GL: On my bottom?

[Philip Stein]

Greetings, Phil & Vicki, Erie Canal, want to be people, again. First I would like to thank everyone for their timely response for information on the canal, both in the news letter and direct.  I did get talked to about not letting Vic check my spelling before sending out the request. I will be gathering information on your suggestions next week before we leave south to Steward, Florida and Trawler Fest. I kind of know the answer to this one but again suggestions would be helpful. Some background, we started the loop on our own bottom in 2004, unfortunately Vick got sick just before we were to enter the Erie. MID-LIFE MADNESS completed the 300 miles from New London, CT. and we had a great time stopping were we wanted for as long as we wanted getting to Troy, N.Y. I figured I would turn back before the trip was governed by the locks and their timing, what took us 3 weeks to do; we undid in 3 days and Vic got the doctoring she needed.  We had been looking for the PERFECT boat
 to do the loop for 4 years prior to 2004 and retirement. The 49 DeFever RPH is at the top of the list. That is what started us chartering. We would try for a week each boat that we were interested in, i.e., 49 DeFever, 42 Krogen (2004), 37 & 42 Nordic Tugs (visited the factory, great group of people)(2005), the boats were all great but would require a complete change in our everyday boating lifestyle. One engine vs. two, 7/8 knots vs. 25, small boat that marina hops to large boat at anchor, etc, you all know the story. We do not talk about the AYC 2006 charter from H__l. Back in 2004 we purchased a canal pass, loaded MID-LIFE with every spare part and navigation chart needed, cast off and off we went, great time. We would continue to look for the PERFECT boat along the trip. We planned the loop to take 3 to 5 years to complete with the first winter storage in Oswego. Like I mentioned we are marina hoppers and do not really miss a town, a museum, or attraction. Here it
 comes, HOWEVER, with all our charters and driving back and forth across the USA and Canada we followed many of the water routs and visited many of the locks that we would visit by boat doing the loop and the possibly of bringing a trawler back from the west coast. Vic will not let me do the Panama Canal. So we are currently thinking, charter the boat that is made for each section of the loop both in the USA and Canadian waterways and come home to MID-LIFE.
  The Question is making the run again in MID-LIFE or continue with our charters as we go? What do you think??
  Vic did not check the spelling this time either.
  Phil & Vicki Stein
  MID-LIFE MADNESS
  8604470428
  pstein52@sbcglobal.net
  AGLCA #860