North Channel this Summer

[gunkylump]

We are also holed up, but in Gore Bay....at least there's a liquor store here<grin>

The winds are huge, but at least the sun has finally come out once again. No mosquitoes or black flies either...

Cockburn Island, home of the "sandtrampers", Manitoulin Island, home of the "haweaters".

Long range says we'll be here until at least Friday, unless there is a dramatic change in weather conditions. We aren't going out there in these conditions, that's for sure.

Safe trip Mike, hopefully we'll catch up to you in the sunny south. We take possession of the Stevens 47 in Pensacola on Friday, we're pretty pumped about that. As soon as the weather clears and we can get moving, a return trip to Blind River to do our g'byes, and then we're heading home and then down to Pensacola to get to know our new yacht.

gunk

[gunkylump]

Hey Mike:

Did you get your issue straightened out and get on the move? We are sitting here in Harrisville, Michigan. The waves are breaking over the breakwall, and yet there isn't a ripple in the harbor. Really cool!

Hoping to get out of here soon, heading home to put Kewalo to bed for about 3 years while we do the Caribbean thing.......exciting times!

Where are you now? What are your plans for the winter while you wait for the ice to leave Lake Ontario? Heading back home to Thunder Bay or renting a place in the south? Where are you headed once the ice clears in the spring? So many questions EH?

gunk

[Mike OReilly]

You're a bit nw of us right now. We're in Goderich ON. Jumped down from Tolsmaville a couple of days ago and anchored just south of the Bruce Nuclear power plant. Water was an odd turquoise colour hmmmmm.. Anyway, we're in Goderich bc we now have an excessive oil leak in our old Perkins. Always about the engine... Shouldn't delay us too long though.

I'm envious of your plans. So you have a three year window for your Caribbean travels? Then what? I know people who have two boat; one in the Great Lakes and one south. They trade off during hurricane season. Seems like a good plan...

We're pulling in Lake Ontario (assuming we get there) and then wintering back in Thunder Bay for at least one more cold season. We then carry on down the St. Lawrence in 2015, and will likely a spend a few seasons meandering around NFLD and the Maritimes. After that if money and interest hold out we'll head south to warmer waters. Who knows, maybe you'll still be there.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[gunkylump]

Hi Mike:

We're in Sarnia, hope to be home tomorrow.

We're kicking around selling Kewalo...problem is we've sunk too much money into her...new Simrad electronics and radar, new bimini, dodger and bug screens, all new cushions and foam, 2 coats of bottom paint, new cradle...and the list goes on and on. We'd need about 25k just to get out, let alone clear what we have into her. Not sure what to do just yet.

Two year window for the Caribbean, can get a two year extension on OHIP...just need evacuation insurance to get back here for treatment if anything happens.....I am really hoping that we just love it too much to come back here...heck, no grandkids for us, the kids can just fly down and enjoy the boat, location and us when they want to.....

Are you on the move again? Hope your repairs happen quick! PM if you want my Windsor telephone # so that we can hook up if you haven't already gone by.

gunk

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by apper

If you head East past Gore Bay you will come to Little Current where there are docking facilities and a swing bridge that will open 15 minutes out of each hour during daylight hours to let boats pass. Between Little Current and Killarney is Bay of Fin which is a long fiord like bay in the rock. Follow the markers going in or you could become part of the Canadian shield. Back in there are fantastic places to anchor out. At the very end if your draft is shallow enough there is "the pool". The big cottage at the pool belongs or did belong to the Firestones. The pool is a great place to fish, pick blueberries and just relax. At Killarney you will find the Sportsman's Inn and a great meal if you want to treat the Admiral to dinner. Killarney is a boaters hangout where people take off to the north channel on the west or to Georgian Bay to the East.

My cruising guide says the cottage belongs to Evenrude. While there, I hope you take the hike to Topaz Lake. At the narrows of Baei Fine, North of the suspension bridge, I hiked to the top of the mountain - fantastic view. We also enjoyed our time Bear Drop Harbor, Hotham & Kagawong. Hike to the falls at Kagawong. Rent a kayak & paddle the lake above the falls. At Little Current, a day tie-up at the city dock is free including hook-up so do your shopping & laundry there; see a movie; have dinner.

This year we hoped to play in the west end but went to Houghton instead. We piicked up our grandson (9) and his friend and sailed back to Muskegon. Great adventure. Pictured rocks is great. Water was COLD! 54 in Marquette harbor made for a very quick dip.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by gunkylump

Hi Mike:

We're in Sarnia, hope to be home tomorrow.

We're kicking around selling Kewalo...problem is we've sunk too much money into her...new Simrad electronics and radar, new bimini, dodger and bug screens, all new cushions and foam, 2 coats of bottom paint, new cradle...and the list goes on and on. We'd need about 25k just to get out, let alone clear what we have into her. Not sure what to do just yet.

