August 2005

8-1-05,
@ anchor, Cleveland, OH: Up @ 0740 h. Clear, sunny, T= 75 F, BP= 30.12, winds W @ 4-5 kts. Ran genset all night. Batteries still not fully charged... wow were they low; Pat is a bit discouraged. Shades of lasts year’s problems with the fuel pump; I've got to solve this problem. Lifted anchor 0740 h. Started engine (we have a separate starting battery which we installed 2 years ago.) Turned off all electric equip & used hand-held VHF and my small back-up Gamin GPS. However, we continued to run genset while underway. Have not taken on diesel since Channel Ecarte, Canada. Fuel gauge is not working since we departed Hammond. Have new one but have not had time to install it yet; another project. I carry 5 gal extra diesel on the storage shelf I built to attach to the swim platform ladder. Put in about 4 gal. Engine has been using ~ .75 gal/h.

Arrive. Ashtabula, OH (41.55.0 N, 80.47.50 W) @1510. You can anchor inside the breakwater but it can get uncomfortable. Telephoned Sutherland's Marina. They could put me up on the fuel dock ($1.50/ft/day). Telephoned Ashtabula Yacht Club (right next door) which has reciprocity with other ILYA affiliated yacht clubs. We belong to the Hammond Yacht Club which is an ILYA member. AYC said they had several slips available: $1/ft for non-ILYA boats. Told them we were on our way in. (As it turned out, our entire flotilla decided to take a slip... they didn't "charge" us anything--Wow!).

The town & Yacht Club are up river ~1 mi. 1510 h - The river channel is narrow & shallow with shoaling. Also there are freighters moored along the channel wall loading and offloading ore. To get to the Yacht Club you must pass under a fixed bridge as well as a lift bridge which opens on the hr & .5 hr. However, our immediate problem was that a freighter had moored on one side of the river channel and extended its offloading boom across the channel to the opposite side to fill railway cars. The boom appeared very low. There was no work activity on board. We circled in front of the boom & hailed the freighter. Finally a fellow wandered SLOWLY on deck & stared at us. We requested (actually "yelled", since he did not have hand-held VHF) that he raise the boom so we could pass. He wandered some more & finally raised it "a bit" and then stood there & stared at us. A bunch of the crew came on deck & leaned on the rail to watch "to see if the yacht would hit the boom." I refuse to go under & continued to circle because I could not tell how high the boom actually was. (FYI - You cannot judge the height of a bridge or boom from directly underneath.) I need at least 54' to clear comfortable especially with the antenna & Windex at the top of the mast. Also the freighter expected me to approach the boom on opposite wall of the channel (shallow!) to get by. We asked a passing power boat what he estimated my clearance at. He said he thought maybe 15-20' near the shore opposite the freighter but could not be sure... Arne (Scandia, a C-42) was right behind me and requires at least 60'. He was also circling. About this time the Coast Guard arrived. They contacted the freighter and told them to RAISE THE BOOM which they immediately did!!

Turns out they are not suppose to leave the boom in that position so as to block the channel. Another freighter could not possibly have passed. We headed up stream & had to circle to wait for the lift bridge (opens every 30 min). The river is shoaled along one side and we ran aground. Fortunately we were just creeping & it was a soft grounding, I was able to back off easily but there was lots of mud around in the water around our stern. O530 - Made it past the bridge, fueled up at Sutherland's (20.5 gal diesel + 2 gal gasoline for the genset), then took a slip at the AYC next door. Very nice people.

Our group had a picnic outside under the shelter attached to the shower building. Paul (Cool Change) had previously contacted a friend ("Doc") he had met in Florida who keeps a fishing boat near-by. Doc is a retired airline mechanic and volunteered to try to help me track down my electrical problem. It was too late to start that evening so we planned to work on it the next morning. He did, however, bring a freshly caught Wall-Eye which we all shared & "consumed with gusto" @ the picnic. Went to bed at 2330.

8-2-05,
Ashtabula Yacht Club (41.54.0 N, 80.47.7 W), Ashtabula, OH: Up @ 0600. Had coffee & cheese. Turned on the A/C... thank goodness we had brought it with us... Temperature had been 90-95+ in the shade and NO wind the past few days. Paul & Doc arrive ~0800. Doc came below & I briefed him on the problem / symptoms. Doc had told me the previous day to turn off all the electrical system then disconnect a Red / hot (+) wire from the battery terminal & re-touch the pole of the battery with the wire again. If there was a spark, there must be a short. I had done that when I got up this AM. Sure enough there was a big spark! We then checked the voltage drop using a VOM (Volt-Ohm-meter) which I carry on board, had a 4.0-4.5 V draw with everything disconnected. We decided to track down the short by disconnecting the wires on the control one-at-a-time and retesting after each disconnect. NOTHING in the control panel was causing the short; with everything disconnected, something was still drawing 4+ V! Finally decided to disconnect the alternator. It had been acting up the last several days and not charging the batteries. That was IT. Voltage drop was only 0.05 V /w (with) the alternator disconnected. (Assumed the 0.05 V was due to LEDs, the Pathmaker Solenoid, or some thing else). I was going to have to replace the alternator.

Fortunately, I had purchased a rebuilt 105 AMP Delco Marine alternator /w external 3-stage regulator from D.B. Electric in Gray, TN (recommended by Chuck Reed) & a Xantrex XAR Digital Alternator Regular from CLRMarine.com (Chuck & Linda Reed's new marine equipment supply Co.) before we left. I had tried to install it but since it was larger than my old 51 AMP Motorola (installed by Torrensen Marine in Muskegon just last summer!... more about that some other time), I was going to have to modify the mounting bracket as well as buy a larger "fan" belt. Doc had his truck & took Paul & I around to several auto & marina stores: we also wanted to test the old alternator to verify it was faulty. No luck regarding the latter; we were unable to find a place capable of testing a marine alternator. However, we were able to get a piece of metal welded to the old mounting bracket which would allow us to reuse it. Doc & Paul drilled a slot in the newly attached metal piece on the bracket when we returned to the boat & we mount it successfully. It was getting late & we were all hot, tired & hungry; decided to call it quits for the evening.

8-3-05
(W): 0700 - we're up. Coffee (me), tea (Pat) & cereal. Another clear, sunny & expected HOT day. The A/C has run all night & Pat & I slept very comfortably. 0830 - I was ready to attach the external regulator only to discover I couldn’t find the instructions for programming it! Waited until 0910 & called Xantrex on the cell phone; they said they would send an Adobe PDF formatted copy to my Hotmail account (I cannot receive photo or PDF attachments using PocketMail). I spent the rest of the day trying to access the internet only to discover I could not use my Verizon Mobile Office cell phone system with my laptop since the cell phone could not locate a "data" type tower in Ashtabula area. A Canadian fellow in a slip next to us also tried using his laptop and the yacht club's land-phone. (Pat had used the phone earlier telephone her sister Ena in Ireland w/ no problem.) However, he was also unsuccessful. As luck would have it, there was Ashtabula YC member on another dock who had just returned from doing the Port Huron to Mackinaw Race, Bob Andersen (a geologist & one of the co-owners of the Central American Oil Exploration Company). Bob volunteered to drive me to his home, 20 min. away, & allowed me to use his computer to download & print out the instruction manual. (Sailors really help each other in a pinch... Thanks Bob.)

