North Shore Lake Superior

[El and Bill]

Wow! The response to our query about cruising the Apostle Islands and the North Channel of Huron has been marvelous. We have completed our cruising in the Apostle Islands and will probably be heading toward the North Channel tomorrow (and e-mailing to those who gave us such good ideas about the North Channel)

Since we will soon be in Canada, communication will be difficult. Therefore, we reckon we'd better ask for ideas on the North Shore of Superior before we cross the line.

Anyone care to share ideas about Superior's North Shore? Good places to launch, anchorages and places not to miss, special cautions?

After completing North Channel and North Shore we are thinking of returning to Voyageur Nat'l Park and Rainy Lake.

[C-batical]

El & Bill,

Beg, steal, borrow, or buy a copy of Bonnie Dahl's, Superior Way, A Cruising Guide to Lake Superior. It is an invaluable resource book. Also please get in touch with Al Meadows, Moose. He and his wife Myrna know the NW shoreline of Lake Superior very well. He knows lot about Rossport, Ont. and the surrounding areas.

[Fishhawk]

El & Bill,

Getting in touch with Moose is a fer shure.
We don't have much experience boating the Ontario waters of Lake Superior.

When you crosss back into MN, though, make sure you see the Split Rock lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls. There is a new access at Mcquade Rd. about 8 miles North of Duluth. Very nice. From there you can take the boat SW and see Duluth from the water. It's a pretty town with a lot of maritime history. Don't know when you might get there but there are 9 old sailing ships there for the Tall Ships Festival going on right now. Here's a link to some pics of the tall ships. They are very cool.

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/photogallery/id/1739/

Try to stay out of the downtown area of Duluth though. There is more street and road construction going on this summer than anyone could ever imagine.

Have fun on your trip. Give us a shout if you spend any amount of time near Duluth. Our summer cabin is about 35 miles NNE of town.

Dan

[Chris Bulovsky]

Bill and El -

Consider Isle Royale. I only boated on the North side but its very nice. It may not be on your way or in the plans but its a very cool park. Plenty of hiking trails. Wolf and loon's can make the nights pleasant. If you buddy up to some anglers they usually are willing to share Lake trout with campers and other boaters. I have some pics in my album of Isle Royale. I'd love to go back!

Nice to meet you both last sat. You two are genuinely nice people. I truly admire you both!

Chris Bulovsky

[El and Bill]

Chris -
Thanks for the kind words - sure enjoyed meeting you as well; seemed like re-meeting an ol' friend.

Isle Royale - we hiked it for ten days with our kids and loved it. Your suggestion is a great idea. Where did you launch and leave truck and trailer?

Perhaps, returning from the North Shore we can give it a visit - ahh, loons and wolves ...

[patrick and linda]

so, this is not directly boat related, however if one saves money, that money could be made available for additional boating and/or boating stuff.
so, my friend Mr. Freddie Mac is going to loan me money to refinance a property. he's willing to do so for a 15 year period @ 4% fixed, simple interest. he's such a good friend he is not requiring me to show proof of income. i suppose he could order a copy of my tax return from your good friend, Mr. IRS, but i don't know that he plans to do so. simply complete an application, get a nod from your friendly banker, pay 900 + or -, and, for me, save 4880 per year in interest. i applied last monday and will be closing the latter part of this week. don't get me wrong, i'm very pleased about this deal, but somewhere down deep, isn't this what got us in trouble to begin with?
if you have an outstanding mortgage, i would strongly suggest now is the time to refi. we may never again see these rates.
best regards
pat

Fan-A-Sea

[patrick and linda]

sorry guys, my bad! i thought i was posting the above post as a new topic.
pat

not sure how to transfer it now.

[Chris Bulovsky]

Bill and El- We put in in at Grand Portage. It’s near a reservation and Casino. The Launch was OK and we parked right down near the marina. Its about 22mile run from that spot to Isle Royale. It can be big water so we picked a late afternoon to make our run out to the Island.

http://www.grandportage.com/marina.php

hope this helps.

Chris

[R407c]

Hello Bill and El,
About 8 years ago, I launched my 17 ft Whaler Montauk at Little Trout Bay and boated out to Isle Royale. I spent a week circomenavigating the island. It was in September so the crouds were gone.
To get to Little Trout Bay, you need to take Little Trout Bay Road off of Canadian Hwy 61 ( the turn off is about 10 miles form the US Canadian boarder ) It is a good launch ramp with pier. There is parking but not fenced in. No services other than an out house.
Probably need to go through customs at Windigo Visitor Center in Washington Harbor on Isle Royale. There is a park fee for boaters. The south and south east side of Isle Royale has more bays and islands.

Passage Island has a nice inlet with a great hike short hike out to the light house. Caution..... watch the entrance as there is a rock off to the right when entering. Mott Is. has another great short hiking trail. McCargo Cove is neat. Lookout Louise is a neat hike.
I have also taken backpacking trips on the island. It is a special place.
I purchased a C-Dory 22 a few months ago and I hope to get it up Isle Royale in the next year or two.
Not far from Isle Royale are the Canadian islands of Thompson, Pie, Victoria, and Spar. Crown Royal lands.
South and west of Sleeping Giant N. P. also have some remote cruising grounds.

Good Luch and have fun.
Mike Moser

[El and Bill]

Congrats, Mike, on your C-Dory. Sounds like a perfect match for you and the type of cruising you have enjoyed. Your post, and the others earlier, sure builds the anticipation - we hope to visit that coast this month. Thanks for the good ideas.