BRAZO - North Channel 2009

B

BRAZO

New member
Well, after such a successful Trent-Severn trip in June - we have decided to head back up to the North Channel for a 10 day trip. We spent 2 months in the North Channel on our previous boat in 2006, so we are looking forward to going with our CD22 and exploring the spots that we could not get to with the tug.

We had planned on just trailering the boat from Sturgeon Bay, WI to Blind River, On - but another idea came to me today. Instead I plan on taking the boat on its own bottom from Sturgeon Bay to Manistique, MI and the wife and kids will drive after work on that Friday to pick me up. We'll then trailer the boat from there.

One problem that I have is that I'm in the middle of my training for IronMan Wisconsin which is in mid-September. Meaning, I need to be able to run, bike, and swim along the way. So, the plan would be to bring the bike with me in the boat along with a "trainer" (allows you to put the rear wheel off the ground and ride in place). I could then ride on the roads when in a marina and in the cockpit of our CD22 when at anchor. I also can swim right off the boat to get in my swimming miles.

So, the plan would be to leave on August 2nd. Meet up with the family on August 6th and then return on August 15th.

I plan on having my laptop along with my Verizon card to post along the way.
 
Today I spent some time researching where to launch the boat in the North Channel. The options are Blind River, Serpent River, and Spanish River. The problem with Blind River is that it is exposed to the North Channel and with winds/waves it may cut our trip short (have to get back a day or two early to beat the wind/etc). Serpent River (North Channel Yacht Club) is more protected but still on the west end of the North Channel. So, it looks like Spanish Municipal Marina will be our launch point and a place to keep the truck/trailer for 10 days.

By going to Spanish, On (which is only 30 minutes from Blind River), we will be in protected waters from the start and we'll have no problem splashing and going the same day we arrive. Plus on our last trip to the North Channel we spent time in the East end, but most of our time was in the West end.

Now with the smaller boat, we can easily expore the McGregor Bay area. From the little that I found on the area, it looks like a great place to spend a few days. Places like Pot Hole Portage and Dog Home Pass (http://tinyurl.com/nk6fc9 sound very fun.

So, I'm ready to roll. Just need to figure out when I'll leave with the boat - might be Monday. Look forward to just sitting back with autopilot, on some (hopefully) smooth Lake Michigan waters and making my way towards the North Channel.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. We've been to Oak Bay and the Benjamins - but not the abandoned harbor at Cockburn Island. I'll have to check it out.

Thanks again.
 
BRAZO,

Good luck with the training and training schedule. Please keep us up to
date on the progress and results of the event.

Enjoy going where few men get to go - with your CD22. :smiled :thup

Art
 
A couple of years ago we did the North Channel: Journey On and the North Channel.

we launched and stayed at Vance’s Marine, Tel: (705) 844-2442. The marina was a more protected than the city marina. Both were good, but Vance's gave us a lot of local knowledge.

You'll have a great time. It's a definite counterpoint to the calmth of the Trent-Severn. Post pictures.

Boris
 
Good luck with the training and training schedule. Please keep us up to date on the progress and results of the event
Click to expand...

Thanks. So far the IronMan training is going well. I'm a non-IronMan looking 45yr old dad average joe - but I've completed 2 IronMan's and hopefully this will be my 3rd. I'm signed up for IronMan Lake Placid 2010 - which I may end up taking the CD22 with us and do the Rideau Canal at the same time. The only thing that causes me trouble with my training is my C-Dory - but I'll live with that.

we launched and stayed at Vance’s Marine
Click to expand...

Thanks, I saw Vance's - but I also saw that it was for sale so wasn't sure if they were still open. I'll have to give them a call - thanks for the tip.
 
Hi Robert,

Don't be surprised if you see another C-Dory in the Spanish Municipal Marina or surrounding waters. My wife and I are leaving tomorrow morning with C-Batical in tow. We were hoping and waiting for the poor weather to change in Northern Lake Superior but it looks like more of the same so we decided to cancel and follow our Plan B. The weather forecast in the North Channel is considerable better and it is not such a long haul for us.

