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Cruising America's Great Loop and other inland routes

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north channel

E
ed
Mon, May 25, 2009 11:17 AM

Don't believe those paid advertisements in the glossy magazines. The north
channel is a terrible place to cruise. Fuel is at least $20/gallon, if you
can find it. Pump outs are $30/tank. The mosquitoes are bigger than your
sister but they only come out in the evening. During the day, the black
flies do quite well at biting every inch of your exposed skin and quite a
bit that isn't exposed. Of course the black bears can bite too. Oh, so can
the Mississauga rattlers. The bottom is all solid rock so there is no way to
get your anchor to dig in, you will slide along until you come to a fissure
in the rock. Good luck holding onto that when the wind shifts. And the wind
will definitely shift when the daily thunderstorms or the tornado comes by.
Speaking of rocks, you'd better have a steel hull because you're bound to
hit a few uncharted pinnacles.
You'll have to deal with them darn cannucks, the most unfriendly people on
earth. You can't bring your much needed guns into Canada and they will
charge you about $100 a bottle for booze you try to bring in. If you buy
anything in Canada, you'll pay a GST tax of about 200%, but that's OK
because there are no stores or supplies up there.
Bring LOTS of winter clothing. If you want to swim, I recommend a dry suit.
I suggest you stay away until I go back (for the fifth time) to see if
anything has improved.
You have been forewarned.

Ed K

Don't believe those paid advertisements in the glossy magazines. The north channel is a terrible place to cruise. Fuel is at least $20/gallon, if you can find it. Pump outs are $30/tank. The mosquitoes are bigger than your sister but they only come out in the evening. During the day, the black flies do quite well at biting every inch of your exposed skin and quite a bit that isn't exposed. Of course the black bears can bite too. Oh, so can the Mississauga rattlers. The bottom is all solid rock so there is no way to get your anchor to dig in, you will slide along until you come to a fissure in the rock. Good luck holding onto that when the wind shifts. And the wind will definitely shift when the daily thunderstorms or the tornado comes by. Speaking of rocks, you'd better have a steel hull because you're bound to hit a few uncharted pinnacles. You'll have to deal with them darn cannucks, the most unfriendly people on earth. You can't bring your much needed guns into Canada and they will charge you about $100 a bottle for booze you try to bring in. If you buy anything in Canada, you'll pay a GST tax of about 200%, but that's OK because there are no stores or supplies up there. Bring LOTS of winter clothing. If you want to swim, I recommend a dry suit. I suggest you stay away until I go back (for the fifth time) to see if anything has improved. You have been forewarned. Ed K
JE
John Esch
Mon, May 25, 2009 12:39 PM

Don't believe those paid advertisements in the glossy magazines. The north
<<
channel is a terrible place to cruise.<<
You'll have to deal with them darn cannucks, the most unfriendly people on
earth<<
Bring LOTS of winter clothing<<
biting every inch of your exposed skin and quite a bit that isn't
exposed.<<

Ed,
Thanks for the warning!!  We are getting ready to leave Grand Haven, MI in a
week and heading to the North Channel.  Thanks to your advice we've doubled
up our clothes and bug  spray. The Admiral got new glasses and a new "lead
line" to be able to see the rocks. She also has that Southern Belle Texas
accent that I hope will help soothe the relations with those "darned
cannucks".

If you see us up there and have run out of bug spray or bug juice give us a
shout and we can swap some tales about the size of Canadian Bugs vs. Texas
bugs

John & Cyndi Esch
Addison,TX
214-500-9478-John

Fet-Esch,a 48' Chung Hwa Seamaster
Currently lying at Grand Haven,MI

>>Don't believe those paid advertisements in the glossy magazines. The north >><< >>channel is a terrible place to cruise.<< >>You'll have to deal with them darn cannucks, the most unfriendly people on >>earth<< >>Bring LOTS of winter clothing<< >>biting every inch of your exposed skin and quite a bit that isn't >>exposed.<< Ed, Thanks for the warning!! We are getting ready to leave Grand Haven, MI in a week and heading to the North Channel. Thanks to your advice we've doubled up our clothes and bug spray. The Admiral got new glasses and a new "lead line" to be able to see the rocks. She also has that Southern Belle Texas accent that I hope will help soothe the relations with those "darned cannucks". If you see us up there and have run out of bug spray or bug juice give us a shout and we can swap some tales about the size of Canadian Bugs vs. Texas bugs John & Cyndi Esch Addison,TX 214-500-9478-John Fet-Esch,a 48' Chung Hwa Seamaster Currently lying at Grand Haven,MI