Larry After doing the loop in 2005 we headed back up in 2012 to travel all the canals again. Our choice was up the Champlain and through Canada to the St Lawrence then to Montreal, then Ottawa, Kingston, and Trent Severn. We intended to head down and come back across the Erie but that was when it collapsed so we returned by way of the Oswego to the Erie. A very enjoyable trip and we hope to do it again. You can visit our blog and review the route and notes at _www.CruisingTheGreatLoop.com_ (http://www.cruisingthegreatloop.com/) . David Doyle MemoryMaker too In a message dated 9/28/2013 9:37:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, lhemmerich@knottydog.com writes: Next year we will head up the Hudson for our first trip thru the canals. Is there a preferred way , West thru the Erie canal back thru the Champlain or North first? I assume a lot will depend on various summer festival and where you want to be when. Comments? Larry www.knottydog.com Sent from my iPad Spelling errors are its fault _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

I don't know what your overall cruise destination is but will assume you are not doing this as the start of a Loop (which it can be). With, that, I can advised that the very best portion of the Erie is the Western Erie Canal. The portion past three rivers were the Oswego Canal leads off to Lake Ontario. The Western Erie portion of the canal is the historical section and generally not part of the drainage from the high hills so much less susceptible to flooding and damage. However, to do this portion you must get your air draft below 15'6" as there are many low bridges. If you can clear these bridges you are in for a treat as this section is dotted with charming towns every 10-12 miles (the original service interval) where you can tie the boat to the wall(for the lock fee) most with free power, wash rooms with showers and some that provide access to free washer and dryers. All have a unique charm and local attractions. A side trip into the three finger lakes(Onondaga,Cayuga and Seneca wines country) can be done from the Western Erie with visits to Syracuse, Ithaca and Watkins Glen all possible. Further up the Erie you can visit Rochester and finally Buffalo NY. With a rental car side trip to Niagara Fall easy. This is the cruising where you can actually have folks meet up with you to join the cruise and get them to a spot on a schedule. In short this Western portion of the Erie Canal is an enjoyable very, very inexpensive($75 season lock fee for a 37' boat) worthwhile destination cruise of it's own with many "touristing" rich opportunities. If you want to do it up and back I recommend skipping every other town and catching the odd on the way back. However, repeating visits are also worthwhile. Should the lower Erie (Mohawk river portion) shutdown for what ever reason you have the option to return via the Welland Canal(albeit annoying) into Lake Ontario then the St Lawrence thru thousand Islands to Sorel into the canals leading thru Lake Champlain back to the Hudson at Waterford. Or take the Lake Ontario to Kingston into the Rideau Canal to Ottawa, to Montreal, then to Sorel. so, you have many great opportunities for grand cruising (air draft restricted to 15'6"). Just enjoy this is truely great cruising. Joe Carolyn Ann GH N-37 Platinum Looper On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 10:07 AM, <DavidDoy@aol.com> wrote: > > Larry > After doing the loop in 2005 we headed back up in 2012 to travel all the > canals again. Our choice was up the Champlain and through Canada to the St > Lawrence then to Montreal, then Ottawa, Kingston, and Trent Severn. We > intended to head down and come back across the Erie but that was when it > collapsed so we returned by way of the Oswego to the Erie. A very > enjoyable trip > and we hope to do it again. You can visit our blog and review the route > and > notes at _www.CruisingTheGreatLoop.com_ > (http://www.cruisingthegreatloop.com/) . > > David Doyle > MemoryMaker too > > > > In a message dated 9/28/2013 9:37:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > lhemmerich@knottydog.com writes: > > Next year we will head up the Hudson for our first trip thru the canals. > Is there a preferred way , West thru the Erie canal back thru the > Champlain or North first? > I assume a lot will depend on various summer festival and where you want > to be when. > Comments? > > Larry > www.knottydog.com > > Sent from my iPad > Spelling errors are its fault > _______________________________________________ > > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > _______________________________________________ > > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > -- Joe Pica Carolyn Ann GH N-37 MTOA #3813, AGLCA #5485 http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/