The Great Lakes Loop, a modification of its popular cousin, The Great Loop, is ideal for boaters looking to spend a season immersed in Loop culture. The America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association provides many great resources for both routes and their numerous variations, and is open boaters of all kinds: from year round ‘Loopers,’ to seasonal enthusiasts, and day trippers. During the summer of 2015, Klaus and Elizabeth, aboard their Back Cove 37 ‘Chinook,’ spent the summer of 2015 completing the Great Lakes Loop and cataloging their adventures in this beautiful and detailed photojournal.
Map of the Great Loop – portions in red give an approximate indication of the Great Lakes Loop
Beginning in Port Washinton, NY, Klaus and Elizabeth traveled through the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario, to Georgian Bay and the North Channel, and then the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Chinook and her crew then traversed lakes Michigan, Huron, and St. Clair to the Detroit River, leading them to Lake Erie and allowing them to cross their wake at the junction of the Erie and Oswego Canals. Their adventure totaled 1750 nautical miles, and resulted in a beautiful and detailed photojournal that we are thrilled to share with you on the Back Cove Blog.
Part 1 follows Klaus and Elizabeth from their start in Port Washington, and through the Trent-Severn Waterway. Subsequent parts will be published in our upcoming posts, so stay tuned as we follow the Chinook and her crew along their adventure:
Approximate route of the Chinook, June 7 to July 8, 2015
Sunday, June 7, 2015: Beginning Our Loop Voyage
Hi All,
Today, Sunday 7 June, was our first big day passing through New York City and starting up the Hudson River. Six hours and 55 nm, sixty road miles, and about 98 km.
On the East River after passing through Hell Gate
One World Trade from the East River
The Battery
Flying our AGLCA burgee that’s for Americas Great Loop Cruisers Association
The Statue of Liberty, or as most Germans might prefer, “of Liverwurst”
From here up the Hudson River.
Love to All,
K. Pops
Friday, June 26, 2015: Chinook enters Trent Severn Waterway, Ontario, Canada
Picton, Ontario to Trenton, Ontario – we made it through five locks and moored at Lock 6.
TSW Gateway
In Lock 1 of the Trent-Severn Waterway
Chinook
TSW
Sunday, June 28, 2015: Trent Severn Waterway (TSW)
Hi guys,
Today we made locks 6 through 12. We started at 9am and didn’t finish until around 3pm. Lock 11 is a double lock, each portion lifting us 24 ft – scary, even for the old hand! After they let us into Lock 12 the doors behind us closed with a resounding bang that could scare the daylights out of anyone. Actually, it turned out to be very easy.
Still smiling!
From here we ran just a mile or so and docked in Campbellford Ontario. We are staying an extra day to replenish our energies (and sense of humor). We just bought a fresh strawberry pie in the town’s renowned bakery.
Klaus and Elizabeth
Wednesday, July 1, 2015: Peterborough Lift Lock 21 on the Trent Severn Waterway
Today, 1 July (Canada Day), we lifted through Locks 20 to 26 – a big job for an advance of only 9 nautical miles. The big event was Lock 21, the Peterborough Lift Lock built in 1904. One of few in the world, and the highest.
Approaching Lock 21
Lock 21 – The pan is open for us to enter
An easy side tie
Looking back, the gate is up and we are ready for the big lift
Love to All,
And a Happy Canada Day to the believers,Chinook
Back Cove 37
Saturday, July 4, 2015: Trent Severn Waterway Ontario Canada
Hi All,
Another day in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario region. Bobcageon to Fennelon Falls and finally to the second “lift lock” at Kirkfield. At Kirkfield we were at the highest point of travel, and the drop was about fifty feet.
Entering one of two pans. In front of me is a barrier, and then a fifty foot drop. The willies!
This is what it looks like from below
Finally tied up for the night
Klaus and Elizabeth.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015: Big Chute Marine Railway
Hello All,
Back Cove 37 Chinook at Big Chute Marine Railway on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
Big Chute Marine Railway on the Trent-Severn Waterway
Another boat in the slings
8:55 and waiting for the 9:00am opening
In the slings being moved along.
A look back.
Klaus and Elizabeth
Wednesday, July 8, 2015: CHINOOK Completes the Trent Severn Waterway
Hi All,
This morning, 8 July, we completed the Trent-Severn Waterway through Ontario when we passed through Lock 45 in Port Severn. We passed through 44 Locks including two lift locks (counterbalanced pans one goes up as the other goes down) and the Big Chute Marine Railway.
240 statute miles, 209 nautical miles or 390 km. The Trent-Severn Waterway took 13 days, including three lay days.
Birds eye view of the area around Lock 45
We spent one night near the Park docks and had a fab lunch at Christie’s Mill Inn (right foreground of the photo above).
The current was challenging between the lock and Starport Severn Lower Marina. A very narrow channel with lots of current under the twin highway bridges (upper right in the photo above). Of course we had to meet an up-bound boat right there!
All our best,
The Crew on board CHINOOK
