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Rhumb Line, Vol 2 Issue 5 -- New at www.great-lakes-sailing.com July 14, 2014 |
Rhumb Linea course that keeps a constant bearing
The Rhumb Line for Great Lakes Sailing is clear: to provide a comprehensive listing of ports around the Great Lakes basin and articles that cover a broad range of topics of interest to sailors. The purpose of Rhumb Line is to keep you up-to-date with new additions to Great Lakes Sailing in a brief, easy-to-scan and concise manner. I value not only your interest but also your time. June 2014 New at Great Lakes Sailing 1. Five new Port Reviews have been added. 2. Completely revamped maps of each Great Lake 3. A Directory of 50+ interesting museums and places of interest around the Great Lakes. 1. New Ports (a). Trenton, ON is the southern terminus of the Trent-Severn Waterway. The Trent Canal as it is more commonly called connects Lake Ontario with Georgian Bay. Power and sail boats routinely make this journey, passing through some absolutely beautiful countryside. Home also to Canada's largest air force base, it is a relaxing stop-over for cruising sailors. What many do not know is that during World War 1, Tenton was home to a huge war munitions factory. In fact, with over 100 buildings covering some 2,000 acres, it was the largest munitions factory in the British Commonwealth. In the dying days of the war, the plant blew up (these things somehow seem inevitable) and the resulting explosion damaged houses miles away. Click here to visit Trenton, ON (b). Port Hope, ON is located on the north coast of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Ganaraska River. In the 1790's, United Empire Loyalists fleeing from the newly-independent United States, began to settle in the area. Called variously Smith's Creek and Toronto(!), the community was incorporated in 1834 as Port Hope. A significant aspect of Port Hope is its superbly well-preserved architecture. Port Hope is considered to have the finest 19th century streetscape in all of Ontario. The town is also a magnet for antique hunters with some 2 dozen specialty antique shops. Click here to visit Port Hope, ON (c). Colchester, ON is a small village located approximately 10 nm west of the mouth of the Detroit River. It is a beautiful little community set in the rich farmland of Essex County. Colchester is the southernmost settlement on mainland Canada (on nearly the same line of latitude as Barcelona, Spain). Click here to visit Colchester, ON (d). Kelleys Island, OH is the largest US island in Lake Erie. Located among the lake Erie Islands at the west end of Lake Erie, it is an outstanding recreational area. Not as hectic or as busy as Put-In-Bay, Kelleys Island has good marina facilities, a fine state park and interesting shops. If you are island hopping across the lake, it is a very good place to overnight or to linger for a few days. Click here to visit Kelleys Island, OH (e). Michipicoten River mouth, on the northeast coast of Lake Superior, is about 5 mi/8 km from the town of Wawa, ON. This is an important stopover because it is the only location to refuel or re-provision between Sault Ste. Marie and Marathon. The Michipicoten River was a key link in the historic fur trade, connecting Lake Superior to James Bay far to the north. Today, canoeists paddle the route taking 3-4 weeks to arrive at the shores of James Bay This is magnificent north country. You are a long, long way from the commercial amenities found far to the south but the exchange is truly worth it .Click here to visit Michipicoten River, ON 2. Revised Map for each Great Lake For quite some time, I have been looking at ways of visually connecting each lake with the various port reviews. In June, I decided to take the plunge and revamp each 'Lake" page. The results are there for all to see. Each port is marked on the relevant Lake map and clicking on the location marker will open a popup box. A link in the box will take you directly to the port. As is often the case, it took longer to do than was anticipated and had its 'challenging' moments. I hope you find it adds to your experience on the website. 3. Museum Directory When I travel, one of the things I love to do is to check out local museums. They can be fascinating places to visit. They can offer a far more informative and interesting peek into a community and its history than most guide books ever will. Around the Great Lakes, we are blessed with a wide variety of museums devoted to preserving and caring for our historical, scientific, artistic and cultural heritage. There are large, institutions such as you would find in Chicago (the Museum of Science and Industry) or Toronto (the Royal Ontario Museum). There are small community museums such as the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse or the Port Burwell Marine Museum. These offer a wealth of information and artifacts that can truly capture your imagination. I have put together a list of 50+ such places around the Great Lakes. It is not exhaustive by any means. There are many more fine community museums in the towns and villages that dot the coastline of the Great Lakes. When you are out cruising, check out some of these. They can add some colour and context to your visit. They can make a great trip by car too, especially when the water gets hard in the fall. Find the Directory on the RESOURCES page. The Directory is a downloadable pdf. Thanks for reading Rhumb Line. Your opinions, thoughts and comments do matter. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me here at Rhumb Line or at Great Lakes Sailing If you like this newsletter, please do a friend and me a big favor and "pay it forward." If a friend DID forward this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe. You will find a subscribe button on most pages of the site. |
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