Be part of our boating adventure as we journey through the Down East Circle Water Route.
If you live near to, or know something about any of the places we will be boating on our 3,500 mile “Down East Circle Route” cruise on our boat this early summer, then please help us. We are both in our later 60s and very excited about this boating adventure!
Our boat is a Pursuit OS 345 with two Yamaha 350 outboards. Where do you suggest we stop to look at cool stuff or eat at amazing and fun places? Which marinas do you find most helpful? What should we be careful of as we cruise in specific areas? What tips do you have for us? We leave May 20 and will return to Cape Cod on August 1st.
We are navigating this big circle of the north-eastern USA and eastern Canada. Here is what it looks like. We’ll leave Bosun’s Marine on Cape Cod (where I store our boat for the winter) and head to New York City using the Long Island Sound; then we’ll head up the Hudson River to the Albany, NY area; then west on the Erie Canal to Syracuse, NY; then north on the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario; then east to the Thousand Islands Area at the head of the St. Lawrence River; then over 750 miles “down east” to the ocean at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River; then around Gaspe Peninsula and on to Prince Edward Island; then to Cape Breton Island and the rest of Nova Scotia; then southwest across the Bay of Fundy to Maine; then along the coast of Maine, NH and MA and finally back to Cape Cod via the Cape Cod Canal and Buzzard’s Bay.
We will be posting pictures and descriptions on this blog of what we see and do as we go. We would love to get your suggestions! Come join us by following along as we go. If possible, it sure would be fun to meet some of you as we stop in the 70+ towns and cities along the way.
Happy boating tales!
Hi, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this blog post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
Thank you. It was am an amazing trip! Keep boating. Bruno
Yes, you are welcome to use one of our pictures. Good luck on your meeting.
Cari
First Mate
I have a question, actually:
Is it possible to use one of your photos of Saguenay river as a background photo for a poster. There is no commercial value involved, the poster will be an invitation to a free lecture offered to the community by our church.
Thank you very much
D. Krsteva
Sure…
Dear Bruno and Cari:
We were so excited to watch your adventures in this blog, this look really fun. We are happy for both of you as a Blessing couple. We all love you and miss you. Hope to see you soon.
Blessings.
Curisinche Family.
Hello Curisinche family. How nice to hear from you! Yes, our trip was wonderful and we are so happy to have been able to share it with you. Looking forward to seeing you soon as we return to SLC in late October.
Un abraco. Bruno and Cari
I do believe all the ideas you have offered on your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too short for newbies. May just you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Hi and thanks for the post. We are spending about an hour or more a day posting onto this blog right now to keep it updated with comments and pictures, and we have a terrific person named Brad back at our offices at iboats.com who is then putting what we write up on this site. So I don’t think we will be able to add more at this time, but if you have a specific question we will certainly try hard to answer it. Thanks for your comments.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
It has been so fun to watch your adventures! The blog has really elevated our excitement level – except for the electrified gas nozzle. We can’t wait to see you in Halifax.
Love,
John and Sue
Thanks John and Sue. We are so anxious for you to come and join with us…it will be tons of fun! We are finally having some summer-like weather and the warm days are delightful. See you in Halifax soon!!
Bruno and Cari
Just joined your site today. I plan to start a similar trip in about two weeks. I have a 36″Intrepid and plan to trailer up to the Saguenay River and then down river to the Trent Severn,Georgian Bay, North Channel to Hessel Mi. Question one -if you have the time would be which cruising guides have you found to be the most helpful? Many thanks,and continue to have a great trip.
Dave
Hi Dave. Sounds as if you are planning an exciting trip. Be safe and have a great time.
I purchased a number of cruising guides and all of them had some good, helpful information. The I have found to be the best is “Down East Circle Route”, 2nd Edition, by Cheryl Barr even though she was sailing and of most help to sailors.