It was about 2200 when we returned. 2330 - I had to hit the sack; we plan to depart @ 0700 tomorrow for Erie, PA. Our group had decided to head there & stay at Erie's Presque Isle State Park anchorage for a couple of days. My batteries were fully charged now (shore power) & I could start my engine and sail / motor-sail using my backup handheld Garmin GPS & Standard Horizon VHF for communication /w the flotilla.

8-4-04
Ashtabula Yacht Club, Ashtabula, OH: 0615 - We're up. Clear, sunny, T=~ 80 F, BP= 30.02 and starting to fall. NOAA predicting possible thunder showers later in the day. 0645 - Cool Change and Concession depart early & head downstream to Sutherland Marina to fuel-up. We all agreed to try making the 0730 bridge opening. All kinds of fishing boats circling in front of the bridge when we arrive. While circling, I nearly hit unmarked partially submerged pipes near the channel wall. Scandia is right behind me but is holding place. Bridge opens exactly at 0730. Concession goes to the eastern side of the channel runs aground just downstream of the bridge where we had run aground on Monday when we arrived. They manage to back-off. However, 5 minutes later Gary radios us that his engine is overheating; he put up his headsail to continue out the channel thru the breakwall opening & into the open lake. He suspects debris had been sucked into his intake when he ran aground. They manage to clear the debris & restart their engine.

We have 10-15 kts winds out of the SW which will allow us to "run" east to Erie, PA ~ 40 miles away. Arne (Scandia) radios us that he is going to motor-sail ahead since he is having back pains and wants to get to Presque Isle ASAP so he can rest. We relax and cruise under headsail & sometimes main. Great sailing day.

1505 - Arrive at Presque Isle (42.11.0 N, 80.04.0 W) at Erie, PA, drop our sails & enter the channel into Presque Bay under motor. "It’s been a day's sail" - occasionally hit 7 kts! We contact Arne & Bev (Scandia) on VHF ch 72 (we use ch 72 routinely when we sail for intership communications). They are already anchored in Misery Bay (a small bay off the larger Presque Isle Bay) and give us instructions on approaching the entrance using the "range" marks (sailors sight the range marks [usually 2 vertical signs, towers, or lights] when entering and leaving narrow passages to keep their boats in the center of the channel.) Since we plan to work on our alternator here, we had telephoned ahead & arranged to take a slip. Also, Susan & Eric, our daughter & her husband, & their triplet boys were driving up from Pittsburg to bring us our mail and the new Honda EU2000i generator we had ordered. Pulled into Misery Bay (42.08.8 N, 80.07.2 W) & head for the fuel dock to fuel-up & pump-out. Cool Change & Concession followed & drop anchor ~ 200 yds. out in the bay near Scandia. Cool Change radioed us to say they are having engine problems. We are assigned slip B-20. Cool Change has arranged to tie up on the harbor wall & I head down to the wall to assist. Gary (Concession) uses his dinghy with outboard motor to bring Cool Change to the wall. Paul & Mary are very concerned about how serious the engine problem is but Paul suspects his water pump bearings may have gone bad & caused the engine to seize up. He contacts several marine mechanics by telephone & to arrange for them to check the engine the next day... looks like we are going to be here for a while. Now we have 2 boats with problems.

0600 - Susan phones - will arrive ~ 0630. We shower & change cloths. Susan, Eric & the triplets arrive. The boys are very excited about seeing all the boats in the harbor & we bring them on board Weal Sea. They play with the wheel and explore the cabin below including the "head". Everyone is hungry so we drive to Applebee's, but not before introducing the family to Cool Change. Had great dinner. ~2100 h - return; Susan, Eric & the boys depart for Pittsburg; Eric's parents, Judy & Charlie, are arriving for the weekend. 2230 - Go to bed... lots of work to do tomorrow on alternator.

8-5-05
(F), Presque Isle State Park, Misery Bay, Erie, PA (42.11.0 N, 80.04.0 W): 0630 - up, shower & breakfast. Start working on completion of installation of new alternator. Having trouble with wiring in the new regulator. Instructions sent by alternator company do not match those provided by Xantrex (regulator). Main problem is that tachometer does not work properly. Telephoned alternator company in TN & received additional suggestions. Still no luck. Finally decide to check Xantrex instructions again. Discover possible error in instructions from alternator company having to do with wiring diagram. Decide to do it my way. Jury rigged the system for testing using various pieces of wire I have available. Pat starts engine & reads off the tachometer readings to me (I'm down in cabin next to engine & alternator so she needs to start the engine from the cockpit and adjust the throttle). IT WORKS! figured it out.... (I think/hope). Will have to extend & re-route a 12 gauge wire to the Pathmaker / combiner / isolator separating the starting & house batteries as well as add a tachometer wire to the regulator harness supplied by Xantrex.

Pat is going to grocery store with the ladies & will also pick up the 12 Ga wire for me. Arne (Scandia) gives me some 18 Ga wire for the harness. Real test of my interpretation of wiring diagrams & wiring skills will come later when we are underway... If you're going to sail, you need to be as self sufficient as possible. Paul stops by. He has removed the fresh water circulating pump from his engine. It is seized due to a bad bearing. He's located several places that can get a new one. Marine supply companies want anywhere from $200 to nearly $300 plus shipping for a "Universal" marine engine pump. These engines are actually tractor engines. Paul contacted a tractor dealer in town... was able to cross-reference the pump numbers... cost... $84.00 plus shipping! BIG difference in $! They will deliver it on Monday, the 8th, to Paul in the marina.

8-6-05
(Sat), Presque Isle, Misery Bay, Erie, PA: 0845 - up. Breakfast then washed down boat. The park is located on the "flyway" for migrating swallows which spend part of the early morning and late evening on the tops of the masts and rigging of sailboats in the harbor. They defecate all over the boats and docks. Boaters really complain but there is nothing they can do; the birds are protected. Clear & HOT today... thank goodness for A/C. Pat's back is bothering her. She finally decided to telephone her doctor's office in Lafayette, IN. The doctor telephoned a prescription in to a local/ Erie CVS pharmacy. One of the people at the fuel dock drove us in to pick up her medicine. People here have been very helpful. Other boaters often stop by when they are going into town to shop to ask if we need anything or a ride.

8-7-08
(Sun), Presque Isle, Erie, PA. Another HOT day. Relaxed and enjoyed the area. Pat and some of the other ladies went for a walk. Her back is still bothering her. I have been trying to figure out where we will be when its time to fly to Grenada to lecture at St George's University (Oct 24-Nov 4). We'd like to attend the Annapolis Boat Show in early October, spend some time in the Chesapeake Bay, and then head south. Arne (Scandia) said there are some excellent places to leave the boat in North Carolina. Pat & I could fly out of Raleigh, NC. Will have to call New York tomorrow to arrange our flight. St. George's University has a travel agent there.

