Quick Portage Meet up! 6/11/16!

[Speedling]

Basically so we don't clog up other threads, let's go to Portage and the boaters beach!!!
So on 6/11/16 anyone that wants can show up. Going out on Portage marina or nearby Doyne's and just simply hitting the beach.
I will probably be there before 9 am as the place fills up pretty quick in the parking lot.
I can wait around a bit, but if you're wondering if I'm out there already, you can look for my Expedition with a JB.net liscense plate on the front. Or, you can message me or whatever as well.

If it has harsh weather coming from the north, we'll hit up my home lake, Cedar Lake. If that seems to be the case, I'll post up details, but you can look for PineCrest Marina which is like $12 or something to launch from but is certainly the nicest. They get busy very fast as well.

Out on Lake Michigan, you'll need lunch as there really isn't anything to just go and get lunch at.
Cedar Lake, we always hit up Sandbar Grill. There is also Lighthouse, but unless you want a big bill, we stick with the burgers!
In any case, I had a write up how to get there and such....
https://jetboaters.net/threads/my-portage-indiana-boaters-beach.9584/

@shane hric had a cool write up where he took off from Portage as well
https://jetboaters.net/threads/lake-michigan-run-from-portage-in-to-racine-wi.9418/#post-163864


@Midwest
@scot71
@BryanW
@GTBRMC
@OperationROL
@buckbuck

Also check out the Chicago Loop Cruise the following day!
https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-chicago-friends-family-boaters-cruise.8545/page-4#navigation

 

[scot71]

I'm looking forward to this. I'm going to try to be at Portage as early as possible( try to meet you up there ). I'm looking forward to Portage or Cedar Lake either way, and hopefully I can get everyone down to our lake (Cecil M. Hardin) at some point this summer.

 

[Speedling]

I'm looking forward to this. I'm going to try to be at Portage as early as possible( try to meet you up there ). I'm looking forward to Portage or Cedar Lake either way, and hopefully I can get everyone down to our lake (Cecil M. Hardin) at some point this summer.

Raccoon lake, right?
We may go camping later this year and head down that way. Perhaps it's a good time to go boating too? We'll figure it out after or during Shelbyville perhaps.

 

[scot71]

Yes, let's figure it out at Shelbyville. I would love to have some of you join us on our home lake. It's not a huge lake, but I think it's definitely a nice one. Especially for the middle of Indiana.

 

[scot71]

So, here's a video I took of a lap around most of our lake. If you want to, set the speed to 2x so you can go through it faster, but it should give you an idea of how nice our lake is. Come join us whenever you get the chance. @Speedling , @shane hric.

 

[BryanW]

I'm looking forward to this. I'm going to try to be at Portage as early as possible( try to meet you up there ). I'm looking forward to Portage or Cedar Lake either way, and hopefully I can get everyone down to our lake (Cecil M. Hardin) at some point this summer.

@scot71 Are you headed up on Saturday Morning? I'm hopeful to be on the road from the north side of Indy by 8:00, which should get me to the Portage ramp by ~9:30 local time. Accuweather, has Saturday June 11th as partly sunny and hot (90F, with a 10% precip), but I'm keeping an eye on the wind. Friday shows South 7-10 mph, Saturday show West 9-14 mph, Sunday NNE 8-12 mph. If it swings North before Sunday we'd be in for a rough ride, crossing the breakwall at the port is usually rough when the lake is pretty tame, when its rocking its a roller coaster. I'll be watching it, as a forecast this many days out on wind is subject to change a couple of times before Saturday. I have family on the lake just west of the launch so I'll ask for a visual of conditions on Friday.

 

[Speedling]

I have an app called chicago marine forecast or something like that. It gives good descriptions of conditions and even has a camera on chicago.
Just pay attention to the burns harbor part. If it is too bad, we can go to cedar lake which is close to me and big enough it won't be congested too badly.

 

[scot71]

@scot71 Are you headed up on Saturday Morning? I'm hopeful to be on the road from the north side of Indy by 8:00, which should get me to the Portage ramp by ~9:30 local time. Accuweather, has Saturday June 11th as partly sunny and hot (90F, with a 10% precip), but I'm keeping an eye on the wind. Friday shows South 7-10 mph, Saturday show West 9-14 mph, Sunday NNE 8-12 mph. If it swings North before Sunday we'd be in for a rough ride, crossing the breakwall at the port is usually rough when the lake is pretty tame, when its rocking its a roller coaster. I'll be watching it, as a forecast this many days out on wind is subject to change a couple of times before Saturday. I have family on the lake just west of the launch so I'll ask for a visual of conditions on Friday.

That's my plan. Im hoping to be on the road sometime between 7 & 7:30 so I should be up there between 9 & 9:30. So we should be up there about the same time you are.
This will be my first time on the lake, so I'm kind of looking to everyone else for their expertise. Please keep me posted on conditions.