Here is what I did to prepare which has worked the very best for me. In today’s high tech world, planning a trip like the one we are on was made SO much easier by using three things:
1. Google earth…especially to zoom in on specific places to find otherwise unmarked marinas for docking and fueling.
2. The Internet to research specific marinas and towns in great detail.
3. Having detailed GPS mapping by Navionics with you.
There three, plus good depth finder and radar, and you can go anywhere.
And one final bit of advice, when in doubt when navigating on a river or in the ocean or at a marina, go slower than you normally would. Take your time. Move in slow motion instead of rapidly. You only have one chance to do it right the 1st time. If you don’t succeed that first time, the consequences are often ugly. Avoid that 2nd try!!!
Good success with your trip.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Hi folks,
Just discovered your blog and read most of the blog entries. Ironically, I just bought some lift spring, gas filled, pistons from iBoats.com! They’ll replace the old ones on my SeaRay 310 Sundancer.
My wife, daughter and I keep our boat in Danvers, MA and boat in and around Cape Ann, North of Boston, in the historic harbors of Salem, Beverly, Marblehead, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Magnolia.
Safe travels. I’ll follow your blog during the remainder of your trip. Depending on where you dock while north of Boston, and depending on my work schedule, I may get a chance to visit you and say hello in person.
Best Regards,
Mike Kallelis
’99 SeaRay 310
“Still Chillin”
P.S. I love your boat!
Hi Mike. How nice to hear from you. We always appreciate boaters who have found us at iboats.com and can then buy something from us that they need. When my son and I started iboats 15 years ago we really had no idea that it could grow as big as it now has gotten or that it could help so many boaters. I personally think that our free forums have been and are one of the best things that has happened to us as it is boaters helping boaters with tons of great information, tips and ideas.
As we get closer to the Boston area in late July let’s be sure to stay in touch. It would be fun to meet you and your family.
Have a great summer on your SeaRay 310 Sundancer.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Hi
It was nice to meet you, anytime you are in bathurst nb you are welcome to use my car! Keep on boating and smilling! Nice store and website
Paul
Hi Paul and thank you so much for letting us use your car today so we could go into Bathurst. That was very kind of you and really helped us out. If I don’t see you at the marina tomorrow, have a safe and fun summer of sailing.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Bruno, it sounds like you’re familiar with the Cape. We visit West Falmouth almost every summer. When you get to Falmouth harbor, I recommend the Clam Shack for some fried bellies! Captain Kidd’s in Woods Hole is good too. I think West Falmouth is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
Hi John and thanks for the info. about the Falmouth and Woods Hole area. We love it there too even though we spend more time on the Vineyard. I keep my boat at Bosun’s Marina for the winter and they do a great job.
Have a great summer.
iboats’ Captain
Bruno
On May 25th i believe i passed you at lock 2 as you were leaving the dock. I said “good morning” and i didnt see you again until you picked me up near lock 7 and dropped me at the gas dock near by (got to check that gas gauge!) . I subscribe to iboats. com and i wanted to say everything turned out for the best . Thanks again for the lift and best of luck on your trip . Ill always pay it forward to the next boater in need. The weather was cold, nasty, raining , the river was moving fast and you guys gave a fellow boater assistance that was desperately needed. Thank you !
Hi Sonny. Hay…what are boaters for if we can’t stop and help each other when in need! You were in a bad situation with the wind, the current and the shallow water. Glad to stop and help you. I’m so happy that you got the help at that marina and were able to make it to your destination. Safe boating.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Hi Cari, was just wondering, how does a girl from the desert of S.E. New Mexico wind up on a boating adventure like the one you are on. Send me some pics. to post on the website. Have fun and be safe.
John
John, it is a l-o-n-g story….I married a man who loves the ocean! We usually come to the Atlantic and Martha’s Vineyard! Since Bruno semi-retired a year ago, we have been enjoying boating. This trip sounded like such an adventure, we decided to do it! It’s been great in spite of many days of rain.
Thanks for keeping in touch.
