: The two big concerns I have about urban areas are the Chicago/Gary/north of
: Chicago area and Falls. I'll be getting a ride around the falls, and I'm
: not sure what I'll be doing near the Chicago metro yet. If I get a great
: weather day, in theory, I could paddle from IN, past Chicago, and end up
: in the northern suburbs. But I'm not really in the clear - to a park I'd
: feel comfy camping in - until Millard Park about 60 miles from IN Dunes.
: It's another 17 miles or so until Il Beach State Park, which officially
: has camping. It's not until just after Milwaukee until I'm really out in
: the clear from the Chicago metro.

: I've gotten lots of great advice about the ON shoreline from CCR and plenty
: of offers of help in the Detroit metro, but I'm still in the dark about
: the Chicago area.

: I don't own the charts for the Great Lakes, because I'm primarily using
: scanned topos in the larger scale and creating maps similar to those for
: the Lake Superior Water Trail through MN. If you have the time to look up
: access points, that would be much appreciated!

: I'm curious about camping and marinas. On other kayaking trips, I've paid a
: docking fee at marinas and slept in hotels, but I'm on a budget for this
: trip, especially if I don't reach full funding levels. So, it'll be
: camping most of the time. I've never camped at a marina. If that's
: do-able, then some of my problems disappear! I know you probably slept on
: the sailboat, but what's your experience with marina's and camping around
: the metro?

Hi Bryan,

I'll hunt thru the charts and see what I can find (first have to find the charts ). I'd also suggest contacting CASKA, Chicago Area Sea Kayak Assoc., they have a Yahoo site, they I'd expect would be very helpful as they are right on the lake there. I'm a non-active member of that group too.

http://www.caska.org/home.htm

Bill H.