TREADNWATER NORTH PLAN

GREAT LOOP...NORTH
It doesn’t seem like 5 months ago we completed the south leg of our great adventure and we are now getting ready to head north. It has been a great winter here in Florida, but we are getting anxious to start again. Our plans are to travel slower going up the east coast and arrive home sometime in mid August. We made it to Florida in 63 days, and the trip up the east coast is planned for 120 days. This means we will not be home this summer.
As with our fall trip South, we are hoping some of you will plan to join us along the way. The trip should be a lot more interesting and the ports more exciting...NYC vs. Bobby’s Fish Camp or Montreal vs. Columbus, Mississippi. We have tried to rough out a schedule, but you must be flexible where you meet us or when. Weather, boat repairs, "relaxing in port", etc. control the calendar, the pace and when we arrive. However, that said we have tried to leave enough flexibility in the schedule so we can meet you as planned. We were able to make our dates with people that joined us this fall.
It is almost impossible to print a calendar four months out, but we have given it a try. The best we can say, this is what we hope to accomplish, weather and the good Lord willing...but watch for updates on our blog...www.treadnwater.com
APRIL 27-MAY 1...get to the east coast of Florida
We already have a problem. Our plan all along has been to cross the state through lake Okeechobee by way of the Caloosahatchee river and exit at Stuart, Fl. However, Fl is in a drought and the lake is low. Our option is add 300 miles and a couple of days, and go around through the Keys and up the ICW (Intercoastal Water Way) pass Miami.
Bob and Barb Bergstrom will be on this leg and the next couple of legs to Hilton Head.
MAY 1-MAY 7...Ft. Pierce to St. Augustine, Fl...188 miles
Our trip will take us to Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Daytona Beach and St. Augustine. We plan about 4 days of cruising and 4 days seeing the sites.
MAY 8-MAY 12...get to Savannah...282 miles
The cruising guides call this the worst 240 miles of the loop. It is basically through the swamps of the Georgia coast. If we have time we may detour into the St. Johns river and visit Jacksonville. If the weather is good we are planning to run outside (in the Atlantic Ocean) instead of on the ICW. Friends have also reported shallow water in parts of the Georgia ICW. There really isn’t much from Jacksonville to Savannah to see or do, except for a stop in Jekyll Island or Brunswick Ga.
MAY 12-MAY18...Savannah and Hilton Head...20 miles
We are planning 6 days of downtime between these two ports. This also gives up a chance to get back on schedule if need be. Bob and Barb will be leaving us during this time.
MAY 19-MAY 24...South Carolina...219 miles
We will now follow a number of rivers and streams and will have the highest tides of the trip...8 to 9 feet. So hours of travel will be governed in some cases by the tides. But the ports get better and more of them, even though some days will be far inland from the ocean.
Ports of call will include Beaufort, S.C., Charleston, Georgetown and Myrtle Beach. Our plan is for 4 days of cruising and 2 days in port. However, the cruising days will only be 50 to 70 miles.
MAY 25-JUNE 1...North Carolina and Norfolk...295 miles
This stretch takes us back near the ocean, and in fact we will be just behind many of the barrier islands. Some of the ports we hope to visit are Wilmington, Morehead City, Beaufort, NC before reaching Pamlico Sound. From here we will cut inland and make our way to Portsmouth/ Norfolk area.
We have now arrived at the southern entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.
JUNE 2-JUNE 7...Norfolk to Baltimore...188 miles
We plan a week going up the West side of the Chesapeake Bay, the most beautiful boating on the east coast...according to some. Our plans are in limbo at this time, whether to visit the historic areas of Jamestown and Williamsburg or cruise the Potomac River to Washington, DC. I don’t think we will have time to do everything we will want to do. Many Loopers spend a whole season just in the Chesapeake not just 2 or 3 weeks like we plan to do.
JUNE 8-JUNE 16...cruise with friends from Gulf Harbour Yacht Club
We will be meeting up with 8 to 10 boats in Baltimore on June 8 and will be cruising to Baltimore, Annapolis, St. Marys, and the Wye River. My brother Jerry and his wife Paula will be joining us for the week. We will return them to Baltimore on the 16/17.
JUNE 17-JUNE 24...Baltimore to New York City...225 miles
Baltimore is near the north end of the Chesapeake and from here we will cross through the CD canal into Delaware Bay, down to Cape Fear. We need to make the run during good weather, but the bay is only 55 miles long. From Cape Fear we will run outside in the Atlantic along the New Jersey coast, stopping at Atlantic City, Manasquan and finally Sandy Hook which is across from New York City. This only about 134 miles and the water is deep enough that we can run near shore.
JUNE 25- JULY 1...New York City
We haven’t finalize our stay in the New York area, but we may plan a week in the city. We might explore Long Island Sound, but probably will just stay in or around the city.
JULY 2-JULY 7...Hudson River to Troy, NY...115 miles
The main stop in this area is West Point, which we plan to spend a couple of days. Albany offers no facilities so we can’t visit. Here many Loopers go west on the Erie canal either to Oswego or on to Buffalo. We have elected to go north to Lake Champlain.
JULY 8-JULY 22..Lake Champlain...237 miles
The lake is only 71 miles long of the 109 miles from Troy to the Canadian border. From the border to the St. Lawrence Seaway is the Richelieu canal which is about 68 miles. We plan to visit the historical high points, small towns and Burlington, VT..
JULY 23- JULY 26...Montreal...67 miles
It is a short trip of 67 miles down the St. Lawrence River to Montreal where we plan to spend 3 or 4 days. Our plans are to stay at the marina right in town.
JULY 27-AUGUST 1...Montreal to Ottawa...97 miles
A short one or two day run leaving a lot of time in Ottawa. Entering Ottawa is exciting in its self, since one will go through the "flight of eight" step locks before entering the city. These are the longest step locks in the North America.
AUGUST 2-AUGUST 10...Rideau Canal...126 miles
Have you ever wanted to cruise the canals of Europe, then join us on the Rideau. We will pass through 44 locks...274 feet up then 165 feet down. The average lock is less than 10 feet. After visiting a number of small quaint river towns, we will end up in Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. A couple of extra hands for the locks would be great. Stephanie and Louie are planning to join us on this leg.
AUGUST 10-AUGUST 18...LAKE ONTARIO TO SANDUSKY...360 miles
We’re headed for home. This is an area we have traveled before so our stops will be shorter. Our plans are to run to Sodus Bay and spend a day or two visiting relatives in up state New York, then it is on to the Welland Canal, across Lake Erie in two or three days and arrive home to a weekend welcoming party...hint...hint. Here we will officially close the loop.
We will definitely need help in the Welland Canal since you have to have a minimum of three people on board. Sign up now...don’t delay...pay isn’t good, but the grub is some of the best.
As noted, this is a plan not to be confused with a schedule. However, we have tried to keep the cruising days short so if need be we can stay over or run a little longer if need be. We are not in hurry, so be ready to lay back if you join us. We can pick you up at about any airport or drop you off where need be. In some cases you probably can drive in and get back to your car without to much trouble. We don’t go far some weeks. We might be able to do back-to-back cars in some cases.
Let us know your interest so we don’t get overlaps. Join us, it has and is great fun.
Craig and Mary Lou