8-8-05
(M) Presque Isle, Ohio: 0630 - up; clear, sunny, BP 30.02, T 75 F. We are staying here waiting for Paul's (Cool Change) water pump to arrive -- schedules to be here @ 1000 hr. 1300 hr - pump finally arrives (must be on "Island Time"). Paul installs it in less than 1 hr. Started engine... no problem. However, it’s too late to start out for Dunkirk, NY, our next destination. We all anchor out in Misery Bay with a planned departure tomorrow @ 0700 h.

8-9-05
(T) Presque Isle, OH: 0535 - up, breakfast check batteries - OK. Slightly overcast but mainly sunny. BP 30.07, T 75 F, Winds S-SW @ 5-10 kts. 0700 - hoist anchor and head in to Presque Bay then out channel into Lake Erie. Destination Dunkirk, NY (42.29.5 N, 79.20.5 W). Alternator NOT working AT ALL! Oh Boy, I'm getting discouraged. Fortunately winds pretty good but still have to motor-sail some of the time.

1500 hr - arrive Dunkirk, NY. This is an old, somewhat depressed, industrial town. No anchorage here. Took slip at Chadwick Marina. Pat's back still not great. Her Dr. had prescription sent to CVS in Tonawanda, NY. Telephoned them and they sent it to the Dunkirk CVS. Harbormaster drove me into town to pick it up. Asked about getting some local individual to look at my electrical problem. He recommended Bill Strong a Jack-Of -All-Trades who also works at the marina. Bill spent about 15 min examining the boat's wiring diagram & another 10 min checking out the alternator. He found the problem! The wire connecting the starter & alternator and burned through (short?) but was hidden under a rubber cover at the alternator terminal. Also found 2 other wires where the insulation was worn thru to expose the underlying wire.. Not sure how that occurred. He spends a total of nearly 2 hr working on the system. I asked him the charge. He paused and asked if $20 was too much I couldn’t believe it. I told him he didn’t charge enough and gave him $35. I'm sure a regular marina would have charged $100 or more. He seemed very pleased.... I wish we had met him earlier... he would have save us a lot of stress. Went bed about 2230 h. We plan to depart for Buffalo, NY @ 0700 tomorrow.

8-10-05
(W), Dunkirk, NY: 0545 h - up, coffee, cheddar cheese & bagel; Clear, T 75 F, BP 29.29. 0700 - Depart. Alternator working fine. Set course for Green Can #1 at entrance to Buffalo Harbor (42.51.7 N, 78.54.5 W). Good 10-15 kts S-SW winds most of day but started to die early afternoon; had to motor-sail. Arrive Buffalo Harbor entrance ~1400. Entered Black Rock Channel which parallels east side of Niagara River. Passed under the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo, NY (E side of river) & Fort Erie, Ontario (W side of river), then the Ferry Street Basque (lift) Bridge about 1 mile north, followed by the Conrail Swing Bridge, immediately before the Black Rock Channel Lock where we will "Lock Down". This is our first lock on this trip. Pat handled the line on the bow while I took the stern. It goes pretty well but we don't leave to wall soon enough when the lower gate opens and get sideway in the lock (we're new at this and just learning... we'll get better). We manage to get straightened out, exit the lock & head for Rich Marine adjacent to the lock's lower gate at the north end of Squaw Island (42.56.00 N, 78.54.25 W).

Arne (Scandia) had previously made arrangements to have our masts unstepped here. The current is very strong here and we decide not to try to enter the inner harbor of the Marina for fear of hitting the concrete wall or running aground. We decide to tie up to the wall in the channel next to the hoist they will use to unstep our masts tomorrow.

I forgot to mention that we've decided to "ship" our mast by truck to the other end of the Canal rather than carry it on board. About 80% of the sailboats do this now. Its not cheap but its worth it not having to build a cradle to carry it with you and having to deal with a 50 ft pole hanging off the ends of your 34 ft boat in the canal. We currently plan to take our time & spend 2- 3 weeks traversing & enjoying the Canal. Concession originally was going to ship their mast as well but changed their mind at the last minute & decided to carry theirs... it would have been cheaper for all of us if the trucker had 4 masts to transport rather than just 3. Concession left us at Rich Marine and headed north toward Tonawanda where they plan to unstep their own mast. The marina plans to unstep our mast at 0900 h tomorrow. We all get busy loosing our turnbuckles and preparing out masts for removal. Hit the sack about 2200. Moderately noisy next to the lock during the night & woke up several times.

8-11-05
(Th), Rich Marina, Buffalo, NY: 0630 - up & breakfast. Immediately doing additional work getting ready to have mast unstepped at 0900. Crane operator arrives about 0845 & tries to start the ancient gasoline engine on an even older crane! Floods engine and runs the battery down. Plugs in charger & and leaves. Bossman arrives ~0915 and says there will be a delay to about 1000. Finally get started about 1030. Scandia (C-42), then Cool Change (C-34) & last Weal Sea (C-34). Crane operators broken off part of Windex on the top of Scandia's mast as well as the one on Cool Change. I asked them to be more careful with mine. They managed to unstep my mast without damaging the Windex. (They did give Scandia a replacement part & Cool Change was able to fix his). We spent the rest of the afternoon preparing the masts for shipping. Bright sun, humid & temp in the 80s... we were very uncomfortable. Quit about 1730 & went out to eat at an Italian - American Restaurant. Very tired & we all hit the sack about 2130.

8-12-05
(F), Rich Marine, Buffalo, NY: 0700 - Up and I get started the finishing touches on the mast. Arne walks down the dock wall towards me about 0800 drinking coffee and singing "Happy Birthday"... I clean forgot! It’s my birthday! Paul also appears and does the same. Later I walk past Scandia & Cool Change and both Bev (Scandia) & Mary (cool Change) pop out their heads wish me the same. It’s overcast and NOAA prediction is for thundershowers. We decide to stay put, work on our boats and visit West Marine. Walk to WM about 1/2 mile away and the clouds open up... Paul walks, but the rest of us get a ride back to marine. Arne gets his Bimini repaired at a local Loft (sail maker / repair facility). Paul buys new hand-held VHF. Since we've taken down our masts, none of us have an antenna to operate our regular VHFs. We will all need to use hand-helds to keep in contact on the Canal and also to communicate with the lock operators.

0700 - Group has decided to meet at a Gazebo and share coffee and rolls to celebrate my birthday. Scandia & Cool Change gave me birthday cards. Arne & Bev also gave me a disposable plastic rain coat - they caught me walking and getting soaked earlier in the day. Paul & Mary gave me a floatable Key Chain from "Charlie’s" (inside / private joke folks and I can't talk about it!).... What a great group. Pat gave me a big kiss. This will be one of my most memorable birthdays ever. 0745 - Starting to rain again as it has been doing off & on all day. Everyone went back to their boats. Have not heard from Concession in 1-1/2 days & not sure what they are up to. We plan to head for Tonawanda tomorrow. Pat went to bed ~ 2230. I stayed up till 0030 to catch up on my Weal Sea's Log.
 

