The sun was low in the morning sky as we cruised by the Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse and entered Lake Michigan. The waves were mere ripples and the wind was still. Fishing boats were plentiful, bobbing and drifting in the water. Today's issue was dense fog that persisted the entire day. We passed by Sheboygan, barely visible although only a couple of miles away. Our navigation lights and radar were on. The view from the pilot house was at most a quarter of a mile.
We entered Port Washington harbor virtually blind, relying on the chartplotter for guidance. We didn't see the large lighthouse marking the end of the breakwater until we were almost upon it. Thankfully the wind was still minimal and we eased Crossroads into the tight slip without issue. We tidied our lines, connected to shore power, and I was cleaning up when I spotted a strange looking mass behind our compression post, clinging to our sunshade. I went inside, grabbed the big camera, and had Barry grab the boat hook and come meet me on the starboard deck. I pointed out what I had already identified as a bat. Barry, our designated Batman, deftly positioned the "bat hook" under the little guy. The critter put up a little fight as we woke him and suggested he vacate his poition. Only afterwards, when viewing these photos, did we see his mouth full of sharp little teeth.
He clung to the bat hook and Barry gently swung him off of Crossroads, pausing just long enough for a few pictures.
Barry deposited our visitor softly on the dock, and after a moment of gathering his senses and a final photo, the little guy flew off. Fresh off of this excitement, we set off to check in at the marina office and then walked out along the breakwater to get a glance of the elusive lighthouse. The fog was getting thicker and it wasn't until we were within 50 feet of the end that we saw the massive structure.
Hopefully the fog will clear and we will get a better view before we leave Port Washington. A severe thunderstorm passed through this evening, complete with the associated tornado warnings. This weather system will stir up the waves on Lake Michigan for the next few days. We will stay put until things calm down before we head further south to Racine. Tomorrow we will see what Port Washington has to offer. At first glance, there is a nice mix of retail, historical, and restaurants.
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