In reverse pyramid style: Row across Lake Michigan from Manitowoc to Luddington. Mostly just because I like the names, but also since the car ferry goes that route, if I'm on course but dying or something, they might save me.
My buddy Ron is highly doubtful of that one. The boat is only 9'6" long, after all, so he's not completely without cause for concern. But I'm going to work up to it.
The closest lake is Lake Griffy, which is really what I would call a pond. Lake Lemon is not too far and is more properly a lake, and even had a couple islands. I'm taking the kids out canoeing this weekend and we'll either go there or Lake Monroe, which is a proper lake, though overstocked with Striped Dumbass Fish.
But back to the issue at hand; preparation for the Michigan crossing. First, a few trips on Griffy to test the seaworthiness, trim, handling, etc. Then, out to Monroe. First, some messing around, then a couple of planned trips from one end to the other. There are approximately 57 light years of coastline on Monroe, but the actual length is 9 or 10 miles from flood plain/Salt Creek to the dam.
One of the "messing around" bits: I've talked to some people and they are up for what I want to call the "Recycling Regatta," a day-long clean-up effort on Monroe for the end of the major boating season. I've had positive feedback for this and think we could get a good turn out. So there you are.
I've also had a desire since I was a wee small lad plotting my escape from Brown County to go from this area-by water- to at least the Ohio River (which means access to the sea-I've never grown out of my Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer phase). Given the wondrous capability of the internet and satellite imagery these days, plus the DNR's list of navigable waters, it DOES seem to be entirely possible to go from the spillway at Lake Monroe to the Wabash, near Vincennes. So, realistically, as we are already in September, Monroe travels could start in March (in earnest, i.e. one end to the other or conceivably circumnavigations) and the Monroe to Vincennes trip could be about this time next year. I can't remember the mileage on that trip off the top of my head but the number 154 sticks out in my mind. The biggest problem there will be verifying a route, marking turns and twists in the river, and not getting lost, only to be eaten by Southern Indiana savages.
