The Great Lakes are Great!

One of the pleasures of our time spent cruising in the Great Lakes has been the noticeable transition to traveling in clean, clear and cool fresh water.  Fresh water coursing through the engine cooling systems, the air conditioning cooling systems as well as bathing Hydrotherapy’s hull while cruising has helped us in many ways.  Our diesel engines and generator run at cooler temperatures, making them more efficient.  Our air conditioning systems are likewise less stressed without  the salt and barnacle build-up so commonly encountered in our FlorIda Gulf waters.

Exterior boat cleaning has also been substantially simplified by not having to constantly soap wash the vessel to control the salt residue.  No wonder so many of the northern boats we have encountered here look brand new.

We entered our first Great Lake (Ontario) at Oswego, NY in July to cross north to enter the Thousand Islands and the St. Lawrence Seaway.  We were relieved to enter the North Georgia Bay of Lake Huron after traversing the 46 locks of the Trent Severn Waterway between Trent, ON and Port Severn, ON in August.  We travelled south on Lake Huron to re-enter the U.S. at DeTour Village, Michigan.  From there, we were fortunate to spend several days at Mackinac Island.  The view of the Mackinac Bridge from there is where Lake Huron transitions into Lake Michigan.

The three Great Lakes that we have travelled thus far share the same beautiful elements. Crystal clear water with great depth visibility.  Cool temperatures that make swimming a very refreshing experience.  The green landscapes that line the shorelines with mature trees and evergreens are stunning.  The fresh air here could not be fresher.  The Great Lakes are great!