Samsung Galaxy - navigation applications?

[Cevin c Taylor]

EclipseGuy - My wife and I spent three days in the Erie Islands last August, visiting South Bass, Middle Bass, and Kelly's Island, but spending the night on shore.  It's only about 2 1/2 hours from where I live.  I took advantage of the trip to scout various ramps in the area, and the campground on Kelly's Island.  I would definitely love to sail out there and camp.  If you're interested in some company, let me know.  Other than our SB Dunes trip in July, I think things are pretty free, and I could do it as a weekend trip.  I also might be up at Sleeping Bear Dunes around Labor Day, so that might be another change to do the South Manitou Island trip.

[TedW]

EclipseGuy,
Hey John, if you're driving through Tawas on the way to Oscoda you're going right past the state dock. Stop in some time this summer. I'm planning on being in the water early this year. Well, that's if the weather cooperates. Slip 15 or thereabouts.
Ted.

[EclipseGuy]

TedW - let me know when you put your sailboat in the water and I will see if I can come up and launch mine to do some early sailing!

Wolverine - I lived in Ann Arbor for many years, and recently moved to Royal Oak. The Port Clinton area is about 2.5 hours away for me too. I have been launching out of that area for many years (with various boats) and am familiar with a few of the launches. Maybe we should start a new thread to "float around" the idea of getting some people together for a sailing trip. Obviously, when planning a trip in the big lakes there always has to be room for a "plan B".

*I usually launch from the East Harbor State Park. That way I can have a transient slip reserved in case we end up with a bad lake forecast. There is a big campground and some trails and a beach near there, and depending on the wind direction, you may even be able to do a little sailing even when big waves are in the open lake because of the location of the channel opening.

*Catawba Island State park has a decent launch, and the last time I used it it was still free (with free parking). The launch isn't completely protected from waves, so there are occasions when launching a retrieving can be challenging.

*Port Clinton marinas have boat launches. The advantage to using a marina is that you can have a slip reserved in case you don't end up going out each day. Depending on the wind direction, you may be able to sail a bit even when there are large waves on the open lake because the location of the channel opening. Port Clinton is a bit further away from the islands than the other two launches I mention above, and the marinas have less of a "vacation" feel than being near the parks or on the islands themselves, so I haven't stayed in Port Clinton for quite some time.

*Put-In-Bay has a boat launch on the island itself. I have never used it so I don't know how much it costs (if anything). I don't know how much Miller Ferry charges for a truck and trailer to bring to the island, or about parking, but there is a beautiful campground on the island so it might be something worth looking into if you don't want to sail across.

[Cevin c Taylor]

It would be great to try to get a trip together, and I agree that a Plan B is a must.  I scouted East Harbor and Catawba Island, and the South Bass Island campground (very nice views from some sites).  Seeing the ferry lines, I don't think I would ever try taking a vehicle onto one of the ferrys, much less one with a boat behind it.  There was a really nice Ohio State Parks marina on Middle Bass, but the island itself seemed pretty dead.  Any thoughts for dates?

[Lafayette Bruce]

Keep talkin' and postin' on the Lake Erie adventure.  I could be interested in joining it the timing is right with a busy summer ahead.
Lafayette Bruce

[EclipseGuy]

Sorry for the late reply. We were sorting out some vacation reservations so I had to be sure of what we were doing before I could comment.

Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day I can typically head out for a weekend on a last minute trip. I can even potentially do a long weekend (take a Friday or Monday off) as long as I have a few days notice. So if the weather looks great for an upcoming weekend in September or October (or early May, or even November), I should be able to do a last minute trip.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day (inclusive), my family and friends like to "influence" my vacation and sailing plans. They are fair weather sailors, so they prefer those prime months. I can still do some trips that are organized with others, but I do have to plan them more in advance.

We have already booked a marina slip for Memorial Day in Traverse City. We have also planned the Fourth of July week at the Bass Islands (and Put-In-Bay). For Labor Day I was attempting to book the weekend in Tawas, but family members wanted a camp site as well as a marina slip and unfortunately the camp ground is already completely booked for Labor Day. We decided to reserve a camp site on Cooke Pond in Oscoda instead.

My primary holidays are already planned out, but the rest of the calendar is still pretty much open. I think a trip to the Bass Islands some time this year with our sailboats would be a lot of fun. It can either be during the prime months (with some advance planning) when Put-In-Bay is busy, or it can be in the Fall when things are more quiet.

I know it is still early in the season, but if there is interest in such a trip we should start a new thread to discuss it.

- John

 

[Cevin c Taylor]

Just before seeing your reply, I started a new thread in "Journeys and Destination".