posted 04-21-2005 06:27 PM ET (US)            

Sounds like you need to plan one! :)

posted 04-21-2005 06:33 PM ET (US)            

Regards,
Peter - 1984 Outrage, 22 feet, 1990 225 Evinrude with a 1990 9.9 Evinrude kicker and that very large "Whaler" on the hull.

posted 04-24-2005 04:44 PM ET (US)            

Nice to hear from you. Hope everything is good your way.

Gail and I will be _kinda close_ to you the third weekend of July, in Cadillac. Other than heading to Isle Royale at the end of August, we're pretty much open.

An early weekend (arrive Thursday evening, head back Saturday afternoon type of thing) around Burt/Mullet we might be open for.

posted 05-04-2005 10:20 AM ET (US)            

I was thinking dinner on the Island and overnight in Cedarville or Hessel..then the return on Sunday morning while the lake is calm for the run out to the reef.

Of course...I need to get my motor situation squared away...

Dave

posted 05-04-2005 12:44 PM ET (US)            

Buckda, don't you live in Chicago?

posted 05-04-2005 01:07 PM ET (US)            

In a word, Yes.

I'd typically escape work around 5 on a Friday evening (pack the night before) and then drive the 1.5 hours to pick up the boat (plus get 'nailed' by the time change), so I pick the boat up at around 7:30 local time, and then to get to Mullet takes an additional 4 to 5 hours, so it puts me in around midnight (1 or 2 AM for a run all the way to Cedarville or DeTour in the UP). I'll be up by 9 AM to go out and play, and get the boat back on the trailer by 2 PM on Sunday, which puts me back home (with the time zone change benefitting me) by 10 PM to Midnight at the latest.

Back at work the next morning at 8:30, go to bed early on Monday night.

This summer, I'm working on the north side, but will benefit from "summer hours" - meaning that I can work four 9 hour days and then work 8 till Noon on Friday. That should help, but I work 1 hour *driving time* north of the city, so it adds a bit to that commute. The return trip isn't so bad because I live IN the city and will make up the additional 1.25 hours in the car the following morning.

posted 05-04-2005 01:23 PM ET (US)            

1.5 hours to Southern Georgian Bay / one way
2.5 to Britt in the north. / one way
30 minutes to Lake Ontario / one way
1 hour to my father's house on Lake Simcoe.

Suddenly I'm not quite so jealous anymore.

posted 05-04-2005 02:08 PM ET (US)            

To simply USE the boat, it would take about 2 hours from my apartment to get the boat in the water. So I drive about 97 miles every Saturday morning as it is just to use the boat 'locally'.

And LHG is right. 1.5 hours from Georgian Bay? Get there at 7 after work, put a few hours under the hull, camp out near Pte Au Baril Friday night, then go explore northern Georgian Bay on Saturday....and return the whole leg back to the trailer on Sunday. Heck, you could even commute from S. Georgian Bay! I know lots of folks to whose commutes are that long each way.

posted 05-04-2005 02:30 PM ET (US)            

My tentative summer plans are to keep the boat on trailer at 12 Mile Bay (Sans Souci) for the early part. I've already made arrangemnts for it to stay, on trailer, at Wright's in Britt for July and August. Weather permitting in July early August, my goal is to sleep on board at the Bustards every Friday night. Maybe even Killarney.

And actually there are people who have commuted to Toronto from there. Leave the family on board for a few days then head for the office 1-2-3 or 4 days. It's been done. My father did it.

posted 05-04-2005 08:17 PM ET (US)            

First weekend in August would rock, but if John can only do the last weekend in July I would go for that too.

posted 05-04-2005 08:50 PM ET (US)            

We're not talking about the same islands (John and I)

Neptune Island is in the North Channel near the Bay of Islands north of Little Current.

That is a long run (125 miles or so) from Hessel, and in some big water for the return trip if made in the afternoon.

Killarney is further East in the North Channel, really at the very top of Georgian Bay, and is the jumping-off point for the Georgian Bay Small Craft Route for traffic headed South.

I'd love to do a long weekend in Canada and explore McGregor Bay. I know of a nearby island whose owner might let us camp on it if we ask nicely (though the name, Mosquito Island, is not very promising on having a good experience with the nocturnal flying creatures).

My post was exploring the possibility of traversing Michigan's inland waterway from Mullet Lake out into Lake Huron, making the run to Mackinac Island and then up to Hessel or Cedarville in the Les Cheneaux Islands. There is a great island up there (Government Island) that is part of the Hiawatha National Forest and has some great campsites with great views. (No reservations or fees required). Cedarville also has a hotel that is near the water. Then a return trip either retracing the route we came, or if conditions allow, a run 19 miles out into the straits to Spectacle Reef, where the US Army Corps of Engineers achieved another of their great feats in building this lighthouse in the middle of a very unforgiving (especially in the winter) environment. Then a 12 mile run back to Cheboygan and Mullet Lake.

posted 05-04-2005 09:30 PM ET (US)            

Buckda, when I looked at the map I was wondering about your description of going to Mullet Lake then out on the Lake. So there is a channel from Mullet north to the big lake? On my new MI road map it's barely an ink squiggle.

posted 05-04-2005 10:26 PM ET (US)            

From the mouth of the Cheboygan river, it's about five miles out to Bois Blanc Island, and depending on which way the wind is blowing, it looks like small craft could stay in fairly well protected waters all the way to Mackinaw Island, but from there to Hessel is roughly 12 miles that could be dicey depending on the wind direction.