8-13-05
(Sat), Buffalo, NY: 0630 - Up & quick breakfast of coffee & cereal. Clear & sunny; T 75 F, BP 30.01. Depart Rich Marina @ 0730. Heavy current next to the lock adjacent to the marina with lots of weeds and floating debris. I plow thru some and bump a deadhead (submerged log)... lucky no damage to the prop. Cool Change leads the way into the Black Rock Channel north toward Tonawanda followed by ourselves (Weal Sea) then Scandia. Tonawanda is at the entrance to the Erie Canal. We enter the Niagara River Channel... heavy current of about 4-5 knots north toward Niagara Falls. Pat is laying down in the V-berth with severe back pains.

About 2 mi down stream, our engine began to overheat! I immediately turn the boat around in midstream, call to Pat to come on deck to take the helm, then rush forward and drop the anchor letting out about 150 ft of rode. We are in about 30 feet of water with a terrific current. Scandia went by downstream then turned around & came back followed by Cool Change. They hold course with their engines about 20 yards off our starboard. I explain my engine has overheated again, then go below and check the cooling water intake thru-hull screen... just as I suspected... packed with weeds (does this sound familiar)!... likely that batch I went thru by the lock when leaving the marina. Paul (Cool Change) calls on his hand-held VHF that he's willing to go over the side and clear the in-take. I'm concerned because of the strong current and say no.  We carry Boat US Tow Insurance and try to contact them using our hand-held on Channel 16. No response... not enough range with our hand-helds (we can't use our regular VHFs since we took down our masts which has the antenna on top).  Decide to try to contact them using our Cell Phone.... Works! However, we get a fellow somewhere in CALIFORNIA who want to know were we are! We tell him our situation of holding on an anchor in a 4-5 knot current in the Niagara River (above the FALLS) near red nun  marker #18 approx. 50 yards off the Niagara Mohawk Electric Power Generating Plant. He seems a bit confused (where is the Niagara River?) and ask for Latitude & Longitude which I give him from my charts: 42.50.10 N, 78.57.00 W. He takes my cell phone # & says he'll telephone the Buffalo Towboat US & have them come and give us a tow to shore so we can clear our intake.  They are several miles upstream in the Buffalo Basin above the locks! We wait 15-20 min and decide to telephone them ourselves (the California fellow gave us their local number).  The receptionists tells us the towboat operator is on his way to the harbor and his boat... not sure how long before he can get to us but likely 30 min or more once he gets to his boat.... he also has been given my cell phone number.

Thirty minutes later & still no towboat... getting concerned in this current. Several power boats zip by between ourselves and our friends! Scandia is holding position using her engine only. Cool Change has dropped anchor about 30 yds off our starboard and Paul has decided to "row over" in this Dinghy (against a 4-5 knot current in the Niagara River!) He climbs aboard in swim suit and has brought his swim mask. He says he wants to go over the side and try to clear the intake. Scandia has taken a position down stream of us to catch him if there is a problem. I finally but reluctantly agree to allow him to try. We drop two line over the side, one with a bowline. Paul goes off the swim platform on our stern. The current is heavy but Paul goes under twice. He come up and ask me to check the intake again.... Great! Water immediately starts to come in when I open the thru hull. I let it run for a few minutes into the bilge then reinsert the screen and close up the system. Paul comes aboard and we test the engine... cools right down and water comes out the exhaust at the stern as it should!... Paul is a great friend and this is the second time he has helped us with a plugged water intake. I manage to get hold of the Buffalo Tow Boat US on the cell phone and cancel our request for a tow... no problem they tell us and wish us a good trip.

Arrive. Tonawanda / North Tonawanda, NY (43.01.7 N, 78.52.25 W) about 1500 hr.  This is a beautiful, well maintained, city-dockage right downtown: cost for 34 ft boat is $20/day with electricity & water, and $15/day without utilities. Concession is docked here... have not heard from them in few days. They have an engine problem - the exhaust manifold has broken and it will be 8 to 10 days before they can get a new one shipped in.  Not sure what the group is going to do. Gary says the group should continue on and they will catch up later. However, we have another problem... Pat is in SEVERE pain and we decide its best to take her to DeGraff Hospital in North Tonawanda about 1/2 mi away. There is a group of 3 young fellows (20-26 yr olds) in an old "minibus" parked by the dock who come over and ask if they can help! Brad, the fellow in-charge, say he'd be pleased to drive Pat & I to the hospital. We arrive @ the emergency room in about 15 min. Pat spends the next 3 hr having various test run including X-Rays. Admitting doctor thinks she might have muscle spasms. However, she has an elevated WBC with left shift... suggesting an infection. Pat had a previous Dx of diverticulosis & a 2nd Doc suspects this is the problem. She agrees to a barium series which confirms the Dx (D-"itis"). She is admitted for treatment. They think a day or 2 in the hospital with rest, pain  medicine, fluids for re-hydration & antibiotic for the infection could do the job. I walk back to the boat about 2300 hr & get to bed ~ 0100 hr.  I'll see her tomorrow morning.

8-14-05
(Sun), Tonawanda / N. Tonawanda, NY.: Up 0600. Coffee & cheese. Clear, sunny, T 75, BP 30.01. 0730 - Getting ready walk to hospital to visit Pat. Paul & Mary (Cool Change), Arne & Bev (Scandia), & Gary & Mary (Concession) all stop by to ask about Pat's condition. I update them on what transpired the previous evening at the hospital regarding diagnostics and suspected diagnosis, then leave for hospital. Arrive about 0800. Pat is still in some pain but feeling better.  They have her on IV pain medicine, fluids, & antibiotics. She has a nurse practioner (Lori)... very knowledgeable, pleasant & funny (Pat is very relaxed with her).  She said Pat will probably be discharged tomorrow morning!! Great news. She is now on solid food.  Stay with Pat a few additional hrs then return to the boat to get some work done. 1700 - Telephone Pat @ hospital & told her I was going to eat at McDonalds; did she want anything? Yep... Hamburger, French Fries & a Coke-A-Cola. Pick them & decide to take my meal to hospital and eat with Pat in her room. 1830 - Arrive hospital; Pat feeling better but still a bit sore. However, ate her FF with "Gusto".. she loves her potatoes (typical Irish Lass) . Nurse comes in & confirms her discharge for tomorrow AM. I leave and head walk back to the boat ~2100. Stop by our sailing companions and give them the good news then hit the sack.
 

