Twin O/B Sonic

Maybe.

Mama said OK so we'll see. Most of you know me and that I've been trying to do this trip since we moved to Fla from Ohio almost 7 yrs ago. The planets have never aligned though.
Part of the issue (of course) is tow/travel time. I can do the trip non stop w/no problem w/either no trailer or a small one.
I'm afraid my 24' Sonic is too big/heavy to pull it off though. I tow at 70 w/it down here but our state is flat as a table. From northern Ga. and up, the amount of gas I'd burn to maintain that speed would mean fuel stops every two hrs. Even the difference between 80 (unloaded) and 70 is about 3hrs on that trip.
According to my math I'd end up burning 4 days in transit which means a wk vacation does not work and if we spend any time in Cols w/family, 2 wks is border line. Key will be to get the Mrs to agree to no stops in Cols or drop her off on way through
Although a stop at Buckeye Lake may also be mandatory.

So IF I can pull this off........, probably head straight for the big lake and drop in at Mazurks Access in Marble Head and head north. At that point weather (of course) would dictate the next steps. Key for me would be a bunch of time at Pelee (which I know makes no sense to any of you guys) but then a weekend (or a few days) at Kelly's/PIB which could be on way out or back.(weather?)
Just ordered the vacation info pack to look at scheduled events but know there is much more happening off the radar screen.
If we hit the close islands that would let family come up and hang w/us a while and kill two birds w/one stone. Her side only knows the ferry ride weekends up there so a boat ride would be huge to them.
Couple of thoughts are any poker runs in planning stages and also have read about the barge party off Bay Point although I'm not sure that's still happening.

In very early planning stages and not sure this will even happen but, boat/trailer/tow pigg is ready/able for the first time since we've been down here.
Have done the math on finances ($1K+ in tow pigg gas) and we can do a week long Caribbean cruise (we've been wanting to) for about the same jing.

Any ideas, comments would be greatly appreciated.

Of course a night at the Casino would be mandatory.

Thanks guys and we'll see what happens.
Gary

Ebay Ed

Barge Party is still on 1 in june and 1 in july go to www.sanduskybaybargeparty.com for dates

Twin O/B Sonic

Docked at Bay Point before they had that party.

One of the dates/events that popped in my head was the 4th of July. I've been off the west shore of Pelee for their fireworks before and could see them in 4 or 5 different locations (2 countries, 5 towns kinda thing) at the same time and was quite the spectacle.
That barge party looks like a hoot and would be easy to pick up/drop off yankee passengers.

thirdchildhood

iTrader: (6)

Definitely hit up Put-in-Bay and Cedar Point is right near by. Cedar Point probably has the nicest marina on the lake and if there are kids involved they will love a day there. Boaters get into the park an hour before the public and there are two restaurants just for boaters.

1989mach1

I dock at cp and is grat. Wont go any where elce. And for the barge party we always start there and then after words go to kelleys for the night. Grate time. If u say a night at cp I might be able to hook up up with a free dock and some cheep tickes to the park. U could party with us on dock 3. Middle bass is nice now to have all new docks and two prity cool bars if you r not in to the crazy seen at pib any more. I like to dock at mb and take the sunny s over to pib for the day then take the last one back. The wife dont care to stay at pib any more.all good stuff thow

bigboat28

The barge party's have been the last Saturday in June and July and are a blast. Also LEOPA is having a fun run out of middle bass July 20 I read.

Twin O/B Sonic

Thanks for all the input guys. I guess I should have explained a bit more about my background.
Grew up in Ohio and Lake Erie every weekend. Parents docked a cruiser at Cedar Point for close to 15 yrs.
I had my own cruiser at Bay Point/Marble Head and Catawba Moorings in West Harbor on the south shore of Erie.
Sold them and bought my first 24' Sonic and spent the next 7 yrs breaking everything in/on that boat doing Lake Erie crossings. Been across to Leamington Ontario, Point Pelee, Pelee Island as well as all the US islands a bazillion times and love them all.
Was asking more "what/when" than anything else. If this works out I'll have to be very careful or I'll be picking up family members from every spec of dirt along the Ohio shore line.
This is my/our trip, not theres if you know what I mean. I'd as soon go and not tell any of them we're there if I had my way. My wife says she would too but I know better than that.
May end up being she and I on the boat for the first few days while island hopping and then meeting them at a cottage on an island for the communal thing the rest of the time.
Would like to show her family around but not willing to ruin my vacation in process. Working on making her brother a boater so we have a loaner on our next trips north so there is a bit of a plan in the works.

Thanks again for the suggestions and keep them coming.

Bigboat, that all sounds fun. Especially the fun run. I like Middle Bass a lot and have not seen the new marina yet. Was still in process my last time there. Have done the 5K foot race there several times (Lonz's days) and my wife is now a runner also and thought about that too. I think thats normally first of August.

RT930turbo

Let us know when you're coming! We'll do Buckeye ocean and the big lake. Get Underdog to bring that Velocity up to the islands too!

Twin O/B Sonic

Tried to hook up w/Underdog when we were up last time and it didn't work out. He and I met at Buckeye Lake. Would like to coax him to the big lake as well.
I have a whole gang that would vote for a Buckeye Lake trip too.
We did go to the Copper Penny for Pizza while up last time I think if I lived back in Columbus again, I'd have a cottage on the water out there.
Just can't beat it for convenience and variety. I remember talking to my parts guy 30 yrs ago when I was telling him about all the bars I heard about out there. Told him I heard there were 3 that were accessible by boat. He said 13!
My buddy and I took a 13' beater O/B out there the next weekend w/a map my parts guy made for me and we made it to 3 bars before having enough

oh6662b

I spend all the time I can on beach at Pelee, once I'm there I never touch my shoe's or wallet. best r&r ever!!! Hope your trip happens!!