it... occasionally.

After a great week of cruising Lake Michigan, I had a friend ask me why we didn't post more photos from our boating vaca...
07/28/2026

After a great week of cruising Lake Michigan, I had a friend ask me why we didn't post more photos from our boating vacation. Contrary to her opinion, we took dozens and dozens more—I just chose not to share them.

Apparently, Kahn Voyage has a different definition of "vacation photos."

Every strange noise, warning light, drip, loose clamp, instruction manual I needed to review, "What's that button supposed to do?" or "How do I adjust that?" became another photo for our maintenance file. Somewhere between Waukegan, St. Joseph, Saugatuck, Michigan City, and Hammond, during our hourly engine room checks, I think I took more pictures of the engines, equipment, gauges, hoses, controls, and systems—and things to investigate—than I did of Lake Michigan itself.

So... here they are! Just a few of the dozens of gorgeous photos we took of filters, pumps, hose clamps, spare parts, mysterious rusty fittings, strange warning lights, engine room components, and a growing list titled, "We Need to Fix This When We Get Home."

The good news? Every photo represents something we discovered before it became a real problem. So instead of sharing another Lake Michigan sunset (don't worry—we have plenty of those!), I thought I'd share the real highlights of the trip: the glamorous world of boat ownership.

For something really funny, Janie-Marcus should have been taking pictures of the many "Boat Yoga Poses" I found myself in while trying to inspect, photograph, service, or repair these items. I never realized how many muscles it takes to reach a hose clamp buried behind an engine, or getting to a circuit board under and behind the wheel in the pilothouse!

Fellow boaters will understand why finding a part number or photographing a pin-hole leak in a broken exhaust bellows, and finding its part number, can be just as exciting as capturing the perfect lighthouse at sunset. Everyone else may simply wonder if we've completely lost our minds!

Kahn Voyage – Finally home after a week of cruising southern Lake MichiganEvery great vacation has to end... but this on...
07/27/2026

Kahn Voyage – Finally home after a week of cruising southern Lake Michigan

Every great vacation has to end... but this one sure gave us plenty of stories to bring home.

We finally cast off from our three-day "weather imprisonment" in Saugatuck and pointed the bow south, with calmer seas and one last stretch of Lake Michigan waiting for us.

Our first stop was South Haven, where we slowed life down exactly the way vacation is supposed to be. We rode bikes along the waterfront, wandered out to the lighthouse and pier, stretched out for an afternoon nap on the beach, and perfected the fine art of people-watching. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing turns out to be the best thing you can do.

In the late afternoon, we departed South Haven and arrived in in Michigan City, Indiana...

Now, first impressions? 🤔 Docked beneath the shadow of the nuclear power plant... tied up next to what looked like a condemned restaurant... along a riverfront that appeared to have misplaced nearly every person, business, and ounce of excitement. We honestly wondered if we'd made a mistake.

Boy... were we wrong!

Within minutes we met Captain Vic, the local riverboat captain and concert promoter. After 15 minutes of “Boat Talk”, he acted like we were old friends and handed us complimentary VIP wristbands for that night's concert on the riverfront, only a few hundred yards from our boat.

Then we wandered into that "condemned-looking" restaurant, just beside our boat... The outside completely fooled us. Inside was a first-class restaurant with incredible food, an outstanding staff, and an owner who couldn't have been more welcoming. After an amazing dinner (and, naturally, dessert... followed by our mandatory ice cream stop.

After dinner, Captain Vic escorted us through the backstage entrance to the concert where we enjoyed VIP seating for one of the biggest surprises of the entire trip. After being ushered up to the front by security (Vic's doing), we played a little scrabble and then had an amazing night with a "Prince Tribute Band", which was nothing short of phenomenal. This wasn't just a group covering Prince songs—it was a celebration of one of music's greatest performers. Throughout the evening, the band repeatedly paid tribute to Prince's incredible artistry, musicianship, and the legacy he left behind. Their admiration and respect for him came through in every song.

