posted 05-27-2000 10:27 AM ET (US)        

Here is my best effort at gleaning from the previous thread a list of all those who are currently at least strongly considering being part of the NCR:
John Flook - 1 to 4 people
Larry Goltz - 2 to 3 people
Don McIntyre - _____ people
Walt Steffen - _____ people
Steve Farnsworth - _____ people
Tom Birdsey - _____ people
Jim Hebert (?)- _____ people
Arch Autenrieth - _____people (Arch - forgive me if I've mispelled your name; I don't know how to get back to the earlier thread to check without losing what I've typed here)

Anyway, it is developing into a quite a list of Whalers, and I'm looking forward to meeting all of you. How about posting a short note on this thread to confirm I've got it right so far, and make a guess at how many folks will be with you?

And, let's continue to hear from others who might think about joining in the fun! This is truly God's Country in the North Channel. I agree with Larry that it's some of the prettiest boating territory on earth.

Regards,

posted 05-29-2000 09:39 AM ET (US)            

If you shift it slightly, more towards Sunday August 6th, it's a real good chance that Walt Steffens and I would be able to make it.

Friday is usually the travel day up from Port Huron or parts further south, and we roll in to Tobemory about midnight, and catch the 7AM ferry. That puts us ashore at around 9, and another hours drive to Evansville and we're pretty beat. The spouses are thinking of nothing but unpacking and sitting up camp for that day.

And if the group is planning on some sort of group cruise later in the week, say Monday or Tuesday, we'd be able to make that.

'Course I hope you know that having it on Sunday is gonna drive Walt nutty. He'll be thinking all the way up there "Do I keep my boat (which hasn't seen the water in almost two years) on the trailer one more day and run back to Little Current (one hour drive, and no sweat if the NC is rough) or put it IN THE WATER on Saturday morning and run it 2 - 2.5 hours hoping for a decent sea"?

Heheheh...

Do you need us to bring anything specific other then ourselves and vessels?

posted 05-29-2000 08:57 PM ET (US)            

That's about as far as I've thought the whole thing through, and depending on schedules, it could be Saturday and Sunday or Sunday and Monday, as far as I am concerned. We'll need to be hearing from some of the others to set schedules up for planning pretty soon. If it turns out that the rest of the gang does have to organize around Saturday and Sunday, maybe you and Walt can get an early start on Sunday and head our way. Under those circumstances you'd certainly be welcome to overnight Sunday night if you want, and maybe we could do something together on Monday. I'm always interested in reasons to fool around in the boat!

I appreciate your offer to bring something, and as this starts to firm up, I'll have a better idea what might be a help. One thing that's sure is that we'll want to have planning done and supplies layed in for any boats staying at Neptune for major meals (boating lunches, snacks, drinks, cookouts), due to the fact that running into town for supplies is bothersome, and sometimes not an option. We've got two refrigerators, and I have a bunch of coolers kicking around, and most Whalers have at least one cooler.

Will you and/or Walt be bringing wives or kids? My 17 year old daughter will be up with us, probably with a girl friend. She/they may be interested in running around with us in the camp Montauk.

One thing that occurs to me is that we will probably be able to communicate from Neptune to Northernaire via VHF; we've got a 50' stationary antennae that gets out pretty good, we'd just need to set a time when we'd both be monitoring 16 (or some other channel). I'll probably also have my hand-held cell phone with me, but I don't know how much reception to expect with that.

That's all for now - let's keep the ball rolling-

posted 06-01-2000 12:42 PM ET (US)            

John tells us all about Neptune Island and what we can expect up there.

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/radio/

Anyone planning to attend please let us know!

posted 06-02-2000 10:39 AM ET (US)            

If you are planning on needing either of these resources to attend the Rendezvous, it would be a good idea to make some reservations. The holiday weekend may fill up things a little faster than normal.

posted 06-02-2000 02:21 PM ET (US)            

Don McIntyre posted the phone number for reservations on the Chi-Chimaun (ferry at Tobermory) earlier, it is: 800-265-4163.

I'll find out what policies are at Spider Bay Marina re: reserving dock space and I will post that information here; I can also get names and phone numbers for motels in Little Current if anyone has an interest. Let me know-

posted 06-05-2000 11:11 AM ET (US)            

We (Carolyn & I ) are planning on leaving Columbus Friday morning and arriving in Tobermory Friday afternoon/evening. Will spend Friday night in Tobermory hopefully meeting up with Larry Goltz, Jim G., Tom Birdsey, and anyone else wishing to make the run over to Little Current Saturday morning.

