A different sort of cruise began on Lake Superior at Two Harbors, April 6. Captain Tommy Cook started his trip through the Great Lakes amidst ice and snow, with the eventual goal of exiting the Lakes via the St. Lawrence, then sailing up through the Northwest Passage, arriving in Alaska next fall.

Need a taste of cruising the North Channel?  

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We expect that a number of members will want to cruise into Lake Ontario after the Rendezvous. Details on a RCYC visit and Lake Ontario cruising possibilities here...

GLCC members Phil and Balt Thibert report on the closing (and perhaps re-opening) of the Marathon mill dock in Lake Superior and recommend that other members e-mail the Marathon Tourist Board. Details here.... And an update here (see the comment at the end of the harbor report)...

 The Google Earth internet viewer has now added the Great Lakes to its "oceanic" views. With the viewer, you can see underwater features of all the Great Lakes. Details are here... Note that you will have to download and install a viewer add-on to make the program work.

 The ice-breaking season on the Lakes is ending the week of April 13. News story here...

Retired Rear-Commodore A. B. Crow died at his home in Alpena, Michigan, March 13, 2009. He was 83. A GLCC member since 1963, A. B. was a familiar figure in his 43-foot Crow's Nest, cruising from Alpena primarily to the North Channel. He was famous for his "North-Channel Shrimp"—slices of walleye fillets deep fried in his enormous cast-iron skillet over a shore fire in one of his favorite spots such as LeRoy Cove in Oak Bay, served to any and all cruisers who happened to be in the anchorage.

 The proposed new Soo Lock has both strong proponents and strong opponents. Here's a newspaper summary...

 The Ohio Sea Grant's award-winning magazine, Twine Line, is now available free on the internet ($10 for mailed copy). Go to their web page to download it.... In addition to their magazine, the Ohio Sea Grant also has available a number of fact sheets and guides that would be usable and interesting to the Great Lakes cruiser, such as their 96-page guide to the Bass Islands. These publications are accessible from the same website, and most are downloadable, free.

 A report covers the complexity of global climate change, as reflected in the Great Lakes. Read the news story...