Trip

Days down- 0

I didn't really explain the our "trip" in the first post.

My family owns a boat. A 44' Viking from 1983 to be more exact. This is our 3rd boat, 5th year boating. We started on a 23' Jet Boat that we kept on the Chain of Lakes in Antioch. After that we moved up to a 34' Sea Ray, which was the first boat we kept out here, on Lake Michigan.

Last year we took our Sea Ray to Port Washington, Whitehall, Grand Haven, and Saugatuck. Which was the first major trip we actually took. After that, we had crossed Lake Michigan 3 times counting bringing the boat to Kenosha, Wi from Michigan in the first place.

While in Saugatuck, we met up with the person who sold us the Sea Ray, and he tried to sell us his boat. After buying the Sea Ray we had become pretty good friends with him and his wife and we talked to them quite often. In the end, they gave us an offer we apparently could not refuse and the bought the boat from him.

This year, we took the Viking to Door County. We were traveling all throughout Door County for 2.5 weeks. Recently, friends of ours who own a boat in the same marina as us asked if we wanted to accompany them accross the lake to Grand Haven, seeing as they'd never crossed before. Of course we said yes, but decided we would go Monday with them and stay until Wednesday, and let them finish their vacation on their own. Of course, the waves did not agree with that and we were stuck on the side of thate lake until Sunday, we did go down to Sagatuck on Thursday, however.

For a while my parents had decided that they wanted to circum-navigate when they retired as well as do the Great Loop. So when my brother and I decided we would do online school this year they figured it would be so much fun to go down the Mississippi in August and store our boat down there. Recently, however they have been talking to people whose slip is behind us about doing the Great Loop, and they told them the Mississippi is extremely boring, and that we should go through the Great Lakes instead. My parents appreciated the advice and completely changed their plan. Thankfully, they also decided to wait until June of 2013 to start the trip.

Now, we will stay in Kenosha until June 15th, then move through the Great Lakes and Eerie Canal until we get to the East Coast, and spend the Winter there.

-C

Planning

Days down- 0

My parents have been deciding major details on this trip whenever possible.  (Including in between confrence calls for work, all of which are held on the boat).

They already have decided everywhere we are going, how long we are staying there, how much gas we will need, and how much it will all cost.  But, if you ask them what you're having for dinner that night you're acting ridiculous.  It's only 3:00, they don't plan that far in advance!  Whatever.

Their planning does help me in way, however.  I can find where there are stores and things to do in each area.  Not that there is much.  The first place to a have a decent drugstore is Rogers City and that is 2 months into the trip. Even at that, there is 1 CVS.  That's it.  No Walgreens, no Rite Aid, no Target, not even a single Walmart!  Plus, why does the name of a city have the word city in it?

But obviously I should be optimistic because by September 18th, 2013 (1460 miles, $17520 later) we will be in the Atlantic Ocean.  Which is exciting because it is somewhere that is away from our house, friends, and everything we grew up with?  Also, traveling across the country will look great on a resume!  It means we have some life experience.  Obviously being stuck on a boat for 3 years with my parents is life experience, NOT! 
This is all assuming that we make it to where ever the heck we are going alive, and the boat doesnt wind up at the bottom of some body of water.

We'll see.  Maybe someone will randomly decide Washington Island needs a Target.

-C