Scott
Jun 042011
Jun 042011
Another barge along the system
Jun 042011
One of the worker barges used along the canal system!
Jun 042011
The Locking Tag required for transit through the Erie Canal System!
Jun 042011
A lockmaster’s control room!
Jun 042011
Just holding the ropes waiting for the lift to take us upward!
Jun 042011
Inside one of the locks
Jun 032011
So here we are today…..in Oswego. If you know some geography you will note that our plans have changed. Early yesterday we made a call to the lockmaster in the area of the flooding and he told us that the canal has remained closed and does not know when it will open. We had to make some decisions quickly. Do we keep the boat in a small marina in Brewerton (the last lock before the shut down lock area)? Do we continue on up the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario and then onto St. Catharines from there? Or do we wait? Waiting was not an option as we are not retired and Aiden has to get his last days of school in. Since there was no idea when the Erie Canal would be open we made the decision to come up the Oswego Canal to come home. So we had to plan and re-route our navigation software to accommodate the change. That done, we headed up the Oswego Canal to stay in Oswego, NY. I found a bar that had WiFI, so here I sit writing this little tidbit of our day, while sipping a Stella’s in Oswego. Totally underdressed, in a ball cap, with no make up and hair tucked up inside due to the windblown, non showered look. Not appealing in this place. I must look good cause people are looking at me. LoL
We’ll be staying here tonight at Oswego Marina then heading out on to Lake Ontario. We have decided to stay over in Rochester with our new guy friends at the marina they are at then head home. I have to check on where we will be landing on Sunday. Stay tuned…….
Jun 032011
We got up with a planned day with “the boys” again in order to push through to a place near Oneida Lake. We have heard steady winds of 28 mph with gusts of 38 mph on the lake. I don’t think we’ll be heading over that lake today.
Several more locks, 6 more actually. My hands are about done. The fingertips no longer have any prints left on them and the fingers are getting a bit sore. In order to get through the locks you have to hold onto ropes that are suspended from the top of each lock but do not fasten at the bottom of the lock. So you have to pull the boat in. Today it was tremendously windy. Not only was I using the cleats on the boat for leverage but holding on and pushing with a poker to keep the fenders boards off the wall a bit. Scott hit the wall hard with a huge wind gust but knew he was going to hit so managed to hit just the fenders. Thank goodness we didn’t scimp on those little buggers. They have saved thousands in gel coat repair costs.
We did make it to the east side of Oneida Lake. The lake was extremely rough with 6 ft waves, maybe higher so we stayed the night at a little place called Mariner’s Landing. They accommodated several strays boats with ease, generosity and hospitality. Even shutting down their fuel dock to accommodate us. Louie you are the best!!! I’m going to have to send him a thank you for this one!
Scott and Aiden went to play at Sylan Beach where there was a antique car show. There is an amusement park but it has not opened for the season. I asked for a bit of groceries too and at that point Aiden was thrilled to get his ice cream cone. There was a beach volleyball tournament going on as well. If you have every played beach volleyball you will know how difficult it is to play when it is calm weather let alone when the winds are extreme. I think it was more of an attempt at playing beach. We turned in early to get ready for the next day.
Jun 022011
Today we decided to push 10 1/2 hours. Very long day, 10 locks….No one told me that I should have been weight training before this trip. Especially my hands.
Well we made it to a place called Little Falls, NY. Nice place and recommend it to everyone. Weather was good and Scott has handled the boat with ease like he’s been doing this for years.
We have met up with a group of 4 guys from Rochester and Boston area and a couple from Ottawa. We traveled together all day. The couple were on their way home from picking up their boat in Florida and bringing it home on their 2 week vacation. They are on week 4. Turns out he is an aeronautical engineer. The group of guys are a bunch of fun. One is a lawyer, 2 engineers and a cabinet maker. Great mix of personalities while chatting away in the locks.