I'd be up for that trip, as long as the seas are 1-3 or less and some nice boater(like Dave)would keep an eye on me. Of course, if the weather won't allow a 130 to make the crossing, I can always trailer to Hessel and run out from there. Not much of trip from Ceboygan to Hessel. I could easily be talked into camping on Government Island for a couple of days and fishing the area.

posted 05-05-2005 09:14 AM ET (US)            

What is the historical signifcance? i.e. logging, fur trade routes.

I must admit, although I've always known the incredible amount of boating done out of MI, especially considering you're on not one, not two, but three Great Lakes, but I've only recently discovered the large amount of inland lakes from all your discussions here. While searching around for info this morning I found a site that gave a brief listing of the lakes. Brief my a**, I stopped counting.

Has anyone ever calculated how much shoreline there is in the State of Michigan? :)

posted 05-05-2005 11:37 AM ET (US)            

Anyway, I've taken this thread off topic now. Apologies. It was fun though.

Let's get back to where everyone will be Great Lake cruising this summer.

posted 05-05-2005 09:38 PM ET (US)            

Seriously though, Michigan would be a boating paradise if it weren't locked in ice for so much of the year. The ice should be pretty well gone by July. Hessel is sounding mighty good (Government Island). Where is Neptune Island, John?

posted 05-06-2005 10:16 AM ET (US)            

Using the satellite photo option on Google Maps < http://maps.google.com/ >, you can not only see Neptune Island, but you can see our Parker parked at the end of the dock - I'll see if I can guide you to it.

When you open up Google Maps, you see the entirety of the North American continent; look closely at the Georgian Bay and North Channel area of Lake Huron, and you can see where the Bruce Peninsula, which forms the southwest boundary of the Georgian Bay, sweeps up and almost meets a separate body of land, which is Manitoulin Island. Double click on the Northeast end of Manitoulin Island and increase magnification about 6 stops. You now can pretty clearly see Manitoulin Island and the town of Little Current. Double click on Little Current and increase magnification two more stops. You can now see another separate body of land directly North and East of Manitoulin, and separated by a narrow strait of water, which is the what the town of Little Current is named after; that separate body of land is La Cloche (or Great Cloche) Island. Following an imaginary line going directly North from Little Current, across the West end of La Cloche Island, you will see a 3-sided indentation on the north shore of La Cloche. Double click on the shallow point that is formed where the West edge of that indentation comes up and meets the Northwest shore of La Cloche, then increase magnification 4 more stops and you will be looking at just that shallow Northerly aiming point, and the water of the North Channel directly above it. Now switch to satellite view in the upper roght hand corner of the Google Maps window; Voila!, you're looking at Neptune Island. The satellite photo is a little dark, but you can see a sand bar that drops down slightly below the Southwest end of Neptune Island, and something long and skinny heading Southeast from Neptune just to the East of the sand bar, with a blob of white at the Southeast end of it. Double click on that area and increase magnification to full, and you are looking at our dock coming out into the channel between La Cloche and Neptune from the area where our cabins are (they're there, but hard to pick out on the photo); the white blob at the end of the dock is our Parker.

Capice?

posted 05-06-2005 04:03 PM ET (US)            

Dave, did you get that smoke wagon of yours sorted out yet? Any plans to head North prior to the IR trip?

I'm itchin' to make some definate plans to spend some vacation time. Karen and I will very likely be at Mullet Lake the 3rd week of July, but I have two other weeks to burn besides that, and I'd just as soon spend them in my Whaler.

We're also looking at the Elk Lake/Torch Lake chain in June sometime, but nothing final yet.

Roy

posted 05-06-2005 10:10 PM ET (US)         

Here’s a link to a nautical chart of the area encompassing Neptune Island, as well:

posted 05-08-2005 08:44 AM ET (US)            

http://www.whaler.com/Rec/default.asp?content=floridaowners

I'm guessing the dealer in Harbor Springs or Charlevoix would know something, but there's nothing on their site yet either (irishboatshop.com).

posted 05-09-2005 08:53 PM ET (US)            

Is that some kind of fish-farming operation on the west side of La Cloche?

posted 05-10-2005 09:39 AM ET (US)            

Yes it is (good eyes, my friend).

