GL: Loop advice needed... Michigan Boating

[Ohio Cruisier]

Like Florida and the Annapolis Area, Michigan Boating Industries 
Association publishes a  very good "Michigan Boating Directory" 
annually.  Like the PortBook for Annapolis, it lists services and 
phone numbers.  The Harbor of Refuge program is part of a grant 
program to have marinas set aside docks for Transients and in return 
the marina gets aid for the docks.  Michigan knows boaters bring 
money to the state.  They have been called the Water Wonderland for 
years.  Boats were in the backyard for all the lakes in the state.  I 
was taught bouyage at 8 years old, on the Crooked River (part of the 
Inland Waterway). Ohio and the other Great Lakes States do not 
understand the flow of boats and money as well as Michigan.

I pick up the Directory at the Rest Stop entering the State.  The 
address in the Directory is MBIA, 32398 Five Mile, Livonia, MI 
48154-6109 734-261-0123 800-932-2628

  We are simply
>not accustom to the rocky grandiosity of Georgian Bay with so many
>places to anchor---we only do marinas on an as needed bases. ( Laundry,
>water, groceries and the like.) OR when there is no alternative as in
>Michigan with it's harbors of refuge. There are no natural harbors in
>Michigan, ok one or two, and that is the reason for all the state
>harbors. Note, please that we were NEVER MEASURED  and ,unfortunately,
>we stayed in a lot of them. That hurt!!!!!! Of course the fee is "only"
>$1 ft and that is good.
>A special thanks to Michigan for being so friendly to boaters.