I'm sure we will be staying at Spider Bay Marina Saturday and Sunday nights and probably heading back to Columbus Monday morning. Let us know what we can do/bring (diesel fuel?)to help out. Looking forward to meeting everyone and sampling the Key West Cuban Roast coffee!

Jimh,
Great interview with John on the classic Whaler Radio!

posted 06-05-2000 01:08 PM ET (US)            

I've been informed that the weekend of 8/4 is a Canadian holiday of sorts, so (having been caught in this before) I'd recommend two things:

Reservations on the ferry 800-265-3163

Reservations at some motel (we've been using Bruce Anchor Motel, real close to the loading dock 519-596-2555) in case of rain and you don't want to sleep on board or in a van.

posted 06-05-2000 01:53 PM ET (US)            

If you find no open rooms you can sleep in your vehilcle or boat. There are more than adiquate facilities at the ferry dock.

posted 06-05-2000 03:03 PM ET (US)            

I want to underscore the notion that if your schedule is tight,(don't have the convenience of sitting out one or two days or more of bad weather in one or both directions), you strongly consider trailering right in to Little Current. I have seen 4 or 5 days straight of glass (though I don't recall when the last time was) and I have seen it kick up so that the ferry couldn't leave Tobermory. And the ferry will take on 6-footers without a second thought.

So - my $0.02 worth would be to save the bigger tour for some other time if you only have two days or so to be on the water. Motel @ Tobermory Fri. night, early ferry out to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island, and it's an easy 50 mile tow to Little Current and Spider Bay marina. Little Current or Neptune Island on Sat. Night, then Sunday night could be either Little Current or South Baymouth to be close to the ferry back. Of course those who are from Columbus and Chicago have the option of heading to Sault Ste. Marie and straight South through the L. P. of Michigan.

I have a call in to Randy at Spider Bay Marina (705-368-3148) to get motel names and numbers, and docking info for our weekend. I'll publish that here as soon as he responds.

posted 06-06-2000 10:12 PM ET (US)            

Do you know if there is a boat launch ramp at Birch Island? It looks like it would be a good place to put in a smaller boat. You'd then be able to come over to Neptune in relative shelter in the Bay of Islands. This distance would be about the same as coming from Little Current, but there would be more protection. There would also be a few more hazards, but it looks quite do-able.

posted 06-07-2000 02:44 PM ET (US)            

1. Tom, I'm going to bet that Jimh can nail down the best chart for use up in our area better than me (I'd have to go home and pull mine out of the boat to tell you which one it is). I will tell you that as old as the data might be, you do want one. Having said that, There are still a *lot* of places where high speed cruising is dicey if you're not with someone who knows the water because rocks don't necessarily show up on charts, and can be out a lot further from shore than you'd expect. Good news is that quite a number of hazards that have been hidden in recent years are currently showing above the water.

2. Little Current - The 3-day weekend of August 5, 6, &7 is "Haweater's Weekend" in Little Current. Hawberries are indiginous to Manitoulin Island and the locals have chosen that theme to identify what is either a provincial or national holiday and call it their own. It's a grand celebration all weekend, with sausage roasts, beer tents, firehose hockey with 6' or 8' diameter inflated rubber balls, horse shows, the whole nine yards. And "HAW" t-shirts. It'll be a lot of fun to see, and now that I've figured out what holiday it is, I guarantee that accomodations will fill up, so those needing them should make reservations *now*. Here's the poop:

***** Spider Bay Marina (Randy)705-368-3148 - I've talked to Randy, and he'll be happy to reserve dock space; I know they have plenty of parking space inside their gates for both trailers and vehicles. Call him directly and tell him you are with my group, or e-mail me and I'll call him.

***** Bridgeway Motel 705-368-2230

***** Hawberry Motel 705-368-3388

***** Wagon Wheel Motel 705-368- 3243

***** Shaftsbury Inn 705-368-1945
(delightful older "Inn" with dining room)

posted 06-10-2000 09:48 PM ET (US)            

Small triangular shaped flag, attached to the bow pennant staff.

posted 06-10-2000 10:42 PM ET (US)            

And if you already know about Vernors, you're well on the way to uncovering the hidden secrets of the Great Lakes State! (Used to think it went pretty well with Kentucky's best.)

posted 06-16-2000 01:18 AM ET (US)            

Neptune Is. is 7-8 miles via water from Little Current. See Chart 2286 for details. A portion has been scanned in at:

posted 06-16-2000 08:09 AM ET (US)            

At Meldrum Bay you are not far from where the McIntyres and Steffens will be staying, at Campbell Bay, East end of Bayfield Sound (25-30 miles +/- ?). You guys might find it convenient to make some plans together. I'm hoping they can come over on Sunday and/or Monday, Saturday being difficult for them as it's the first day they will be up there.

