Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

With the extra time we spent in Waterford and since from Waterford we could go either to the Erie Canal or Lake Champlain, Captain Mark studied routes, cruising guides, our budgets of both time and money, AGLCA message boards and finally arrived at two distinctly different plans for the remainder of our boating season. Over several days we discussed our overall plans and goals for what has now become a four summer three year boating adventure.

It was clear that we would not be able to do the Erie Canal and also travel to Montreal via Lake Champlain this summer. Being able to stop to really see and visit the cities and towns we pass is our primary goal in making this trip. With just a little less than two months remaining in this season, we needed to decide literally which direction we were going to take.

Finally we decided that we would travel the Erie Canal for the remainder of this summer, dry dock the boat at a location in upstate New York and return to the Midwest for the winter. Next year we will travel to Montreal via the Champlain. Followed by the Rideau Canal, the Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay, the Great Lakes and return to Chicago to cross our wake and complete our “loop” by October 2010. SO…with all that being decided we are very anxious to start our adventures on the Erie Canal.