Cari
Hi Cari and Bruno,
I think of your family often and it’s great to keep up with Jennifer via facebook. Jake and I bought a house in West Falmouth, Ma. and would love to see you when you are back on the cape. We are still in Ridgewood working, but we spend the summer at the cape and will retire there next June. Our Justin is a nuclear submarine officer in the Navy but I’m pretty sure he’s not having as much fun as you will be! Safe journey!
Debbie and Jake Tworek
How fun to hear from you. Yes, for sure we want to see you when we get back to MA. This is an amazing journey. We keep pinching each other to see if it is really happening. So glad you wrote.
Cari
It was great to see you both in Silver Spring before starting your mega-adventure. I look forward to checking in on two of the best people I know
Hi Kendra. We had a great time seeing you. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule! The deli sandwiches were to die for! We are heading out this morning from Cape Cod of our Down East trip…with some rain and early fog forecast. So the adventure starts!
Bruno and Cari
let me know when you are going through cornwall the blue anchor is a hidden gem along the st-lawrence great food great waitresses
a good spot for you to dock overnight is chrysler marina and creg quay are good marinas for overnight stays let me know when your passing through cornwall so i can say hi
oh when going through the 1000 islands be sure to at least make a stop to see boldt castle
Yes, we are planning to stop at the Boldt Castle for sure!
Bruno
Hi Ray. Thanks for the tip on the Blue Anchor in Cornwall. We plan to be there about June 5 or 6. I’ll keep you posted. Would be fun to say hi.
iboats’ Captain
Bruno
Hello,
it really seems to be a fantastic trip. Do you know when you’ll reach Montreal?
If you have a couple free hours, I’d be happy to take you fishing for muskies in the area.
If you feel like it and haven’t an overbooked schedule, drop me a line and I’ll be glad to take you aboard for a little trolling/casting session around.
Have a safe trip.
Hi Steve and thank you for this exciting offer to fish for muskies. I’ve only caught one in my life and that was when I was about 10 years old! We will be in Montreal around June 8 or so. We do have a number of things planned for our 3 days in Montreal, but as I get closer I’ll get back to you to see if we can work out a few hours. That sure would be fun!
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Ah, I sure hope you’ll be late by a few days on your shedule, the musky opener being june 14th here. If you send me an email address, I’ll show you some nice ones caught over the years…
I don’t know if you’re aware, but June 7-8-9 is the Formula One racing week-end in Montreal and probably one of the busiest of the year in town, with all the jet-set and everything…
Steve, thanks for the tip on the Formula One dates. We are scheduled to arrive in Montreal on Friday afternoon, June 7. We will have a grandson with us and will have to get him to the airport on Saturday the 8th early in the morning for his trip back to the States. Do you think it will be a problem to get a slip at the Montreal Yacht Club by Heritage Clock Tower for the 7th through Sunday the 9th? We had planned to then head to Sorel-Tracy on Monday the 10th. Should I be contacting the Montreal Yacht Club now about reservations for those dates?
iboats’ Captain
Bruno
Absolutely. I’d check for a reservation now. That weekend, the city is crowded with visitors from around the world. The airport hangars are packed with celebrity’s jets, the harbor is full of yacths and you see Lamborghini and Ferrari in the streets of the Old Montreal every 100ft. or so.
Too much action for my liking…
Steve, got reservations for Montreal Yacht Club…June 7-9, so all’s OK.
iboats’Captain
Bruno
Great!
Have a nice trip and be safe!
Hi Maury and Charlene,
Thanks for the warm best wishes. We will keep you updated regularly. Thanks so much for your missionary efforts. You are both awesome.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Hi Maury and Charlene,
We were at the Vineyard Branch 2 Sunday’s ago. It was a small group in attendance but so fun to see them again. There were lots of comments and best wishes for both of you and your great assignment and work right now. Thanks for all you are doing. Things are going very well on our trip. We’ve just about completed the Erie Canal portion as we will enter the Oswego Canal tomorrow for the 24 mile run north to the town of Oswego, on Lake Ontario. So we are at the western most edge of our trip this evening, almost exactly 500 miles from our starting point in Falmouth on Cape Cod. From Oswego we will then start heading east all the way to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and around the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
Love from Cari and me.