Good to hear from you, keep us posted.

posted 06-18-2000 12:51 PM ET (US)            

-----begin article from FREE PRESS-----

2 KIDS MISSING AS BOAT SINKS ON LAKE HURON

Free Press News Services
--------

TOBERMORY, Ontario---Rescuers seached the cold waters of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay on Friday for two seventh-grade students missing after a tour boat sank during a school outing.

The steel-hulled TRUE NORTH II was returning from Flowerpot Island, a popular tourist destination in Fathom Five National Marine Park, when it sank in rough waters, said Ross Thompson, superintendent of Bruce Peninsula National Park.

"We have 18 confirmed survivors and two missing, and there is a search underway," said Thompson. The water in the area is 200 feet deep.

The vessel carrying the 17 children, two teachers, and the captain was chartered for a morning outing by Bruce Central School in Tiverton, Ontario, said Thompson.

Lawrence Swift of the Canadian Coast Guard in Sarnia said the first the Coast Guard knew of the situation was when people were seen clinging to a raft.

Fathom Five maine park is a popular location for divers, with more than 20 shipwrecks.

-----end of article in FREE PRESS------

I am sure the water temperature up there is still in the 50-degree range.

posted 06-23-2000 07:32 AM ET (US)            

And Jim, if you are following the forum, Welcome aboard! ( I hope you have been adequately briefed as to the rough nature of the crowd you're getting ready to associate with.) All kidding aside, We'll all look forward to seeing you in August.

posted 06-24-2000 10:23 PM ET (US)            

John Flook mentioned a "Turner's Chart". Turner's is the principal store in Little Current; they may have a locally produced chart of the Bay of Islands.

Unfortunately, the Canadian Hydrographic Office has not issued a new chart for this region since they first put one out in 1822 and 1886.

They did complete a new survey up there back in the late 1990's, but so far there has not been any revision to the chart forthcoming.

From the results of this same survey project, they did issue 2206-McGregor Bay a few years ago, finally showing that rock strewn bay for the first time, but Bay of Islands is pretty vaguely charted.

I guess it is a matter of priority and time for them. I always check the Canadian Chart Catalogue every spring hoping that they will have something new for that area.

The owner of the DeFoe Shipyards of Bay City, one of the original memebers of the Great Lakes Cruising Club, prepared his own chart from surveys he made while cruising up there in the 1960's. This chart is now issued by the Great Lakes Cruising Club to its members.

I am not certain, but I have a hunch that there may be a close correlation between the Defoe Chart and what John referred to as the "Turner's Chart", as Turner was a member of the GLCC and for a long time I think he was the Port Captain for Little Current.

But coming from Little Current the route to Neptune is pretty straight forward, just watch out for the big rock on the eastern end of Neptune, due south of the island.

We have been in there several times with our sailboat which drew 6-feet of water without a problem.

posted 06-26-2000 02:56 PM ET (US)            

It largely portrays Manitoulin Island and the North Shore - imagine a rectangle with the long dimension East-West, from the Western tip of Manitoulin to the Churchill Islands just East of French River, and from Sudbury in the North to The Southern tip of Manitoulin. (Lat. 45 deg. 30' to 46 deg. 30'; long. 80 deg. 45' to 83 deg. 15')

In my humble opinion, if one came away from a visit to the area with but one piece of memorabilia, it would be the Turner Map, hands down.