Two year window for the Caribbean, can get a two year extension on OHIP...just need evacuation insurance to get back here for treatment if anything happens.....I am really hoping that we just love it too much to come back here...heck, no grandkids for us, the kids can just fly down and enjoy the boat, location and us when they want to.....

Are you on the move again? Hope your repairs happen quick! PM if you want my Windsor telephone # so that we can hook up if you haven't already gone by.

gunk

Hey Gunk, wish we could have met up. We've been on the move this past week trying to make up for the lost time. Now anchored off Pelee Island in Erie. The rivers were exciting. At one point the current had us going over 10 knots, which was 4 more than the knot meter read (and three more than this boat has ever gone). Add all the freighters and big zippy boats and it was all a bit more excitement than I'm used to. But we made it through ok.

Next challenge is the Welland Canal. Ever been through there? Any tips? I've got my board (2'x6'x 10'), and I hear down bound is easier than up, but I'm sure going to be happy to see Lake Ontario.

Any anchoring tips for the eastern part of Erie? I really want to avoid docks if we can.

Tough call on the boat sale. We faced a similar situation with our previous boat. In the end we sold her for way less than what we had put into her in upgrades. Hard to know what the right answer is.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[gunkylump]

Hey Mike!

Dang it, we missed..so close at times. Erieau is east of Pelee, a great restaurant there called Molly and OJ's.....awesome food, I like the prime rib

We've not been past Leamington or Pelee to the east in the boat....can't help you much there. I do know that when Pelee starts boiling, and it happens fast, it gets all bent out of shape big time. Shallow lake, really kicks up.

The Welland canal sounds like fun, you'll have to post an update.

Good luck on the remainder of your trip! We depart for Pensacola on Thursday to start getting the Stevens set up to our ways...and to get used to the much larger boat. Docking should be fun! And the sails...lol...I can hoist all the sails on Kewalo by hand...that's not going to happen on this one.

Started emptying Kewalo today, and tomorrow some friends are helping us to drop and bag the sails, remove the radar, and get her prepped for a long nap....she'll be mothballed for at least 3 years while we enjoy the sunny south.

Stay in touch my friend....sooner or later we're going to hook up and share a beverage and some stories.

gunk

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by gunkylump

We are also holed up, but in Gore Bay....at least there's a liquor store here<grin>

The winds are huge, but at least the sun has finally come out once again. No mosquitoes or black flies either...

Cockburn Island, home of the "sandtrampers", Manitoulin Island, home of the "haweaters".

Long range says we'll be here until at least Friday, unless there is a dramatic change in weather conditions. We aren't going out there in these conditions, that's for sure.

Safe trip Mike, hopefully we'll catch up to you in the sunny south. We take possession of the Stevens 47 in Pensacola on Friday, we're pretty pumped about that. As soon as the weather clears and we can get moving, a return trip to Blind River to do our g'byes, and then we're heading home and then down to Pensacola to get to know our new yacht.

gunk

we just returned from a Muskegon to Houghton round trip including wedding in Marquette & picking up our 9-year old grandson for the return. We motored about 80% of the time. The biggest wind we sailed was 12 knots. Most days the wind was dead behind or zero. So much for the gales of Gitche-Goomie.

[gunkylump]

Hey Nicholson 58...

The winds were pretty fickle this year, and not exactly a warm summer up there either.

We motored back across Lake Huron to Pres Qu'isle from Blind River...then down to Harrisville where we were stuck for two days due to high winds....the waves were coming right over the breakwall at times.....

Then it was one more day of motor sailing, and then motoring the remainder of the way home. Too much wind, not enough.....such is the way this summer went.

Take care, would be great to meet you up there one of these days!

gunk

[Mike OReilly]

Hi guys, I feel more like a motorboat with a stick than a sailboat these days. Since leaving Coburn Island we've been motoring most parts of each travel day. Actually, we had a nice sail over to Pelee Island two days ago, and we started off with a nice sail to here (Erieau) but had to motor the last few hours.

It's true that Superior is often quite calm during the summer. People have this view of it being the big scary lake, and it can be that at times, but a good light-airs sail is probably more important during July and August than storm sails.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[Mike OReilly]

Forgot to mention Gunk, we ate at Molly & OJ's (actually, the bar attached ... the restaurant was closed when we got there). Great food indeed. So thanks for the recomendation.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[gunkylump]

Good stuff Mike, glad you enjoyed it! It is a great place, been there forever and do things right!

Safe trip down Erie! Where are you storing the boat for the winter on Lake Ontario?

gunk

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by gunkylump

Safe trip down Erie! Where are you storing the boat for the winter on Lake Ontario?

We're headed to Belleville, Stillwater Marina. We'll pull the boat there and leave it for the winter. Back to Thunder Bay for at least one more cold season, then back to the boat in the Spring. Hope to make it to the Maritimes or perhaps NFLD next year. After that who knows. We'll eventually hang a right and head down to the Bahamas and the Carib. Maybe you'll still be there.


Why go fast, when you can go slow