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Beaver Island State Park and HydroPlane Races

 2013  No Responses »
Aug 192013
 

Our favourite little spot.  Loe Beaver Island State Park located on Grand Island, NY.  Always a bit breezy but with the seclusion at the end of the day with only marina folk, the ability to make campfires, and therefore eat way to many s’mores, and the dog able to run at will after the park closes it is truly a fav.

We always end up with Curtis, Connie and Alexis, Matt and Patti and their girls and whoever else happens to be there partying till the fire ends.  This week was no different.  We also did the bike trails more than once and found a little place on the Niagara River that has frozen bananas for a quick stopover.  Newton is also able to swim in the lagoon and fetch sticks till he’s worn out which we do every day while here.

Scott decided to bike ride to the other end of Grand Island on his own while Aiden, Alexis and I made it to Timmies for a bevy about a 10 km ride.  Next year I think Aiden and I will have to do that trek as well.  The island has bike trails along the shoreline that rarely mixes with traffic.

 

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 Posted by at 11:38 PM

Buffalo Harbor – Woodlawn Beach

 2013, Summer Excursions  No Responses »
Aug 112013
 

 

So after the several days in Port Colborne we decided to head over to Buffalo Harbour.  Bet you didn’t know Buffalo had a harbour.  It’s the Military and Naval Park that has a decommissioned destroyer and sub waiting for you visitors and visit.  Tons of things are going on in the harbour daily.  They are putting a lot of effort into regenerating a historical area of Buffalo and it shows.  Bike paths, walking paths, dog friendly areas, nature paths all along the waterfront.  This area is being so well done that it is a recommended stop Thor boaters as well as land lovers.  Hydro and water for five boats with over 10 spots with no services.  a beautiful park to roam around in and several entertainment venues.  While we were there The Tragically Hip was playing at a nearby court door concert arena along the water’s edge.

The Cotter made a sunset appearance.  She is the oldest still commissioned fire fighting vessel in the world.  With her sprinklers going she is quite the sight to see even though she is over one hundred years old.

We headed off to Woodlawn Beach before we started to head back down the Niagara River towards home.  A beach near the big windmills collecting wind power for the City of Buffalo along the east side of Lake Erie.  I don’t see what the big deal in having these and wonder why people are so against them.  Not only are they picturesque, they are quiet, really quiet.  One of the marvels of sustainable power and engineering.

The beach is a great beach too.  The dog was able to swim and run the one side area with no problem.  We wore him out and he still swam back to the boat.  A warm calm day is needed for this beach as no shelter from the winds of Lake Erie is available.

After a great day on the beach we Re headed off to Beaver Island State Park.  We haven’t been there since Father’s Day In June.  Looking forward to the beach, bike riding and nature that awaits us there

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 Posted by at 12:47 AM

Finger Lakes Travel 2013 – Day 1 Tonawanda to Lockport , NY

 2013, Finger Lakes, Summer Excursions  2 Responses »
Jul 032013
 

Planning this trip was so much easier than I thought it would be.  After traveling a lot last year this small trip to the Finger Lakes Region is a breeze.  Except I brought too many clothes.  Do I pack for cool days, rainy days, warm and hot days?  Is the canal closed due to flooding?  These are new questions that I didn’t have to consider last year.  Oh well, we are on vacation so no need to worry.  Just be happy!

After a day at work Scott met Aiden and I in Tonawanda Gateway Park.  Scott has been staying on the boat more frequently mainly because the water levels are high at home, the water at home is disgustingly silty so it tracks in mud and the proximity to his work is just too convenient.  Groceries and supplies already packed we are off.  Traveling down the Erie Canal to Lockport, New York isn’t the most picturesque but we did have some pleasant surprises waiting for us.  With all this rainfall we see many a waterfall from runoff along the way.  Sure it seems insignificant but when you travel this route it is pretty darn boring so the simplest of surprises gets a big woohoo.

While mooring in Lockport we had plenty of time to investigate our surroundings again.  The cave tours are still operating, the tourist centre is closed but we made up for that by having an ice cream.  If you get a chance Lockport can be a bit of a history tour back about 200 years.  The original set of 5 flight locks are still there but have been replaced by 2 new ones.  The cave tour and old buildings still visible and the old downtown area are always worth seeing.

Looking forward to tomorrow as we cruise down the canal further hoping to find a place where we can watch 4th of July fireworks.  Of course more rain is in the forecast too!

 

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 Posted by at 10:27 PM

June 1st 50th Birthday Bash

 2013, Summer Excursions  Comments Off on June 1st 50th Birthday Bash
Jun 052013
 

All I wanted for my birthday is to have all my kids together.  So Scott asked the kids to put the weekend aside just for me and spend some quality time on the boat.  Aaahhhh, there is nothing better.  So Amy gets the great news that she is off May 31 and has an early shift on the 30th.  So I get to pick her up early and spend even more time driving her crazy.  It’s my mom’s 70th birthday on May 30 so that day has been set aside for her special day with dinner and all the kids.

We head out on Friday the 31st with all in tact.  This is our first major excursion this year.  With all 3 kids and Scott and I it is promising to be a great weekend.  On Saturday we have high temps and a lot of sun.  Scott, Aiden and I don our wetsuits and go for a swim around the harbour.  Current is strong heading out to the Niagara River because of all the rains we’ve had so had to use a bit of muscle.  Felt great!  Amy and I made a delish dinner, Amy made my birthday cake and everyone helped decorate the boat.  What a grand day!  Then it started to rain.  So we through on a movie and enjoyed the pitter patter of rain dancing on the roof.

Sunday morning brought a bit more rain so a slow start for everyone and extra coffee.  By afternoon it was warm and sunny again.  We had a great afternoon exploring Tonawanda and North Tonawanda visiting their little downtown shops.  Then headed home but realized that the water from all the rain made the Welland River way too high to fit under our lowest bridge.  We had to park the boat at the Chippawa Boat Club and drive home with the help of a last minute call to my sister.  It took a few days for the water to subside enough to get the boat home.

I couldn’t have asked for anything better to celebrate this milestone birthday!

 Posted by at 1:40 AM

Splash!

 2013, Summer Excursions  No Responses »
May 192013
 

Finally after all these months Conductance is back in the water.  She is not coming home right away but staying at Smith Boys for a bit.  She needs a cleaning and then we’re off to Tonawanda Gateway Park to start another grand season of boating around the Niagara River.

 Posted by at 1:38 AM

ONTARIO BOATING LOOP TRIP MAP

 ONTARIO BOATING LOOP TRIP MAP  Ontario Loop  5 Responses »
Aug 202012
 

ONTARIO BOATING LOOP TRIP MAP

– 1,700 Miles Out of 1,700 Miles Completed.
– 118 Locks of 118 completed.
  19 of 19 Locks  completed on the Erie Canal.
   5 Locks of 5  completed on the St. Lawerence Seaway.
2 Locks of 2 completed on the Ottawa River.
  48 Locks of 48  completed on the Rideau Canal
  44 Locks of 44 on the Trent-Severn Canal.
 


View Trent-Severn Trip in a larger map

 Posted by at 11:37 PM