8-15-05
Tonawanda, NY. 0600 - Up & fast breakfast of coffee & cereal. 0730 - telephoned Pat; Dr. has not seen her yet but she should be discharged by 1000. I decide to do the laundry then head for the hospital. 1015 - Pat is ready to go; telephone taxi, go to CVS (drug store) to pick up Pat's take-home medicine and return to boat @ ~1145. Everyone is there smiling to greet Pat. 1230 - Depart for Lockport, NY & our first set of 35 locks on the Erie Canal.  Gary & Mary (Concession) are staying behind to wait for the exhaust manifold for their boat; plan to catch up with us later. Speed limit on canal is 10 mph unless otherwise posted. The current runs West to East (Tonawanda => Troy, NY) at 2-4 kts. We motor with a SOG of ~5-7 kts. The canal is very easy to navigate and not that busy... you can travel 2-5 miles or more and not see another boat.

1430 - Arrive Lockport lock 35 & 34 (Locks are numbered from the East end of the Erie Canal to the West end.) Distance from Tonawanda to Lockport Locks 35 & 34 is 18 miles and requires 1 hr 45 min if you travel at max speed. Locks 35 & 34 are immediately adjacent to one another - the lower door of lock 35 is the upper door of lock 34. We will be "locking down" during most of our East-West journey. The length of the canal from Tonawanda, NY on Lake Erie (564 ft above sea level) to Troy, NY on the Hudson River is 342 miles. There are 34 locks.  There are no Locks #1 or #31.  But, there are 2 lock 28s:  #28A & 28B.

1445 - Weal Sea is the leader today. The upper door of lock 35 is open and the green light is ON so we enter the lock SLOWLY.  Pat is on the bow. We move forward almost to the door at the other end of the lock keeping to the port side of the lock. There are very helpful attends present who take our lines. Cool Change & Scandia follow us in. The lockmaster asks our destination and takes information on Weal Sea including her length and documentation number. [Note: Weal Sea is US Coast Guard documented vessel. Although she is registered in Indiana, she is not required to show an Indiana Registration Number on her hull.  Also, she is not titled in Indiana, although we could also title her there if we wished.  Her USCG documentation number replaces her title.] The cost of using the canal depends on a vessel's length and the duration of time you intend to take to traverse it. Weal Sea is a 34.5 ft vessel. Cost for a 26-39 ft vessel for a 2-day, 10-day and seasonally pass are $15.00, $37.50 and $75.00, respectively. We buy a seasonal pass since we currently plan to spend 2-4 weeks on the canal including possible side trips to visit the "Finger Lakes". We are issued a sticker which we are to display on the port & starboard windows of the cabin. This is so the Bridge & Lock tenders can see the pass as we pass through.

We are the only 3 boats "locking down". It goes great - Pat does a fantastic job handling the bowline.  Our boats are "center stage" during the locking down... there are probably 30 or more spectators along the sides of the locks watching us and taking photos.  As we exit lock 34, a  Lock Tour Boat enters the lock to "lock up". We travel downstream about 0.2 miles to the Lockport Exchange St. lift bridge. We've decided to stay in Lockport this evening. [Note on lift bridges: As you approach a lift bridges you contact the bridge tender on VHF channel 13 and request a pass thru.  They are extremely polite and respond almost immediately. You very seldom have to wait more than 10 minutes.  Some bridge tenders take care of 2  bridge and must travel between bridges by car, usually 0.25 to 0.75 mi. apart, but occasionally further. They will inform you of this. Bridge tenders also radio ahead to the next bridge to alert them to expect you.] We moor on the dock portside "in" with our bow pointed upstream. The dock is located between the Exchange St & Adams St lift bridges. This is a lovely spot with essentially new docks.

New York and the towns along the canal are spending a great deal of money improving the canal facilities to encourage tourism. They are doing an excellent job. Everyone we've met has been extremely courteous and helpful. The towns along the way are truly lovely.  Pump-outs (waste) are free, and water & electricity in many locations are also free!. We spend the rest of the day relaxing and watching the passer-bys who walk or bicycle by within 10 ft of our boats. Many stop, talk and ask questions about our trip. 2200 - we hit the sack... its been a great day, especially having Pat back with us!

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8-16-05
(Tue)- Erie Canal, Lockport, NY : 0800 - up & breakfast. Clear, sunny and warm. BP 30.01, Temp 75 F. Used A/C last night.  Depart for Medina, NY at 1000. Passed under lift bridges at Gasport (6 mi downstream), Middleport (11 mi downstream) and Media (16 mi downstream) where we tired up for the evening @ 1515 hr.  It was a very pleasant trip thru the country side passing farms, grazing cattle and corn fields.... its hard to believe the beauty of the country viewed from the canal cruising along at 5 to 10 mph while bicycles and runners pass you by on the tow-paths.  However, everyone smiles and waves as you pass.  It really gives you a hint of what life must been like in the mid- and late- 1800's when the Erie Canal was equivalent to our super highways for travel and transportation of goods between the Midwest and NYC.

Medina, NY is a lovely town with almost new canal facilities.  You dock right downtown with access to all sorts of shops. On top of that, the docking, water, electricity & pump outs are all FREE! All the ladies decide to have their hair done, and convince Pat to have hers cut SHORT! She looks GREAT! and she LIKES IT! We took pictures and will try to have them posted. Also Arne (Scandia) has his beard trimmed and Paul (Cool Change) got a hair cut at the same salon... now the news... I've been growing a beard for about 3 weeks now and the guys made an appointment for me to have it trimmed.  Pat's beginning to accept it but I don't know if I'll keep it yet.... its really gray!

I pick up spares fan belts at a NAPA store right next to the dock and had my old alternator tested... its OK.  I'll keep it as a back-up for our trip. Hit the sack about 2200 hr.

8-17-05
(W), Erie Canal, Medina, NY:
0630 - Up & breakfast. Clear & sunny. BP 30.00, Temp 70 F. Approx. 1015 hr - Depart for Holly, NY about 20 miles downstream (DS). We pass under lift bridges at Knowlesville (5 mi DS), Eagle Harbor (8 mi DS), and 2 bridges at Albion (11 mi DS) where we stop for a visit & lunch @ 1200. Another lovely canal town which caters to canalers. Free dockage again. Depart Albion @ 1330, pass under Hulberton's lift bridge (6 mi DS) and finally arriv at Holly, NY @ 1500.  This a beautiful spot in the country along the canal with a quaint village. Again, free dockage, electricity, & water.  The dock master is the friendless fellow... like all the dock masters we've met so far... they must select them for their personalities! He spent 30 minutes with us at a picnic table telling us about the region's history, its sites, waterfalls, where to shop, etc.  Paul & I both need diesel and he loans us is personal auto to go to a gasoline station to pick some up! We walk through the village, visited the waterfall park and return to the dock.  Had supper on the boat and hit the sack about 2030.

8-18-05
(Th), Erie Canal, Holly, NY (43.12.95 N, 77.56.20 W): Up 0730 & breakfast. BP 30.01, Temp 75, clear, sunny, warm (Temp 75 F). 1100 - depart for Brockport 10 mi downstream. Another easy uneventful day on the canal. Arrive about 1300 hr.  Free dockage, water, electricity, and pump out. Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the wheat reaper established a factory here in the late 1800's. 
 
Pat's back is still bothering her some.  Spent day relaxing, ate and went to bed.