Bruno
Ayuh,…. Howdy Bruno,… Sounds like a Great trip,…
My house is maybe 6/ 8 miles off course of where yer headed, up here on the northeast corner of Lake Ontario,…
If yer nearin’ Cape Vincent, or expect to along towards Dark,…
Feel free to motor over to Chaumont Bay, my place is right in the mouth of the Chaumont river, as it empty’s into the bay,…google it,..
I’ve got nice calm deep water dockage for ya, ‘n there’s a few decent eatery’s in the village…
Deb, ‘n I would be honored to entertain you as yer passin’ by….
Hi Bondo,
Thank you so much for the very kind offer. We are not sure exactly when we will be passing through your area. As we get closer, I’ll get back to you with details. If it works out, we’d love to be able to stay at your deep water dock.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Bill we had a great evening with you last night. So good to meet you and Debb and to visit about iboats and all you are doing as a terrific Moderator. Thanks for a fun evening!
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno (and Cari and BV5)
Hey, Bruno, when are you coming through PA?
Hi Art,
Unfortunately not this trip. Where do you boat in PA?
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Lake Raystown. Center of the State.
Very interesting trip. I am guessing your route is relatively set, but some interesting side trips if you have time are the Saguenay River a beautiful Fjord and watch up for relatively rare white Beluga Whales, the Bra D’or Lakes are beautiful, the Saint John river and Reversing falls are also very nice. You will get to see the old Montreal, Quebec City, Gaspe Bay, Halifax and Lunenburg all very beautiful! Hopefully the weather will co-operate, fog is usually a factor, take lots of warm clothes and hopefully you have a furnace.
Hi Andre,
Great info. We are planning to go up the Saguenay River and will be on the Bra D’or Lake for almost a week plus Montreal, Quebec City and everything you mentioned except Saint John River. I agree with you that the fog is always the great unknown down east.
We have a furnace and thanks for the tip on the warm clothes. Where do you call home?
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Well we would probably be on your first day of travels and that is a Sunday so we will miss you but I would carefully cruise through the thimble islands off of Branford CT. I think it is a very beautiful place to anchor and relax for an afternoon. Wish we could anchor with you guys and have lunch. we usually cook out on the boat there on weekends
Hi Greg,
Thanks for the great tip on the thimble islands off of Branford, CT. If we don’t catch them as we head to NYC as we start this trip, we will definitely take your suggestion and explore them later in the summer when we get back to Cape Cod and the Vineyard.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
This will be so fun! Your web site is wonderful and we will both look forward to your photos and stories. Enjoy!
Hi Mike and Carolee,
Thanks for the okay on the website. We plan to post lots of pictures and fun stories and it will be fun to know that you are with us in spirit.
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Well, this is the start of a grand adventure. It must have taken the better
Part of the winter to get everything organized. I know a guy that cooks
In the back country for hunters, boaters and hikers. Too bad he can’t
Come along and prepare your wildest culinary dreams to be part of
The trip. Be careful, sail straight and love every minute of it. We are
Anxious, to say the very least, to see and hear all of the details.
Laden Backpack
Hi Paul,
Yes it’s been fun spending the last six months planning for this mega trip. It’s almost like being there everyday and extending the trip. If you know someone that cooks as well as you say he can, let me know and I’ll send him a ticket. I know a guy whose almost that good that I hunted with for years. He he he. Stay tune for more….
iboats’ Captain,
Bruno
Charlene and I are looking forward to the adventure. Safe travels and enjoy the ride!
Maury and Charlene
Thanks for the wonderful evening spent with the two of you. Went to the Branch on Sunday and thought of you. We are having an incredible time!