From: wwhalen@dgis.dtic.dla.mil

(William Whalen)

Bill and Ted's

EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

to Georgian Bay

Back to Part 1

Thoughts:

We were completely satisfied with the Cape Charles 18's. They were fast and stable. We really did not need either skegs or rudders. Nothing failed on either boat. The simple hatch design kept the water out! We should have sealed the seams on the spray skirts -- that was our only equipment complaint.

The Canadian National Parks are now on a "user fee" system.

EVERYTHING costs something. Beaching a boat is $6.00, camping is $7.00 per head, just being there is $2.50 per day.

Incidental Details:

Charts: Canada Hydro Series 2202. I ordered mine from a local bookstore.

Land routes:

North from Toronto on 400. 400 becomes Route 69 around Orilla. Follow 69 to Rt 5. Follow Rt 5 into Honey Harbour -- the road ends there.

Foods:

You can tell that we are backpackers and have learned to enjoy dried noodle dishes. Even when we canoe we hesitate to take heavy (canned) food, and never take a cooler for fresh food. First night out is usually a fresh food night though. We like leisurely lunches and intermittant snacking -- it goes good with the reading we also like to to on the trail. Bill went through about 1 lb of sunflower seeds this trip -- Ted said the constant spitting drove him crazy.

Breakfast foods

:

• Hot coffee, cocoa, or Tang
• Bisquick pancakes in jar
• hard boiled eggs
• canned hash
• instant oatmeal

Lunch foods:

• Edam cheese
• summer sausage
• sardines
• rye-crisp
• saltines
• peanut butter
• raman soups
• beef jerky

Supper foods:

• dried noodle dinners
• canned meats
• beef jerky
• tortillas
• rice noodles (cook in 3 minutes)

Books:

• Vonnegut,K. Mother Night (Bill & Ted)
• L'amour,L. The Haunted Mesa (B)
• Saxman,R. The Insidious Dr FuManchu (B & T)
• McMurtry,L. Something for Billy (T)
• Kipling,R. Captains Couragous (B & T)
• Freuchen,P. Book of the Eskimos (T)
• Marquez,M. Autumn of the Patriarch (T)
• Dovstoevsky,P. Crime and Punishment

Boat loading:

Bill's fwd compartment:

• tent
• water filter
• dinners
• fuel bottle
• snacks
• breakfasts
• books
• cigars

Bill's cockpit(c) and deck(d):

• incidentals dry bag(d)
• tow rope(c)
• paddle float(d)
• spare paddle(c)
• binoculars(c)
• water bottle(d)
• maps in plastic bag(d)

Bill's aft:

• sleeping bag
• sleeping pad
• clothing
• first aid kit

Ted's fwd:

• tarp
• stove
• cooking gear
• fuel bottle
• lunches
• books
• water bottles

Ted's cockpit and deck:

• incidentals dry bag(c)
• tow rope(c)
• paddle float(d)
• spare paddle(d)
• bilge pump(c)
• water bottle(d)
• lifelike plastic rat(d)

Ted's aft:

• sleeping bag
• sleeping pad
• clothing
• repair kit

(Bill weighs in at 200 lbs and Ted at 150. Bill's boat rode about 1 inch lower in the water than Ted's. We built them with rub rails which really helped keep the decks dry in a chop.)

Things to do next time:

• Get metal ferrule for middle of paddles to allow feathering.
• Put drip rings on paddles if above is done.
• Devise a better edges on the fwd and aft hatch openings, they need to be smoother and stronger.
• Install compass(es).
• Seal seams on skirts and covers.
• Go further north on Georgian Bay to avoid summer cottage areas.
• Bring bird identification book, listen to owl identification tapes.

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Nick Schade

Send snail-mail to:
Nick Schade
824 Thompson St, Suite I
Glastonbury, CT 06033

Phone/Fax: (860) 659-8847