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37' C&C Custom our boat from 1993 to 2008	40' Trendsetter our boat from 2007 - present
	Under the shrink wrap for winter
At the highest lock in the New York State Canal system, 'Skye' looks eastward. Even if you are not going further south the NY canals are the best cruising deal around, No locking fees, free docks everywhere, free or $1.00 pump outs and free internet access. NY State is working hard to attract cruisers and it shows.	The Hudson Valley is spectacular and if you are travelling south in the fall you may be lucky enough to catch the changing of the leaves. You can be in Lake Champlain or New York City in little more than a week from Toronto if you hustle.
Hudson River	Hudson River
Great Kills Harbour. Three days on the hook in 45-65mph winds.'Skye' held on a 44lb. Bruce. this sailboat was our neighbor the night before but he and his city owned mooring ball preferred the parking lot.	Coming north from Cape May - the back door to Atlantic City is like a sub-division with canals replacing roads. A few tight corners.
This anchorage directly North of Atlantic City's casinos looks wide open in this shot however, when the tide goes out the entrance is about 25' wide and pretty snaky. The alternative is $4.00 per foot at Donald Trumps Casino. No wonder he has so much money.	Annapolis. This is the mooring field in Spa Creek. They have recently expanded it and taken up the anchorage and are reportedly increasing prices from the current $25.00/night. You can still anchor in Back Creek but it is very crowded with no swinging room if the wind comes up. Many people like it here but it's not one of our favourites. We consider it a large tourist trap.
Pretty anchorage not far from Annapolis. Drop the hook and go to the oyster dock ( take a bucket) and pick up some very cheap oysters.	Or pick your own clams.Compare the size of the baseball hat lying next to my dinner
Norfolk Virginia, Hampton Roads. The ICW goes right through the middle of the biggest navy base in the world. You have to see it to believe the extent of US militay might.	This beautiful city is well worth a few days exploration. Do not trust the mooring buoys ! We loved all of the Carolinas and were regularly offered use of cars by locals we had just met. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of our favourite; Beaufort, NC where your dog can lie at your feet in the Back Street pub while you have a beer...Now that is what I call sophisticated. Don't forget to say hello to Liz & Julie behind the bar.
Oriental, great place, lots of very friendy dogs wander all over town, oysters and grouper at the local diner.	When you start seeing signs like this one in Georgia or billboards for lawyers or billboards for prop repair or the BoatUS towboat starts following you..........slow down.
Georgia. When you see piles of drift wood; some of it tree size, be careful of the wake from passing sportfishers. Wake from sportfishers will often dislodge these piles of wood which can do a lot of damage to your prop. We could'nt wait to get trhough here, Swamp gas and man eating bugs were so thick you could not help but inhale them.	Dolphins follow us everyday. The more we talked to them the closer they got. We could actually touch them and they loved the interaction.
Can't remember where this is but you will pass through dozens of areas like this and can buy very cheap sea food directly from the fishing boats. You can buy a crab trap for less than $10.00 anywhere and catch your own.	Terrific time in Jacksonville. 50' down from the boat is an open air ampitheater where a hispanic youth group was putting on a Christmas show. We had the best seats in the house with a glass of wine on the flying bridge. Dock walkers offered us a car and use of their dock if we wanted to stay longer.
Verobeach...three to a mooring ball (all well maintained) free public transport ! extremely cruiser friendly. This is a great spot to meet cruisers and get provisioned. Laura and Buddy enjoy the sunset	We crossed Florida to the gulf side via the Okeechobee waterway, a trip we highly recommend. You get away from touristy Florida and meet genuine crackers who are great people. Wild pigs, Ospreys Egrets, Ibis and lots of gators
Did you really need a sign to tell you this ! This guy is about 10' long	Anchored in the gulf somewhere between Everglades City and Indian Key
The Gulf coast of Florida is much less commercial than the East Coast and you can still find near deserted beaches	This is a close up of the beach shown at left. Not sand but miles of shells.
About 1,000 boats at anchor in Marathon. Many waiting for the Nor'easters to drop for a Gulf Stream crossing. We waited until the end of Feb. then gave up and came home.	While in Key West we bought a case of 18 beer for $4.39 on sale. Each one of those beer bought a 4lb. lobster in Dry Tortugas. You did'nt think we'd actually drink American beer !
Buddy the wonder dog with Skye in the background at Dry Tortugas	This is what an anchorage is supposed to be
Deep Creek in the Dismal Swamp	Black Sound - Abacos
Three Canadian Trawlers at Manjack Cay, Abacos	My camera batteries were dying but Junkanoo in Freeort is a great show not to be missed.
Quaint New Plymouth, Abacos	Ocean Reef Yacht Club, Grand Bahamas. Right next to the pool, hot tub and bar. The kids met us here for Christmas. What a great place.
Thousands of little islands on the Florida ICW, pick a beach and drop the hook.	Anchored nex to "Flying Dutchman from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean III"
The Gaol at New Plymouth, Abacos	Tom Assenmacher shovels oysters on the Yeocomico River. Possibly the best meal I have ever had ! They don't come any fresher.
	If you are considering some cruising on the ICW down to the Bahamas take a look at my Primer For First Timers Heading South. This final shot of the anchorage at Dry Tortugas is one of my favourite screen savers. I can smell the brine and taste the serenity. Wallace Gouk AMSŪ Port Credit Marine Surveys
Captain Wallace Gouk AMS®, Survey reports accepted world wide by all financial and insurance institutions for sail and power boats servicing Ontario east, west, south and beyond including Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Grimsby, 50 Point, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Bronte, Port Credit, Mississauga, Toronto, Oshawa, Pickering, Port Hope, Coburg, Newcastle, Kingston, Brockville, Penetanguishene, Midland, Barrie and Keswick. I have also worked in New York State, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Florida and the Bahamas.
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