And the musicians... wow. The drummer and bass player locked in with unbelievable precision, the guitar work was electrifying, the keyboards were spot on, and every member of the band brought world-class talent to the stage. The energy was contagious, the vocals were powerful, and hit after hit transported the crowd back to Prince's glory days. For a couple of hours, it honestly felt like 1999 all over again. Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, Kiss, Let's Go Crazy... the entire crowd was singing, dancing, and having an absolute blast. We couldn't have asked for a better way to spend our final evening on our cruise vacation.

Well, Michigan City... Who knew? It was a great stop afterall.

One of the biggest surprises of the trip was seeing the incredible beaches of Indiana Dunes National Park. It's hard to believe that tucked between Michigan City and Gary, IN lies one of America's best-kept secrets—a 15-mile stretch of soft golden sand, towering dunes, and crystal-clear blue water that rivals many coastal beaches. Boats were anchored just offshore while families swam, kids builing sandcastles, and beach umbrellas lined the shore. If you didn't know you were in northwest Indiana, you'd swear you were somewhere in the Caribbean or the white sands of the Florida pan handle. The irony was impossible to miss: on one end of the horizon stood the cooling towers of the Michigan City Nuclear Power Plant, while just down the shoreline stretched one of our nation's newest national parks and one of the finest freshwater beaches anywhere in North America. You don't have to fly to the Caribbean to spend a day in paradise—its right here an hour from Chicago.

On our final leg along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, we made a close pass by the sprawling Gary steel mills. While weathered and rusty from decades of hard work, the sheer magnitude of the operation was staggering. Mile after mile of blast furnaces, smokestacks, rail yards, conveyors, ships, and industrial infrastructure stretched along the shoreline. Seeing it from the water gives you an entirely different appreciation for the size of America's manufacturing heritage. It was an impressive sight.

We decided to end the cruise on one final high note. Instead of heading straight in, we dropped the hook just offshore of Chicago, anchored near the Museum of Science & Industry and the new Obama Presidential Center. With friends aboard Kahn Voyage, we spent the afternoon relaxing, laughing, and soaking in the skyline from one of the best seats in the city. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable week.

Looking back over the trip, it's amazing how much water we covered:
⚓ 381.6 miles cruised
⏱️ 39 hours, 36 minutes underway
🚤 14 legs
🌊 8.4-knot average speed
💨 10.5-knot top speed (Wow! We were killing it here with the wind in our faces!)

But the numbers don't really tell the story. The story is about..
- Outrunning thunderstorms...
-Respecting Mother Nature when she reminded us who was really in charge...
- Watching unforgettable sunsets...
- Stopping for far more ice cream than anyone should probably admit...
- Waiting on swing bridges for the trains to roar past...
- Singing Christmas carols in July...
- Waking up to watch the sunrise with coffee on the back deck...
- Exploring beach towns on electric bikes...
- Climbing sand dunes...
- Making unexpected new friends...
- Partying like it’s 1999
- Discovering hidden gems in places we almost overlooked...
- And realizing that the best adventures are usually the ones you never planned.

Our week around Lake Michigan reminded us that the destination is only part of the journey. Sometimes it's the detours, the weather delays, the chance encounters, and the people you meet along the way that create the memories you'll talk about for years.

Until the next adventure...Fair winds, following seas, and smooth cruising to y'all from Kahn Voyage. ⚓🚤🌅

Lake Michigan Cruising – Day ‘X’… Who’s Counting? 🚤😄Once again, Mother Nature ruled the day. No matter how carefully you...
07/23/2026

Lake Michigan Cruising – Day ‘X’… Who’s Counting? 🚤😄

Once again, Mother Nature ruled the day. No matter how carefully you plan a boating itinerary, she’s ultimately the one holding the map. When she decides to blow 30+ mph winds and stack up 6–8 foot waves on Lake Michigan, you don’t argue—you respect her, adjust your plans, and stay put. Unfortunately, that meant canceling our planned stops in Holland and Grand Haven. Fortunately, it also meant being “stranded” in Saugatuck for three days… and honestly, if you’re going to get stuck somewhere, Saugatuck is a pretty spectacular place to do it! 😄

Our Lake Michigan cruise had already delivered plenty of memorable moments. We spent a wonderful day in St. Joseph, Michigan, where we docked, and poolside watched the Soccer World Cup final and listened to an incredibly talented guitarist serenading everyone with classic ’70s rock. Somehow, after a couple of hours, he became our newest best friend. 🎸😎

From there, it was off on the important mission of locating the best ice cream in town (a responsibility we took very seriously 🍦).

