GL: Loop advice needed

[Charles Culotta]

Larry Z,

We did the Trent, Georgian Bay, North Channel leg this season starting 
from Geneva,NY.  OTHER than the Rideau Canal this is , by far, the 
prettiest part of the Great Circle Cruise.  NOT to take anything from 
other great cruising areas of the trip. We would not spend less than the 
3 months that we did in the Chesapeake Bay for instance. 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.

Not to offend anyone but after the Canadian portion, Lakes Michigan and 
Erie is somewhat less exciting. Except that this summer the winds were 
really high on the lakes and we had to stay put, in marinas at that, for 
many days. When the seas are four feet we don't go but sometimes got 
caught in them. Not fun.

Talking about length and being measured, we have never been measured in 
any marina, lock or canal. BUT we did not use a marina in the Key West 
area or we would have been,

We have purchased the NY canal pass and lockage permits for two yrs now 
and the same for Canada. No measurement.

Bottom line, our experience, is that there is no way to see the best 
parts of this trip in one year. For instance there is no practical way 
to do  the Rideau, Champlain, Erie, Georgian Bay etc in one season. Much 
less if you have to complete in one yr.
Going up the stair step locks in Ottawa is, to use one of the kids 
words, awesome. Period. Once you are at the top and stop to take it all 
in,-------it looks like London. England not Ontario!!!!!

Today we are docked on the Erie Canal in Medina,NY for free with 
electricity and water  and the best model RR  museum that we have been 
in and we have seen a few. For someone of Italian descent we had the 
best Italian food in a restaurant here last night, Avanti's with in 2 
blocks of the dock.
Another special thanks to NY for all the free or low cost docks on the 
canals. We do reciprocate by spending money!!!!! I think that here we 
have compensated the town and  state for the dockage, drugstore for 
prescriptions, restaurant, malt shop, haircut, museum and that was one 
day only. We are still here and going to the neatest 1950's place for 
lunch today. Oh, and the farmers market is today rt here at the dock.

For daily travel our personal best is 4.5 miles in the North Channel. 
Second was 5 miles on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal in NY, another  canal that 
one misses in a one yr trip. By the way mostly free docks with elec and 
water. This canal takes you into the NY wine country and Finger Lakes. Nice.

Yesterday we did 10 miles and if we move tomorrow, possibly 10 more, 
max. As I mentioned in another post we have  about 130 miles to Geneva 
and  a month to do it, it will be close but doable.

Again, this is only our experience and ,I guess preferences, as always YMMV.

CCC
-- 
CHARLES C., JR. & PAT CULOTTA
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
M/V CCRIDER
PATTERSON, LA.
charlesculotta.com