GL: Internet Connection on Great Circle Cruise

[Charles and Pat Culotta]

Here is our experience:

In the US we used Verizon air card from Louisiana  through the Keys and up 
the east coast TO the Canadian border. It ends there or you pay a lot ( OVER 
YOUR MONTHLY FEE) per KB and this is charged for sent and received.  A total 
rip but that is a personal opinion!!
The same is true for Verizon cell phone--- we use it as well but not in 
Canada----ok if you want to pay 69 cents per min.  Be certain to TURN YOUR 
PHONE OFF as you will be charged for  the calls  TO  the phone,even if you 
do not ans it, and  voice mail.  Look they don't miss a trick!!!

We checked with Verizon on 4 separate occasions and got different ans each 
time so, YMMV

The solution, if you can call it that, for us was to purchase a VOX 
telephone prepaid card  that we use in Canada and this is purchased in 
Canada. The cost is most reasonable the $10 initial time seemed to last 
forever and adding minutes is easy and done on the phone. We are very 
satisfied with it. Of course it is inconvenient as we must find a pay ph to 
use it but better than nothing.

We have found quite a few wifi hot spots and I am on one now and we are a 
mile from Gananoque, Ont. anchored !!!!!!!!!!
Darn, this is a beautiful anchorage!!!!!
Other times we have carried the lap top to town to a cafe or library but I 
really don't like to schlep it on the dingy and all to town.  We anchor most 
of the time.
Pat was told that a hotel in Westport on the Rideau has a wifi so she asked 
and the boy at the desk gave her the access code!!!! Wonder if he would have 
done the same for me??????

Of course open wifi is hit or miss.

OBSERVATION: Pat was grazing in Skipper Bob"s Great Circle book and noted 
that he said that for planning purposes use 5,000 miles as a bench mark. 
Several weeks ago on the Rideau Canal we turned the 5,000 miles and we are 
not yet close to the half way mark. THAT is good!!!! We spent 3 weeks on the 
Rideau and it is 125 miles long. There is a boat behind us that is going 
slower than we.


CCC and Pat
CHARLES C., JR. & PAT CULOTTA
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
M/V CCRIDER
PATTERSON, LA.
http://geocities.com/charlesculotta