OnBoard Magazine - Issue XII - 2020 Season

From snow melt to sand dollars, the Denisons experienced a lot aboard their 41' Back Cove The journey north on the Hudson ends once you bear west and enter the Erie Canal system. The Great Loop offers several route options through the Great Lakes system before entering the upper Mississippi River system. The Denisons chose to exit the Erie Canal at Oswega River to head North- Northwest towards Lake Ontario. Once in the Lake, it wasn’t long before MAR-KAT entered Canada and was headed towards the iconic Trent-Severn Waterway. The Trent-Severn Waterway is an impressive interconnected series of lakes, rivers and man-made canals that got its start back in 1833 when the first lock was built. Summer of 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the completion. The 240-mile-long waterway features 44 locks, 39 swing bridges and 160 water control structures! Aside from conventional boat locks, the Trent- Severn features flight locks, hydraulic lift locks and North America’s only functioning marine railway located at Big Chute. The marine railway works on an inclined plane from the water onto the shore where boats are loaded on cradles to travel over land with an elevation change of roughly 60 feet. Once you cross Big Chute, only one lock remains before entering Georgian Bay, which joins Lake Huron. THE PATH LESS TRAVELED After safe passage through the Trent- Severn into Georgian Bay, the Denison’s ventured further off the beaten path, heading Northwest through the Georgian Bay into Frazer Bay before turning East through the Baie Fine fjord. As this inland fjord narrows, it ends with a small lake jutting to the south like a comma known as The Pool. “This has become one of our favorite spots,” Bill says. “The Pool is super remote, no radio, no cell service, and the water is absolutely beautiful.” After exiting The Pool but before traversing the Baie Fine fjord again, MAR-KAT anchored on the north end and Amy and Bill enjoyed a one-mile hike through the brush and trees to Topaz Lake, where a swim in the crystal clear waters awaited. Once exiting the fjord and heading west on the North Channel through the upper reaches of Lake Huron, they made a stop on Mackinaw Island, where the straits separate the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. “On Mackinaw Island, we went for bike rides around the island and found a spot for a swim,” Amy explains. “And, the water was clear and a bright blue-green like the Caribbean.” FROM LAKES TO RIVERS “By far our favorite part of The Great Loop, is the Great Lakes,” reminisces Bill. “So many wonderful places to visit and eat at.” Once leaving Mackinaw Island, they transited Lake Michigan headed for the upper Mississippi system which originates in Chicago with the Des Plains and Illinois Rivers. Fun Fact: The Mississippi River originates in Minnesota and is responsible for the squiggly borders of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. The Great Loop picks up with the Mississippi in St. Louis via the Illinois River. When asked about the most exciting part of their Great Loop adventure, Bill recalls their short time on the Mississippi River with swift currents and lots of debris floating around: “We were traveling at 14 knots at an idle with the current!” They took the first possible exit from the mighty Mississippi, which is a short stint on the Ohio River before picking up the Tennessee River. From here, a meandering series of rivers and lakes helped to slow the trip’s pace a bit. They continued to enjoy anchoring for rest, which is where they estimate spending nearly a third of their nights aboard. “We love using our Back Cove 41 as a floating home and truly cruising— long range cruising,” Amy explains. “Our boat has all the comforts of home: internet, video chat capability, laundry, cooking, and space to relax.” 23 2020 SEASON