Hi Scott and Barb,
We’ve been cruising one-way Segments of the Loop since 2016, and will also finish this summer after only ten years…yes, we’re ‘rushing it.’ I assume you plan to launch near Waterford/Troy and head up to Lake Champlain to do the Triangle Loop backwards (against the current) then the Great Lakes to Chicago one-way then find a way back to your rig. Is that right?
Here it appears you have a CD22, and on
greatloop.org it appears you have a Rossy 24. That boat would better handle the Great Lakes despite marina E0 gas prices. That said, hats off if you two adults would even consider three months on a CD22. For three months rig storage, I’d advise looking at
Neighbor.com. Search for Vehicle +Utility trailer storage and put the length of each to see offers near Troy or Albany. Your move-in month rate will be pro-rated, but not your move-out month (you’ll be charged on the 1st of each month after movin-in). You’ll want a mini solar panel for the truck and trailer EOH batteries or disconnect them.
https://www.neighbor.com/search?ski...t=42.42086856841945&se_lng=-72.75906623544708
Coeyman’s Riverfront Park appears to have a ramp and marina (we’ll be cruising the Triangle Loop again and plan to end there). Rig storage is likely very expensive if available there.
Upstate NY & Canada is still cold before mid June. Also, Parks Canada locking and mooring is free this summer, but only AFTER June 19 until Sept 7, so why pay full price before June 19? Also, it takes a couple of weeks for the winter debris to be flushed out and the lock mechanicals to get back in the groove after a long winter closed up.
https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/admission
We advocate cruising BOTH the Inside Passage of Georgian Bay, the Trent-Severn PLUS the Triangle Loop into the same cruise if you have 3 months. That’s possible because the entrance to the TS at Trenton/Quinte West is only 70 miles from the entrance to the TL at Kingston on the North side of Lake Ontario. Regardless of which direction you take, get your air draft under 8 feet so you take the historic (and free) Lachine Canal right through Montreal instead of the horrid commercial Seaway Locks to get around the rapids by Montreal.
You might consider launching near Chicago, which will be warmer as you work your way up towards Mackinaw to North Georgian Bay. Enter the West end of the T-S at Severn, take 2 weeks or more (or a month in the Inside Passage). Pop out at Trenton, then enter the TL at Kinston. Spend a day or two at Montebello and a few days in Montreal. We plan to take the Via Rail from Montreal to explore Quebec City, and maybe all the way to Halifax. Hang a right at Sorel, get into Lake Champlain (with the current) and to Troy/Waterford.
We like Rome2Rio for all public transport options (worldwide). Here are options for Albany to Chicago:
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Albany-NY-USA/Chicago
The NY marinas are likely still assessing winter damage, and ice flows are currently knocking down houses in Cheyboygan so it’s a bit early to call. Plan on hugging the west coast of WI on Lake MI (on the 10ft contour line) to avoid the prevailing West winds. On the Great Lakes, we advocate making every third day a Weather/Option Day for any trailer boat. Start studying the Great Lakes Portal weather patterns.
https://www.weather.gov/greatlakes/
If interested, here is a link to our Great Lakes to Inland Rivers this summer. We were incredibly lucky to have only four Weather day delays (all on Lake Erie).
https://findpenguins.com/ancient-isles/trip/great-lakes-to-inland-rivers?sort=ASC
I hope something here is helpful. Call or PM for any questions or anything we can help you with (Phone # is on
greatloop.org site).
Safe travels!
John