8-19-05
(F), Erie Canal, Brockport, NY: 0630 - Up & breakfast. Partly cloudy, BP 30.00, Temp 72 F.  A few sprinkles but these don't last and it clears. Arne, Paul & I sit around drinking coffee and discuss the new Link 1000 system I installed on Weal Sea.  Had a few problems with a loose wire but, with the help of Arne & Paul, these have been resolved.  The system is really great and I would say its a must for anyone doing a cruise where you plan on a lot of anchoring out.  We can now monitor both our house bank and starting batteries.  We know the exact charge status of the house bank, real-time amps being used, and approx. length of time batteries will last at current usage.  Also we can determine exactly how many amps each piece of equipment uses! This is really going to help when we anchor out for days-on-end in the Bahamas. 1000 - depart for Spencerport about 8 mi downstream. Pass under lift bridge at Adams Basin and arrive at Spencerport (43.11.62 N, 77.48.08 W) at 1130.  Another lovely canal village with free dockage, electricity & water.

NOTE: The only problem we have had along the canal has been the lack of places to purchase Diesel. If you need diesel, you have to find a gasoline station and haul it back to the boat. Fortunately I carry a spare 5 gal can.

8-20-05
(Sat), Erie Canal, Brockport, NY: Up at 0730, breakfast & coffee. Overcast, BP 30.00, Temp 75 F. 1000 - Depart for Pittsford, NY about 14 mi downstream past the junction of the canal with the  Genesee River.  If you turn north up the Genesee you can motor up to Rochester.  However, the river is shallow in many areas.  Also, you must cross the junction of the Genesee River and Erie Canal with caution: the Genesee dumps a great deal of silt into the canal causing significant shoaling.  Because of this, Cool Change and Weal Sea, both wing-keel C-34s drawing about 4.5 ft in contrast to Scandia (C-42) drawing ~5 ft, led the way from Specerport to Pittsford, NY. Arrive. Pittsford (43.05.4 N, 77.30.6 W) @ 1230 hr. Free dockage, etc again.

8-21-05
(Sun), Erie Canal, Pittsford, NY (We've done about 90 miles on the Erie Canal [Tonawanda to Pittsford] so far): Slept in,,, up @ 0845! Clear & warm, BP 30.00, temp 75 F. Arne, Paul & Dan spent early morning sitting around drinking coffee & discussing our itinerary. Paul & Mary (Cool change Change) need to return to Michigan (Hudsonville - Grand Rapids area) to close on the new condo they purchased and move in their furniture;  Also an opportunity to see their grand children.  They have arranged to pick up a rental car (Enterprise) in Newark, NY next Wednesday (8-24-05). 1130 h - the Bahamas flotilla depart for Fairport, NY ~ 5.5 mi east. Arrive Fairport ~1500 hr.  This is a popular tourist town on the canal sometimes referred to as the "Jewel of the Erie".  The "Admirals" checked the shops while the captains worked on the boats... well pretended to work.
8-22-05 (M), Erie Canal, Fairport, NY: 0700 - up, coffee & cheese. Warm & sunny, BP 30.01, Temp ~75. 1200 - Depart for Newark, about 10 miles east. Pleasant slow cruise past Macedon and Palmyra, NY.  Palmyra is the town where Joseph Smith lived and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints  (AKA Mormons) in 1830. We initially were going to stop in Palmyra but decided to continue on.  Not a lot of traffic on the canal. 1415 - Arrive Newark, NY and tied up on the north wall - free dockage, electricity and water as well as a free laundry & dryer!  The wall on the south side of the channel has signs indicating there is only 4 ft of water.  However, the dock master said this is incorrect - actually has 7 ft. On the other hand, there is currently no electricity or water on that side of the canal and no one uses it unless the is no room on the north side.  This is a essentially a lovely new facility. Dock master said they have spent about $1,500,000 with improvements over last few years. About 1/2 of this was from a grant from the NY Canal System. Mary (Cool Change) was raised just north of Newark, NY. Her brother, Noel, as well as her sister Amy live in the area.  Both are suppose to stop by tomorrow. Gary & Mary (Concession) arrive!  We've not seen them for several days... they've been cruising on their own.  They want to pick up some boat items which they purchased form West Marine & had shipped to Mary's brother's home. He is to drop them off when he visit us tomorrow.

8-23-05
(Tue), Erie Canal, Newark, NY: 0630 - up & breakfast. Another warm sunny day. 1300 h - Amy, Mary's sister, stopped by for a few hrs to visit.  Paul & Dan walk to a lumbar yard to  pick up 6 ft lengths of 1x4 lumber to make "Jerry Can" racks for the deck. These will be used to carry extra diesel, gasoline & water when we travel to the Bahamas. Dan brought along an electric saber saw which he used to trim the wood. He also had purchased lumbar and made a frame to elevate the seat at the helm so the new Honda alternator could be stored under the seat. Ian, Noel's son, arrived and surprised Paul (his uncle).  Paul had not seen him in quit sometime. Noel arrived later & delivered mail forwarded to  Paul & Mary as well as several boat related items for Gary (Concession) and Dan (C-Map Hips of the East coast of the United States for our chart plotter). 1030 - Arne, Bev, Noel, Ian, Pat & Dan all gather for coffee-tea and sweets on Paul & Mary's boat, Cool Change. Gary & Mary(Concession) did not show up. Gary did ask me earlier to help him install some computer software tomorrow which Noel had delivered; I said I was no expert but would help if I could.

8-24-05
(W), Erie Canal, Newark, NY:
0630 - Pat has not slept well past several nights and still has some back and stomach pains.  We decide to take her to the local hospital. The lady dock master said she would drive us. 0900 - Newark Hospital Emergency room: Doctor on duty reviews Pat medical records from Tonawanda Hospital (she has copies with her) & gives Pat physical, request a  CBC (blood) workup (SOP), and decides to run another barium (Ba) series to check out the diverticultis. Results of CBC & Ba excellent - no evidence of diverticulitis; antibiotics worked. Decide to run MRI on her lower back. Results of MRI will not be available until Friday. The ER doctor (also a sailor!), however, suspects muscle spasms and writes prescription for pain medicine & muscle relaxants. Pat is released with instructions to see Dr. Hur, a local internists, on Friday.

We were going to take a taxi back to the boat, but the ER receptionist call the local police station & they sent a police car to take us back to the boat!... now that's small town service.  Kevin, the police officer, apologized for having us ride in the back seat... barred windows between front and back seats, hard fiberglass rear seats & no door or window handles!... now we know what is like for the Bad Guys to ride in the back seat! He was great & pointed out all the local places of interest... excluding the jail! 1400 hr - Paul & Mary depart for Michigan in their rental car. Pat & I are planning on staying at Newark thru the weekend since Pat has a doctor's appointment on Friday to review her MRI results.  We discuss the situation with Arne & Bev (Scandia) & told them there is no reason for them to stay thru the weekend. Besides, they indicated earlier they would like to take a side trip to see Lake Seneca. We will stay with Cool Change until Paul & Mary return on Sunday then catch-up with Scandia later in the week. However, Scandia decides to stay at least through Friday to find out results of Pat's MRI.( Paul, Mary, Pat & I all feel very fortunate to have met up with Arne & Bev. They are truly a caring couple and we all enjoy their company so much.) We have coffee & tea on Scandia about 1900 h then hit the sack about 2130.

