Spring has sprung ... so where am I going?

Winter snows have started to recede from the boat and I am coming out of hibernating for the cold months. Time to start planning for next season and where I want to go. I have always had a fascination with maps and now there is not much else to do outside I find myself pouring over blogs and maps with dreams of being back on the water. While the Great Loop will have to wait a few years, here are some of my trips planned for next year with the tug…..

Portland Maine

Great food, terrific views and islands abound here. I have kayaked here several times and I am looking forward to putting the boat back in Maine waters. I bought the boat in Yarmouth and had a chance to go out in the area on a test run but didn’t get much further than the outer harbor. There are a number of public access points to jump off and start exploring. There are dockside dining options and plenty of places to explore. Headed north from Portland I plan on spending a few days in and out of the various bays. Weather here is a big consideration and may limit how far I explore.

Boston Harbor/Charles River

I can’t believe that I did not get to do the place that I have wanted to go for so long. Schedules and timing prevented me from dropping the boat in to see one of Americas oldest cities from the water. There are several islands in the harbor most of which have either public parks or boating access. There are campgrounds on several where you can spend the night only a mile from downtown Boston. Traveling through the city you can pass the USS Constitution and then into the historic Charles River.

Newport, RI

I have done the upper Narragansett bay and had a great time exploring the area. Leaving from Providence I went down to Fall River and spent the day on the water. I think the next trip will be an overnight with the destination of Newport with its bustling harbor and waterfront. There is plenty to see along the way and small places to anchor for the night. the busy harbor and expensive yachts make a mooring (and a marina for sure) out of the question but a trip through the harbor is awesome. I have paddled here for many years and have spent lots of time in the harbor by paddle - now time to see it by tug! A good weather window will be required as the fetch up the bay can be rather unpleasant.

Champlain - Canal and Lake

Western Erie canal gave me a taste of the canal life and its time to couple it with a trip up lake Champlain. Leaving Albany one can take the Champlain Canal up north to the southern end of Lake Champlain and all the way to Burlington and Canada. Part of the “Triangle Loop” its a future goal. There are plenty of bays to hunker down in between stretches. I have kayaked out of Camp Kill Kare and visited several of the State Park Islands in the middle of the lake. Woods Island has a State park and marina which is only water accessible. Its a great place to stop and spend the night. Weather is always an issue on Champlain and the thunderstorms can be vicious. Planning will be key for this trip!

TUGBOAT ROUNDUP 2021 - for sure!

Here we go again - delayed by COVID for 2020 it is scheduled for September 10-12th. The Tugboat Roundup is a gathering of tugboats, workboats and barges to celebrate the maritime heritage of the Northeast Inland Waterways. The festival features a tug parade, tug tours, boat rides, tug talks, competitions, fireworks, children's activities, vendors, food, and more. I went in 2019 and wrote a long blog about it. It was so much fun and the organizers were great. I can’t wait to go back and hope to start a trip on the Canal System after the event. Last time I got to dock between all the big boats and was literally under the fireworks. Cant wait to go back!

Alleghany reservoir

Up on the Pennsylvania/ Western New York border this is a National Park with boaters and adventurers in mind. Lush green forest surrounds the 7,647-acre reservoir that spans the border between Pennsylvania and New York. In Pennsylvania, the reservoir is completely surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest; and in New York State by Allegany State Park and the Allegany Indian Reservation of the Seneca Nation. There are several campgrounds run by the forest service as well as several boat ramps.

Open to suggestions…….

Always looking for new places to go. I heard that Lake Winnipesauke is nice in the shoulder seasons and Long Island sound is great in good weather. Always looking for advice ! Email me or leave a comment!