And how did you find a url directly to that piece of the satellite photo? My browser url window (for lack of better terminology) only shows the basic url for Google Maps, no matter where I am or whatever level of magnification I'm at.

posted 05-14-2005 07:32 PM ET (US)            

I'm up on Mullet Lake right now and the weather is rainy and in the 50s. If it like this in May it is bound to warm up by mid July! But this is Michigan so there are no guarantees.

Dave,

If you want to do the Mullet, Mackinaw, Les Cheneaux and back route earlier in the season like mid to late June we could use my place as a base of operation. Currently the weekends of June 18th and 25th are open.

posted 05-16-2005 10:00 AM ET (US)            

Thanks for the offer, and I hope that some folks can do that.

For me, both of those weekends I'll be travelling to (and from) a fishing camp in northern Ontario, so it won't work out for me.

Regards,

posted 05-17-2005 12:58 PM ET (US)            

You must register by June 15th.

Who's in???

posted 05-17-2005 02:41 PM ET (US)            

I was able to click for more information and downloaded a PDF with registration form and description of the event, along with an itinerary, and contact information for local hotels.

When you get to that page, click reload or refresh on your browser and see if there isn't a link under the Charlevoix event that will provide more information.

posted 05-17-2005 04:52 PM ET (US)            

Looks like fun. Nice that they have an alternate plan for those with boats under 18', rather than trying to make it out to Beaver Island. Lake Charlevoix is plenty big enough for my 13 footer!

posted 05-17-2005 05:38 PM ET (US)            

Nothing to keep you from "tagging along".
That's what I'm going to have to do anyway. There is no way I'll make a 7:00 PM EST captain's meeting on Friday afternoon/night with Chicago traffic and the time change. Plus I'll have to contend with all the Michigan folks running up there to their vacation homes. Anyone who's gone up on a Friday night in the summer knows that those roads are stretched to capacity. I'll be lucky to get there before midnight.

I think you can reserve dockage for your boat anyway at either that the Irish Boat Shop or one of the other marinas that are along that stretch of lake Charlevoix.

Just reserve the space now, so there's no argument. I already e-mailed them for a reservation slip, knowing that I won't be there until late.

I'll have to switch my motor to "whisper mode" when docking that evening.

Dave

posted 05-17-2005 08:02 PM ET (US)            

Maybe we should start a new thread for this

posted 05-17-2005 09:25 PM ET (US)            

Dave,

Where did you make reservations ? At the Irish Boat Shop ?

posted 05-17-2005 11:27 PM ET (US)            

Thanks for the tip about Google Maps.

Dave (Buckda)-

I'd be curious about sign-up numbers too. Charlevoix is a great venue; even Katie is making noises like she may tag along with me. I'm anxious to see if some of the other hard core GLBWCC members will become interested - I hope so!

posted 05-18-2005 10:10 AM ET (US)            

I didn't hear back yet from Irish boat shop re: slippage, so I just went ahead and mailed my registration form today. I figure I'll work it out with them for the slip reservation later this week or next.

John-
I think JimH is considering it as well, so perhaps we'll get more of the "Detroit" contingent up there...Royboy blazed the trail...

I plan to sleep aboard the boat. No sense in paying slip fees AND hotel fees when one will do...but I'll definitely need to bring an alarm. That 7:45 departure is 'really' a 6:45 departure for me, after an 8 hour work day and an 8 hour drive the day before. Yikes.

Roy (and Sportroyalwulf)-

I think you would need a very stable, and stationary high-pressure system indeed. I think your boat could make it, even in choppy seas...but it's a matter of comfort man! (It would be really cool to see a 130 Sport out there on the Island after making the crossing...but I doubt that Whaler as a company would promote the crossing in their newsletter or Website, eh?!)

Dave

posted 05-18-2005 11:34 AM ET (US)            

Buckda; 18' Outrage
Kingfish; 22' Outrage?
Sportroyalwulf; 150 Sport
Home Aside; 17' Montauk
Teak Oil; 17' Montauk
Royboy; 13 Sport

posted 05-22-2005 10:05 PM ET (US)            

Yes, I will be at Mullett at that time. That is the start of our annual two-week family reunion. I would love to join in with any gathering in the area. Perhaps my siblings would even be amiable to have a bunch of Whalerites over for a Saturday night dinner? Next time I talk with my brother and sister I will sound them out.

posted 05-24-2005 06:40 PM ET (US)            

I can also be talked into multiple return trips to this great area. A fall color tour would be very nice up there, I think.

I'll keep my ears open for that weekend in July, but I'll also be in Northern Michigan for the Charlevoix rendezvous the very next weekend, and then in Isle Royale in August/September. (By the way..I think you and JimH should make plans to attend Isle Royale - Scheduling be damned!!)

Cheers,

Dave
:)

posted 05-24-2005 11:13 PM ET (US)            

Now I feel the idea of a September or even October rendezvous on Mullett is a fine idea. So, I will start another thread to discuss such a trip.