8-25-05
(Th), Erie Canal, Newark, NY:
Up @ 0830. Warm (75 F), clear, BP 30.01.  Pat slept fairly well last night but is still sore. Checked dock and discovered Concession had left. They must have taken the 0700 lock opening? They had not talked with us or Scandia and neither of us were aware of their plans. Surprisingly, Gary had not stopped by to ask about help with the computer software... its possible he came by yesterday when I was at the hospital with Pat. Maybe we'll meet up with them later?
Lazy day... did some laundry then Arne, Bev, Pat & I went for a walk for grocery store and misc. supplies.  Had lunch at "Wendy's" (Arne likes their French Fries). That evening we had Arne & Bev over to Weal Sea for coffee (with a touch of Bailey's Bristol Cream, of course!) - tea & sweets. Hit the sack about 2100 hr.

8-26-05
(F), Erie Canal, Newark, NY. Up at 0730. Quick breakfast of cereal and coffee-tea. Pat has doctor's appointment at 0900. We decide not to impose on the dock master and call for a taxi. Dr. Hur is from Korea. Very serious but pleasant.  Results of MRI confirm past Dx of small compression fracture of one of vertebrae (old?), small IVD (inter- vertebaral disc) protrusion and some osteophytes (arthritis). Conclusion: back pain likely due to muscle spasms assoc. with fracture and possibly osteophytes. IVD protrusions probably not a problem. Treatment: rest as much as possible, no heavy lifting, pain medication, and stronger muscle relaxant. Its going to take time to heal.  Dr. Hur gives us a copy of the MRI results to take with us. We also obtain a copy of the Newark Hospital records.  1200 - Ready to return to boat and ask Dr. Hur's receptionist to telephone for a taxi. However she volunteers to drive us back to the boat in her auto BUT insist on 1st stopping by her house to pickup some fresh garden tomatoes for us... more country hospitality! Back at boat Arne & Bev are pleased to hear the results of Pat's MRI, viz. just muscle spasms.. nothing more serious.  1400 - Arne & Bev depart.... we'll see them next week.

8-27-05
(Sat), Erie Canal, Newark, NY: 0730 - Coffee & cheese for breakfast. Warm (75 F), sunny, BP 30.00. Lazy day; spent most of it relaxing and cleaning the boat. Walk to gas station about 3 blocks away to pick up some diesel in my spare container. Pat is resting. The new muscle relaxant is causing her to want to sleep all the time... this could be good since it forces her to rest. 1000 - Receive telephone call from Paul & Mary.  They have left Hudsonville, Michigan and are on their way back. 1700 - Arne & Bev telephone. They are in Baldwinsville, NY.  They have decided not to go to Lake Seneca. Discovered anchorage is not great at other end of lake.  Will continue down canal slowly to allow us to catch up next week. 2300 hr - we're still up in the salon with the companion-way open & hear voices outside. Investigate and discover Paul & Mary have returned early! They were not suppose to arrive until tomorrow, Sunday but drove straight through. They are exhausted from the drive but we are so pleased to see them.  They'll  sleep in tomorrow since they cannot return the car until Monday.

8-28-05
(Sun), Erie Canal, Newark, NY: 0830 - Coffee & cereal for breakfast. Thunderstorms last night. Currently overcast but its suppose to clear in afternoon. My propane tank needs filling; I am using my spare tank which we purchased last year. 1400 h - Amy, Mary's sister, arrives with Ben, her 15-year old adopted son. Paul & Mary have agreed to allow Ben to cruise with them for the next 2 days as far as Baldwinsville.  Ben was adopted by Amy, who is not married, when he was 2-years old from a Romanian orphanage. He is one of the "Caucheque"(sp. ?) orphans.  Amy  subsequently discovered that he was autistic. He appears bright but seems to lack normal emotions and is difficult to control sometimes. Paul and Mary are very firm with him and he does fairly well on the boat (he's sailed with them before). Pat and I plan to eat out this evening. Paul & Mary decide to have dinner on their boat with Ben.  He has problems eating. Turn in about 2100.

8-29-05
(M), Erie Canal, Newark, NY: 0730 - Up, coffee & breakfast. Overcast with chance of rain. Temp 70 F, BP 29.90.  Today is our 41st wedding anniversary! We were married August 29th, 1964 at St. John's Church, Catholic Student Center at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. (Paul & Mary also remembered it was our anniversary and gave us a card.... Thanks Guys.)

Discussed day's cruising plan with Paul over coffee.  Will plan on mooring at lock 25, about 20 mi east.  Will have pass thru several locks today. We continuously check "Skipper Bob's" book on the canals for information on where to tie-up, facilities, shopping, etc. The Skipper Bob's series of books (The Great Loop, ICW, Bahamas, NY & Canadian Canal systems, etc.) are almost indispensable for cruisers.  We will tie up on the wall on the west side of lock 25 in a rural setting. Ben is very excited about the locks and has all kinds of questions... never stops talking. Knows an amazing amount about the canal and its locks. 0845 - Depart. Its Weal Sea's turn to lead the way. Pass thru locks 28B, 28A, and 27 west of Lyons, NY.  Ben is  out on deck of Cool Change helping with the lines which hang down the side walls of the locks. You grab hold of these after entering a lock and use them to hold the boat in place while the lockmaster lets-in or lets-out water, as the case maybe, depending on whether you are "locking up" or "locking down", respectively. In either case, you need a pair leather gloves to handle the lines and fend-off because the walls of the locks are rough and covered with slim / algae.... very messy! To protect the hull, you normally leave your fenders out all the time. We put them out in Tonawanda and have not taken them in since. However, you occasionally do  have to move them from one side of the boat to the other depending on which side of the canal you plan on docking.

[COMMENT: The locks are really remarkable.  NY has done a great deal of work on them in recent years, especially since the NY Thru-Way Authority took over.  Everything is freshly painted (Blue & Yellow is standard for equipment with white buildings), the grass at the locks is a lawn (mown of course), and there are pots of flowers on each side of the locks and around the buildings.  In most places, there are picnic tables and usually a porta-potty. In addition, there is a bicycle-walking-jogging path which parallels the canal along the old mule tow-path almost the entire length of the canal from Tonawanda to Schenectady, NY. This canal system is really a National Treasure available for anyone to use. I wish Indiana would do something similar with the old Wabash-Erie Canal system. We have so few natural outdoor recreational facilities in Indiana, at least in the northern portion of the state.  Spending some money revitalizing the canal system would be worth while as the canal would be a great tourist attraction and provide additional $ to the Indiana economy (canal boats, restaurants, day-trips on the canal, etc.). It would also provide a short-cut from the Toledo, OH to the Mississippi via Wabash and Ohio Rivers for boats doing the Great Loop. This would save them nearly 800 miles in not having to sail over the top of the lower peninsula of Michigan to get to Chicago or Hammond, IN to enter the waterway leading to the Ohio River & then the Mississippi  We saw a similar set-up on the old canals in England when we spent a 6-month sabbatical at the University of Bristol in 1994. A similar system exist in several countries on  the continent. Maybe I'll take this on as a public service project to see if I can stimulate some interest when I return. Anyone else interested?]