Have a safe trip, maybe our wakes will cross.

Best regards,
Rollie
 
I was planning on driving to Sturgeon Bay tomorrow (Monday) and head out on the boat. But here is the forecast for Monday:

MONDAY...SOUTHWEST WINDS TO 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 20 KT.
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WAVES 5 TO 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 6 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.


Probably will still head up to the boat and just wait out the wind/waves - Tuesday should be better. This year has not been very good for us power boaters in the Sturgeon Bay area - windy and wavy. We have Cottage area friends that are Kite Boarders and have loved this summer.
 
Tomorrow's forecast for Spanish, Ont is:

Rain showers early with isolated thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 71F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Monday night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially before midnight. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Tuesday a little more of the same. The rest of the week looks better.

It has also been a lousy season for us down south . Not much in the way of rain but lots of threats, wind, cold, and generally unsettled conditions.

We will probably arrive in Spanish late Monday afternoon or early evening. It is a 440 mile tow for us.

Best regards,
 
We plan on being in Spanish on Friday. I'm hoping to take the boat out today from Sturgeon Bay and make my way to Manistique Michigan. The problem has been the wind/waves, but it looks like later tonight and hopefully tomorrow will be fine to cruise.

My only goal is to get to Michigan over the next 4 days - my wife and kids will then drive up from Madison and we'll load the boat for the drive to Spanish. I just can't get "stuck" on the Door County pennisula in waves/winds.

Here is our overall cruise plans (some of it will be with the boat on a trailer):

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/il/crete/648124874502037019
 
left sturgeon bay around 3pm. calm waters until i went thru deaths door, then 2 ft waves a bit confused. docked in rock island for the evening. hope to mkae it to maistique, mi tomorrow.
 
Trailered to Spanish and am now moored and the Spanish Municiple Marina. Launched in the rain, however, the dock greeters are all are looking forward to it clearing up tomorrow. Be careful coming across 17B & 17 as there are lots of troopers.

Have a safe trip.

Best regards,
 
wavy and widy this morning. tied up nicely in rock island. hope that winds calm down later today. plan on getting in a training run around the island 5.2miles.
 
Hi Robert, Hi Rollie,

I have docked and anchored at Rock Island. Manistique has high docks and you go thru a tunnel (under road) to get to downtown. There is a small harbor of refuge at Naubinway with bathrooms. If you made it all the way to St. Ignace it has a deluxe harbor with nice floating docks. Farther west Escanaba, Gladstone and Fayette are all nicer than Manistique as harbors go. Not to say Manistique wouldn't be the nicest harbor in say Ohio. :wink:

I don't have time for boating until later in September. Then I may follow you guys to the North Channel or I may return to the Soo or I may go South?

I do plan on a few days salmon fishing at end of Aug. but overall not near enough boating this summer.

Have a great trip.

Mark
 
thanks mark, appreciate the info. i made my way from rock island to manistique this afternoon. the ride went from calm to bumpy to 3-4 foot waves on the nose. never a concern, just got a bit tired of the wash machine. that was my first open water lake michigan run. took about 2.5 hrs.

manistique will be my place to call home until friday when the wife and kids show up with the truck and trailer.

this cdory 22 is a great boat loved experimenting with the waves/speed/tabs/permatrim.

couple days to relax.

ps typing on mini keyboard sorry about caps/grammer/spelling
 
Hi Mark & Robert,

Yesterday it was sunny but very windy gusts blowing out of the west at 30 mph plus; even the sailboaters stayed in port to wait it out. Today looks a little better, partly cloudy with 15- 20 mph winds. I think today we are going to explore several of the habors and islands in the general area. The unseasonable wind and rain seem to be on everyone's mind. Mark, I am sorry to hear that you are staying so busy. Our days up in the St. Mary's at the Soo seem so long ago. Since then we at least spent a few days at Indian River. Over the weekend of July 29 we plan to be in Ludington if we can get a spot at the Harbor View Marina.

Robert have a safe crossing. Considering the conditions here I know it has been a very bumpy ride.

Best regards,
 
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