Bruce, the route out of Little Current is bouyed from the mouth of Spider Bay to the South end of Wabuno Channel; turn left coming out of Spider Bay, travelling West in the bouyed channel - the channel markers end after a mile or two and you bear Northwest looking for a red pencil bouy marking the beginning of the Wabuno Channel, another mile or so out in deep water between the Southwest corner of Great Cloche Island on your right (Basically what you are doing is getting from the South side of LaCloche to the North side of LaCloche by going around its West end. LaCloche {Great Cloche Island} will always be on your right.) and the West expanse of the North Channel on your left. I can't give you accurate compass headings here, but it is simply a matter of keeping well South of Lacloche, which is the land directly ahead of you when you come out of Spider Bay, because of a massive rocky flat shallow area, and after you turn North to go out the Wabuno Channel, stay well West of the Southwest corner of LaCloche for the same reason. Heading North through the Wabuno Channel is to be between La Cloche (still on your right) and East/West Rouse Islands and Schreiber Island on your left. Wabuno is maybe two or three miles from South to North. As you near the North end of the Wabuno, squeeze (Canadian term) right and pass about center between the Halfway Islands (two small islands that aren't really much more than large rocks) and the Northwest corner of LaCloche (probably a half-mile opening). You can pass on the outside of the Halfway Islands (nearer to Schreiber Island) if you want, it's deep both sides, but you'd be going out of your way. Clear the NW corner of LaCloche by at least 1/4 mile before turning right again and heading East to Neptune. Maybe two miles and you are there, the North Shore and the LaCloche "Mountains" are on your Port beam about four miles over while you're on this last leg. This is the most open piece of the journey and in a strong West wind this little piece of the trip can be a corker. Staying a good 1/4 mile off LaCloche (still on your right) as you head East will keep you clear of any high bottom. It can be hard to pick Neptune out when you approach from the west, as it is snuggled right up to LaCloche; if you do make it out and want to come around the West end of Neptune, stay in the middle of the channel coming in and don't turn South to come in until you are directly North of the opening, as there are rocks off of LaCloche if you cut the corner at a diagonal. Once you are in the protected waters and can see our camp, turn left and travel slowly right next to the LaCloche shore, as that is the deep channel; 6 feet and soft bottom. You can also go around the East end of Neptune coming in, it's an easier entrance to pick out visually, but as Jim has said, stay well out as you round the East end due to rocks off the shore of Neptune there.

I'll bet this turned out to be a lot longer than I thought it would be - I hope it is helpful.

posted 06-26-2000 10:18 PM ET (US)         

1. Richardson's Lake Huron Chart book, about $80, but well worth it. Has both American & Canadian complete charts of the Lake, Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Richardson's specializes in Great Lakes chart books (all 5), and they are the BEST.

2. Lakeland Boating's "Lake Huron Ports of Call" cruising guide. Beautifully done, great pictures. (About $40)

3. "Ports" (published in Toronto) "Lake Huron Cruising Guide". Great marked up aerial photos showing courses. (About $40)

posted 06-26-2000 10:49 PM ET (US)            

I usually plan for a 20mph cruise, which works out to three minutes a mile. It looks to be about 10 miles. 30 minutes.

posted 06-27-2000 07:44 AM ET (US)            

I have made the trip in not much more than ten minutes in my old Montauk in glassy seas; I have also made it in more like an hour and a half in pea soup or 6-7 footers. As my daughter says, it matters what's going on at the time.

posted 07-11-2000 08:18 AM ET (US)            

The working channels up there are 16 for sure and 9 I think (which would be similar to the Great Lakes stateside, 16 designated for emergency and Coast guard, 9 for general hailing, then pick a channel), and 68 for marinas. I know that as of last summer 16 remained the generally used hailing channel up there.

Anyway, I would have to just pick a channel, as we have been in the habit of monitoring and calling on 16 ourselves (we have a 50 ft antenna at camp that gets out pretty well, and we normally monitor 16 from any boat we are out in). Someone else (almost anyone else) might know more about typical channels for this use than me, but I guess I'll throw out the notion of using 35 as our designated channel, and welcome comments if there are reasons that make that a good idea or bad idea.

Our radio at camp is an older model that will only monitor one channel at a time, so at least until we are actively communicating that will probably stay tuned to 16. I have a new radio in Outre' that I'm pretty sure will monitor multiple channels, and if so, assuming 35 remains our channel, I'll set it to monitor at least 16 and 35. When you get up there initially and want to raise us, hail for Neptune on 16, or Kingfish on 16 or 35 (yeah, I know, Kingfish is not the name of my boat, but it's a long story). I (we) will be listening for calls to Neptune, Kingfish, or even Outre'. Once this thing has started, I'm sure that using one designated channel(like 35) will be a great convenience.

posted 07-14-2000 01:05 PM ET (US)            

My radio does not pickup channel 35? Is this common or do I have a cheap radio?