 

[shane hric]

Hey guys...I'm definitely in on this trip. So here's a few little possible to do's for our list if anyone is interested in getting out and stretching our legs. Boating from Portage you can reach Michigan City Marina which has a restaurant (Alright food and environment), but if you dog leg around the inlet, you hit a rotating train/boat bridge and a restaurant called "Bridges Waterside Grille" (Really like the steak sandwich, drink options, and environment). Also, if your a gambler around the corner from Bridges is the Blue Chip Casino and they have a hotel, restaurants, with plenty to do. Further, if you boat past Michigan City Marina about 5 miles more you hit New Buffalo Public Marina with a lot to do within a 10 min walking distance and one of my favorite little restaurants called the "Stray Dog" (Great all around environment, food and drink selection)!

 

[Speedling]

Hey guys...I'm definitely in on this trip. So here's a few little possible to do's for our list if anyone is interested in getting out and stretching our legs. Boating from Portage you can reach Michigan City Marina which has a restaurant (Alright food and environment), but if you dog leg around the inlet, you hit a rotating train/boat bridge and a restaurant called "Bridges Waterside Grille" (Really like the steak sandwich, drink options, and environment). Also, if your a gambler around the corner from Bridges is the Blue Chip Casino and they have a hotel, restaurants, with plenty to do. Further, if you boat past Michigan City Marina about 5 miles more you hit New Buffalo Public Marina with a lot to do within a 10 min walking distance and one of my favorite little restaurants called the "Stray Dog" (Great all around environment, food and drink selection)!

I never have been that way for a lunch!
I think that would be pretty cool.
Which place would be most kid friendly do you think?

 

[shane hric]

Olivia and I love the both the Stray Dog and Bridges Waterside Grille. Bridges is mainly outdoor seating (couple tables inside) with a few slips for boat parking. There is the main seating area along the river front and a 4 ft. higher second level for over 21 and older! But either way both sections are connected so we can all hangout together regardless. Stray Dog has both indoor and outdoor seating, mainly indoors. The New Buffalo Public Marina has plenty of slips for the boats which is directly across the street from the Stray Dog.

Depending on how many of us go and where we choose to eat (if that's the plan) we might consider Boatpooling to the restaurant!

 

[scot71]

I'm definitely up for hitting a restaurant. Sounds like a good time.

 

[Speedling]

Olivia and I love the both the Stray Dog and Bridges Waterside Grille. Bridges is mainly outdoor seating (couple tables inside) with a few slips for boat parking. There is the main seating area along the river front and a 4 ft. higher second level for over 21 and older! But either way both sections are connected so we can all hangout together regardless. Stray Dog has both indoor and outdoor seating, mainly indoors. The New Buffalo Public Marina has plenty of slips for the boats which is directly across the street from the Stray Dog.

Depending on how many of us go and where we choose to eat (if that's the plan) we might consider Boatpooling to the restaurant!

There going to be any charge for docking anywhere?

 

[Speedling]

Also, from Portage, Stray Dog is 20 miles away roughly. I would recommend Bridges in Michigan City just for that reason. That and I've been to the zoo and such before in Michigan City. Not a bad little zoo!
http://www.bridgeswatersidegrille.com/BridgesMenu2016.pdf
Also, it looks like there is just a couple of slips available there so the boatpooling thing... OR, we will be stacked on each other in a slip.

 

[scot71]

Also, from Portage, Stray Dog is 20 miles away roughly. I would recommend Bridges in Michigan City just for that reason. That and I've been to the zoo and such before in Michigan City. Not a bad little zoo!
http://www.bridgeswatersidegrille.com/BridgesMenu2016.pdf
Also, it looks like there is just a couple of slips available there so the boatpooling thing... OR, we will be stacked on each other in a slip.

It looks like there is also a courtesy dock on the other side of the water. Some could possibly tie up there, then someone could ferry folks across.

 

[shane hric]

Sorry guys just jumped on here. There would be a fee at New Buffalo Public I would imagine, but since it may only be a 2 hr lunch visit, they may have a reduced or no fee for a short time limit? Yes, there is only 2 or 3 slips for Bridges and I was also thinking we could tie off across there and ferry over too! Either one is good for me and the 20 miles isn't bad...Lee you party pooper!

 

[Speedling]

Sorry guys just jumped on here. There would be a fee at New Buffalo Public I would imagine, but since it may only be a 2 hr lunch visit, they may have a reduced or no fee for a short time limit? Yes, there is only 2 or 3 slips for Bridges and I was also thinking we could tie off across there and ferry over too! Either one is good for me and the 20 miles isn't bad...Lee you party pooper!

Lol
3 crazy kids man!
I will be burning a lot of fuel Sunday with the loop cruise!

Fyi, wind looks like it will be out of the west and possible thunderstorms.

 

[BryanW]

What kind of range do you guys get? I was hoping the weather would be a little more favorable and jet over to the City, its only a few miles longer than Michigan city. A west wind should have little waves, but we'll have to see how the rain shapes up. The SeaDoo can knock out about 140 miles at ~30 mph with a 10% reserve, at top speed its less than half :-(

 

[shane hric]

I did a bunch of boating around Memorial Weekend and hit the shores around Portage, Hammond, and cruised up to Navy Pier and when I was done and back at home was around half tank still!

 

[Speedling]

I'm game for whatever! Figured on less cruisin and more beach bummin but my kids usually sleep on the drive anyways!