We finished the evening standing on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan as the sun set… only to stumble into a “Christmas in July” concert. Naturally, we joined a crowd of complete strangers singing Christmas carols in the middle of July. Because… why wouldn’t you? 🎄🎅

Leaving New Buffalo the next morning brought another unexpected show. The giant railroad swing bridge closed right in front of us, blocking the river. Watching that massive bridge rotate closed, just in time for a train to pass, and then right back open, was actually pretty impressive.

From there we cruised north on Lake Michigan and hung a hard right turn, traveling up the beautiful Kalamazoo River, easily one of the prettiest harbor entrances in Lake Michigan to get to Saugatuck. Gorgeous homes lined both shores as we made our way to the Singapore Yacht Club and our awaiting slip.

Since the bad weather was expected to hit us later that night, we secured the boat with extra lines and fenders, before deciding how to spend our extra unplanned days in Saugatuck.

We fully embraced our new role as tourists, and for the next three days, hunkered down in the safety of an inland lake safely tied-up in near gale winds.

🚴 Rented electric bikes and cruised around town with ease.
🏖️ Rode out to Oval Beach and soaked in the stunning shoreline views.
🏜️ Climbed the towering sand dunes—only to later notice the sign advising against it. ‘Oops- too late’.
🚤 Docked next to Bobby Rahal—yes, the Indianapolis 500 champion whose boat name was ‘A Checkered Past’.. cute.
🏈 Heard rumors of Kirk Cousins being spotted in town and kept a watchful eye out. Go Green!
🥤 Made the obligatory stop at the iconic Root Beer Barrel for a refreshing treat.
🛒 Restocked essentials with a quick grocery run (coffee was a top priority for Janie-Marcus).
🚲 Explored both Saugatuck and Douglas, taking in the charm of each town.
🍽️ Discovered a fantastic restaurant, enjoyed outdoor seating, and indulged in some prime people-watching.
⛴️ Pulled ourselves across the river on Saugatuck’s historic Chain Ferry, in operation since 1857—just like Abraham Lincoln once did.
🚢 Took a relaxing cruise aboard the “Star of Saugatuck” paddlewheel boat.
🃏 Unwound aboard Kahn Voyage with a few lively rounds of Rummikub and Movie Night.

Sometimes the best memories come from the plans that never happened.

Tomorrow, the forecast finally looks favorable, and if Mother Nature decides to cooperate, we’ll point the bow south once again and continue our adventure on Lake Michigan.

Until then… life is pretty good aboard Kahn Voyage. ⚓🌅

But did we sink? Nope! (Our dramatic reenactment of the Titanic has been postponed on this voyage.)We made a successful ...
07/19/2026

But did we sink? Nope! (Our dramatic reenactment of the Titanic has been postponed on this voyage.)

We made a successful 7-hour, 71 mile, crossing of Lake Michigan from Waukegan, IL to New Buffalo, MI. With Janie’s eye on the storm chasing us, we skillfully dodged the lightning and downpours. Then, we pulled into New Buffalo and docked next to infamous ‘Stray Dog’.

We wrapped up the day with a spectacular sunset on the beach—and, of course, ice cream. Because after conquering a lake, you’ve earned the right to a double scoop.

I’d say that’s a pretty great day! Tomorrow, we continue northbound.

Cruising north now with the gorgeous Chicago skyline on our port side on cloudless summer day. We are heading to the b...
07/12/2026

Cruising north now with the gorgeous Chicago skyline on our port side on cloudless summer day. We are heading to the beautiful city of Waukegan, IL.
(Can anyone tell me what do we have to look forward to when we get there other than been the home of the legendary science fiction author Ray Bradbury?)

Chicago Daze on 4th of July!
07/04/2026

Chicago Daze on 4th of July!

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