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2012 Schedule
June 8-9 - Annual Badger Boatnerd Gathering
A round-trip crossing of Lake Michigan from
Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday, June
9, 2011, aboard the Lake Michigan Carferry S/S Badger. Join us in traveling on the only coal-fired steamer
left on the Great Lakes. Stay overnight aboard the Badger on Friday.
Click here for all the details.
June 28-30
- Engineer's Weekend at the Soo
Thursday, June 28 - Unofficial Boatnerd Picnic
A spontaneous, informal gathering started in 2006 at Rotary Park
at Mission
Point, Sault Ste. Marie. Snacks will be offered at noon, grilling begins
at 2 pm, and carrot cake and other delicacies at 4. Potluck.
This is the
BoatNerd Official Volunteer and Reporter Appreciate Day, with hotdogs,
hamburgers and buns are being provided by BoatNerd.Com.
Grills,
plates, and utensils will also be provided. If you have questions or can
help with arrangements, please
E-mail Lee Rowe Grills will be provided, but anyone with a
portable grill or canopy please contact Lee Rowe
with the
information. Bring
something to share. Soo delis will have food options to purchase and bring
to the park. Bring your own beverage. Come one, come all and enjoy a great time with other
Boatnerds. Name tags will be provided in case you don't recognize faces. Plan now to attend.
________Schedule of
Weekend Events_______
Friday, June 29 -
8:30 a.m. - Boatnerds gather on the steps below the MacArthur Lock for a group
picture.
Friday
- 9:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m.- The Corps of Engineers will open the area between the
MacArthur and Poe Locks, the Administration Building and the Davis
Building to visitors. This is a once-a-year chance to see inside the Corps
operation, and see passing freighters from a different angle.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Edison Sault Electric plant
Open House
Friday
- 6:00 p.m.
- Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise
This year's
St. Marys River cruise will again be
aboard one of the American Soo Locks Tours boats departing
from Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp) at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 25.
Boarding begins at 5:30 p.m. The cruise will be three (3) hours and we
will travel thru both the U.S. and Canadian Locks, and will do our best to
find photo opportunities for any traffic in the river.
A buffet dinner is
included in the TBD per person cost. Dinner will consist of pasta with
meatballs, baked chicken, cheesy potatoes, mixed veggies, tossed salad and
desert. There will be a cash bar on board.
Reservations are a must
as we are limiting the group to 100 persons. This will afford everyone
enough space to take photos and enjoy themselves. Mail-in reservations
must be received no later than Friday, June 22. If any space is
available, reservations will be taken by Dave Wobser Wednesday evening in
the Soo, or at the Soo Boatnerd Picnic before noon on Thursday, June 23.
Call 419-722-5507 to locate. Click
here for reservation form.
Saturday, June 30 -
Daytime
Informal gatherings at Mission
Point, weather permitting. Bring your best pix to compare and show. Bring
your radio-controlled boats for an informal regatta.
July 13-15 - Keweenaw Star Cruise - Charlevoix to
Soo and back
Again this year, Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online
Inc. is sponsoring a three-day, two-night trip from Charlevoix to the
Soo and return aboard the Keweenaw
Star on July 13-15. This was a superb freighter-chasing,
lighthouse-viewing trip in 2011, and space was old out. If you missed out, or want to go again,
make your reservations today.
The cruise will leave from Charlevoix on Friday the 13th, travel up
Lake Michigan, through the Straits, across the top of Lake Huron and
up the St. Marys River to the Soo. We will pass lighthouses at
Skillagalee, Grays Reef, White Shoal, Waugoshance, St. Helena, Round
Island, Martin Reef and DeTour Reef. A continental breakfast and
lunch will be served on board. After arriving at the Soo, we
will have dinner and spend the night at the Kewadin Casino.
Saturday will start with the breakfast at the casino, after which
we'll reboard the Keweenaw Star to travel through the Soo Locks and
up the St. Marys River as far as Ile Parisienne light and back to
the Soo. We should see plenty of freighter traffic, plus the
lighthouses at Point Iroquois, Gros Cap and Isle Parisienne. Lunch
will be on board the Keweenaw Star. We will again enjoy dinner
and stay the night at the Kewadin Casino in the Soo.
Sunday will start with the breakfast at the casino, after which
we'll reboard the Keweenaw Star for the return trip to Charlevoix,
with lunch on board.
Package includes: Three days cruising aboard the Keweenaw Star
in the shipping lanes and past a number of lighthouses, lunch on
board the boat, two nights at the casino in the Soo, two dinners
and breakfasts at the casino, and $30 cash to spend in the casino.
Package cost is $500 double occupancy, or $550 single. In order for
everyone to have plenty of room on the boat, we are limiting the
cruise to the first 60 reservations. A minimum of 40 passengers are
needed in order for the trip to take place.
Call the Keweenaw Star at 231-237-9365 and make your
reservation today.
August 4 - Detroit River Cruise
On Saturday, August
4, we will repeat the popular Boatnerd Detroit River Cruise aboard the
Friendship, with Captain Sam Buchanan. This year’s cruise will be
four (4) hours and will go up the Detroit River, and hopefully into the Rouge River.
Pizza lunch will be delivered by the J. W. Westcott mail boat. Cost is just
$30.00 per person, same price as last year.
Departing at 10:00 a.m. sharp from the Portofino's On The
River in Wyandotte, MI.
Click here for for directions
to Portofino's.
We must have a minimum of 50 reservations, and a maximum of
100. Click here for reservation form.
September 14-16
-
Welland Canal Gathering, Thorold, Ontario
Friday, September 14 - Evening Gathering - Raffle & Door
Prizes
Canadian Corps Assoc. #22, 7 Clairmont St., Thorold
Canadian Corps is located 3 blocks West of The Inn at Lock Seven
6:00 p.m. - Vendor Tables Open. Vendors who
desire a table either/both night(s) - Please send an
e-mail
7:30 p.m. - Bring a tray of your best slides, CD or DVD to share
with the group. We will have a laptop, digital projector and slide
projector available, so bring your best stuff.
Saturday, September 15 - 10:00 a.m. - Noon
Walking tour of International Marine Salvage
scrap yard.
Located at south end of Welland Street - Port Colborne
Saturday, September 15
- Evening Gathering
Colborne Canadian Corps Assoc. #22, 7 Clairmont St., Thorold
6:00 p.m. - Vendor Tables Open. Vendors who
desire a table either/both night(s) - Please send an
e-mail
7:30 p.m. - Slide show - Joint Meeting with Welland Canal Ship Society.
Bring a tray of your best slides, CD or DVD to share with the group. We
will have a laptop, digital projector and slide projector available, so bring your best stuff.
Saturday & Sunday
9:00 - 5:00
- Free Admission to St. Catharines Museum and Welland
Visitors Centre - Located at Lock Three.
Gift Shop offering 10% discount on selected items - Tell them you
are a "Boatnerd"
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