LAKAWA

Anyone else doing this?

http://www.XLakeMI.com

I'm so stoked.

when is it and how do we registar for it.. sounds like alot of fun.. full boat suport

The window is July 30-aug 5th. We camp out in Two Rivers on the Wisconsin side. When the conditions look favorable and the group agrees to go, we go. So any of those days are possibilities.

I like the organizers approach. He's not making decisions for anyone. We as a group decide.

The take out spot on the Michegan side is near Luddington, if all goes well. There is a ferry from Luddington to Manatowoc WI, so I assume that is how we get back.

Total distance 54mi, assuming no tacks. APPROXIMATELY 4X across Mille Lacs!!!!

Come on Jon, let's make a showing for Minnesota. Anyone else up to it???

Returning on the Badger Ferry would be possible, but I am trying to get chase boats from the Two Rivers area, so they will, I assume, be coming back that night.

Most folks I am recruiting are fishing charter captains, so they will want to be back for the next day's business. We can return with them.

Or, there is camping in the Dunes State Park on the Michigan side, where we will come ashore, plus hotels in around there and Luddington, for folks who would like to spend a day or ? in MI.

I hope to get a volunteer or two to set up on the MI side to await our arrival. That way, we could catch a ride back that way, as well.

If anyone has any other ideas, please let the rest know.

And, yes. As Tighe indicates: It's "doable".

Visit the public site at: http://www.XLakeMi.com

The member's blog might be more informative: http://xthelake.blogspot.com

If you are interested in crossing, contact us at: XlakeMI@gmail.com

Maybe I could get in the Guinness World Records for the oldest kiter to cross Michigan. But seriously, what do you thing the average speed would be? It's not too hard to spend several hours on the water. Of course staying on the same tack would be a bummer. And big waves could increase the challenge. I'm talking myself out of it. But a big downwinder could be fun.

oh come on Jeff, you can do it. It would probably be a 3 hour session or less. You've done that before. Camel backs (maybe I'll fill mine with lemonaide), and onboard energy gels, will help.

For me I just want to do it, to prove to myself that all the options are still available to me as I head into this second half of my existence. I teach Sophia that "can't" is a four letter word. I need to practice what I preach.

now where are those reading glasses....?

How many people think they MIGHT be able to go? I'm going to do the crossing! (assumming i can get off work and whatnot). It sounds like an awsome time.

That looks like an awesome marathon of sorts. I don't see mention of windsurfers. Does that mean they will only take kiters and not windsurfers?

Good question Kevin.

Might want to contact Chaz and see what he says. He might be open to it.

I'll be up for it. Just gotta make sure that the calendar is clear.

I want to do it but I don't know how well it will work with my summer school classes

Jon

excuses are easy to find, you sometimes have to dig a bit deeper to find the courage.

Just hosin ya mon. Try to work it out. It would be fun to have a small Minnesota posse' out there.

In preparation for media appearances and press releases, I need to have a definitive list of those committed to the crossing by 6/6/07.

If you do not contact the group by the deadline, we will most certainly try to include you, but you will miss out on the preparatory information, planning, etc. that will be important to you when the time comes.

A few details from the web sites:

We will be departing from Point Beach state forest, just north of Two Rivers, WI. There are campsites available right across from the beach and nearby motels/hotels in Two Rivers. The dates for being on site and ready to go are July 30-Aug. 5th. Those who wish to remain at home and commute to the site in the early morning hours are welcome to. I will give you a phone call by 10pm the night before with the local marine forecast for the next day, if you request that I do so. The "go/no go" decision will be made by group vote each morning. If it is a "no go" day, the park's lake front is a great place to tool around for the day (I'll be putting some pictures on the member's blog soon, I promise...) and have some fun. For those with families, it is a great vacation spot. That is what my family will be doing this year: a few days at the campsite, a few at a local hotel. There are a variety of hiking and other fun activities nearby.

Those desiring to go, please reply to me with where you have made lodging arrangements, and a way to contact you (cell phone ideal). If you will be driving in the day we go, please let me know that and a cell phone number in case we scrap things due to weather while you are en route.

I will also need to have everyone's home address or another address where I can send you fliers for distribution around you area/your place of employment/your usual beach/your kb shop/wherever. After all, this is a fund raiser. I would hope that everyone can come up with some contributions for the Children's Hospital Foundation.

I have spent the last four days in Michigan near our destination point. Big Sable Point lighthouse, and the beach to the south are beautiful places for kiteboarding. I am envious of our members from Michigan and their beaches and wind conditions! It is also a state park, with camping. It is about a 10 minute drive north of Luddington.

Finally, we have only secured one boater to do the crossing voluntarily as a chase boat. And, one MI sailboat as sort of a "welcome" craft near the end, and to help bring us in. I am assuming that most WI boaters do not know the MI waters off the lighthouse so well. There are some treacherous shallows and sand bars quite far out (hence the lighthouse, I suppose...)

I am having very little response from the media in assisting with this effort. The Children's Hospital Foundation monthly newsletter will be coming out soon and we will be noted there and our need highlighted. I hope to have some favorable responses from this.

I have secured positive responses from a few fishing charter captains with larger/faster boats who would do this for us for cost. This will be our final option of we cannot secure volunteers. As one boat per rider is my goal for safety, this may limit the number who can cross, unless you can "chip in" out of pocket for your own boat.

As a last item of note, all donations should be collected by members, ideally in the form of a check made out to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. If you receive any cash donations, please send a personal check of your own for the cash amount. Please indicate "X Lake MI event" on the memo line.

Donations can be sent to:

Heidi Schade
Special Events Coordinator
Children's Hospital Foundation
5583 Waterford Lane, Ste A
Appleton, WI 54913
attn: X Lake MI Event


I have set up the web site to accept credit card donations through my own holding company. It's in the left sidebar, a "Google Checkout" button. It lists my company (C & D International Holdings, LLC) when you click on it, but the $ goes to Children's Hospital with the X Lake MI address, and that is what will appear on your credit card statement (for those who itemize their taxes).

You can also, of course, bring donations to the event.

I will be updating the public website, http://www.XLakeMI.com and the member's blog, http://www.xthelake.blogspot.com as soon as I can some pictures, more location information, etc.

I am glad to see such a great response form you folks in MN, and look forward to meeting many of you!

Oh, yes, windsurfers are welcome, but that will not be for a record. It's been done by a windsurfer before, sorry...

Heck, the way my knees have been acting, a kayak and a traction kite sound like a great idea for getting across. Hmmmm......

Sorry this was so long, but there is a lot of information to cover to make this work out as a fun, charitable and successful adventure for all of us.

Sincerely,

Chaz Bartelt

I meant to put down that the member's blog is : http://xthelake.blogspot.com

Misspelled that one. My apologies.

If there are folks going from here other than Tighe, Ashley, etc. and you haven't replied so far, don't forget to send me an e-mail to XLakeMi@gmail.com. Please include the information requested on the blog.

Also, for those who will be camping out, the site is getting full quick, so make reservations Soon! The web site for making camp site reservations is on the member's blog.

I couldn't even get consecutive days, so my family and I will be at camp site 63 (right across from the beach access) Monday the 30th through Friday the 3rd. After that we're at the Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers the next couple of nights (a whirlpool sounds good after four nights in a sleeping bag... ).

Hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Chaz

That sounds like the coolest adventure! I'm with Tighe, "can't" is just a four letter word and rock on 40's !

Woodette