Passed thru lock 26.  A short distance east, the canal passes thru the northern edge of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.  This is a large swampy area. 1500 hr - Arrive at lock 25 (43.09.39 N, 76.20.12 W) which is located about half-way thru the refuge where NY Highway 31 passes thru the refuge. All kinds of wild birds nesting along the way with numerous Blue Herons fishing the shore of the canal. The refuge is on the fly-way of migratory birds. Its really a lovely area. We tie up on the south wall immediately adjacent to the west end of the lock.  Ben spends much of the remaining portion of the afternoon exploring the lock and the old buildings containing the ancient equipment used to produce electricity for the locks in the early 1900's. That evening, Karen, the lockmaster, stops by and shares coffee-tea and sweets with us in Cool Change's cockpit. Lots of mosquitoes here (remember, this is a swamp) and we burn our mosquito coils... they work! Hit the sack about 2230.
 

8-30-05
(Tu), Erie Canal, Lock 25, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge: 0700 - Up. Breakfast. Overcast, BP 30.01, temp 72 F, humid. Expect showers throughout morning. 0845 - Depart.  Lock-down thru lock 25 and head for Baldwinsville, NY about 30 miles east. Cool Change leads the way (her turn).  We pass the ruins of the old Montezuma Aqueduct System on the south side of the canal, then pass the place where the Seneca River enters the Erie Canal, also on the south side of the canal. The Seneca River forms the eastern edge of the Montezuma Refuge.  If we were going to visit Lake Seneca or Lake Cayuga (which we might do on our return trip), we would turn south here and head for lock 1 on the Seneca River at its junction with Lake Cayuga. (Lake Seneca & Lake Cayuga are 2 of the larger lakes (10 or so) which make up the "finger lakes"). You can follow Lake Cayuga 38 miles south to Ithaca, NY and visit Cornell University (well worth the trip if you have the time... beautiful campus!). If you turn right (west / starboard) after exiting lock 1 at the top of Lake Cayuga, you enter the Seneca Canal. Follow this 4 miles west to Seneca Falls, NY and locks 2 & 3. Continue west 5 miles to lock 4 then another 3-4 mi to  Geneva, NY at the north end of Lake Seneca. From here you can sail / cruise south 33 mi to Watkins Glen, NY, famous for its sports car race, the Grand Pix.  There is also a lovely natural canyon park here which Pat and I visited on our Honeymoon 41 years ago.  However, we continued on past the Seneca River turn-off, past Weedsport and on to Baldwinsville (43.09.39 N, 76.20.12 W). Arrive ~1700 hr. Took a spot on a floating dock immediately next to the Budweiser Amphitheater. Free dockage, electricity & toilets; showers 25 cents. They did not have water at the dock so Paul & I joined our water hoses together & hooked into one of the faucets used to water their flower garden in front of the amphitheater. 1800 hr - Amy came by to pick up Ben and stayed to have dinner on Cool Change with Paul & Mary.  Pat and I went to a local restaurant overlooking the canal. Telephoned Arne & Bev (Scandia).  They are in Utica, NY.  Tell them we plan to cross Oneida Lake (about 20 mi west to east) and stay in Sylvan Beach at its eastern end tomorrow. Went to bed about 2130.  Continuous and VERY heavy rains Tuesday night; consequence of the hurricane in Florida?

8-31-05
(W), Erie Canal, Baldwinsville, NY: 0700 - Up & breakfast. BP 29.95, temp 70. Overcast with showers expected off-and-on all day. (Actually it rained most of the day.)  0815 - Depart Baldwinsville thru lock 24 & head for Oneida Lake & Sylvan Beach (total distance ~ 35 mi). Weal Seas takes the lead today. About 1 hr out Paul radios he forgot the water hoses; we keep going. The canal has huge patches of algae & "sea weeds" floating on the surface.  We dodge them as much as possible but both Cool Change & Weal Sea have to stop 3 times because the engines over heats due to clogged water intakes. Both Paul & I put on our swim suits & go over the side.  We dropped an anchor the first time.  However, we discovered the current was not that strong & just let the boats float down stream the next 2 times we went in. However, we do drop lines overboard to hang onto when we are in the water. The water is surprisingly clear & warm; actually its a refreshing swim! We pass the turn off to the Oswego canal a few miles east of lock 24. If we were going to go to Lake Ontario, we would turn north here. Lake Ontario is ~ 25 miles & 8 locks north of the Erie Canal via the Oswego Canal.

[COMMENT -  We expect to use the Oswego Canal to get to Lake Ontario on our return trip next year. We will then cross Lake Ontario & use Canada's Trent-Severn Canal to go across Ontario to the Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, by-passing Lakes Erie & St. Clair entirely.]

Stop & talk to the Lockmaster at lock 23.  We wonder about the conditions on Oneida Lake.  The lake, which is oblong running east-west & about 20 miles long, is relatively shallow and can be difficult to cross due to the development of large waves when the winds are up. The lockmaster volunteers to telephone the weather service for us. He tells us they say conditions are changing and could become "chaotic" with shifting winds & the possible development of 4-5 foot waves. Paul & I discuss the situation & decide to take a look at the lake for ourselves before making a decision. 1215 hr -  We follow the channel into the lake... looks relatively smooth. Neither of us likes to take chances but decide to start out. If conditions worsen, we'll turn back.  The lake is actually relatively easy to cross since there are a series of buoys marking the channel almost in a straight line across the lake. Weal Sea leads the way since we have a small chart which shows the numbered buoys crossing the lake. Winds are 10-15 kts from the west & WWN. Waves are 1-3 ft with a few elephants (white caps). The buoys are easy to spot despite the continuing drizzle (all day long) & we feel comfortable... ITS A GO. About 45 min out Paul radios that his engine is over heating again... weeds in the water intake; he said he had gone thru a patch of weeds not long after entering the lake. We are about 100 yds ahead & turn around.  We head somewhat up-wind of Cool Change to try to shelter her as much as possible from the wind & waves while Paul goes over the side. Paul clears the intake in less than 5 minutes and climbs back on board. The rest of the trip across the lake is uneventful... almost BORING! Arrive at Sylvan Beach (43.11.60 N, 75.43.88 W) at 1740 hr.  Tie up at a concrete wall (free dock) on the north side of the channel just off the lake about 300 yd to the west of the channel entrance.  Lots of surge here and we bounce up & down a fair amount. However, we are off the lake & safe.  Rain continues. This is a popular tourist town & there is a restaurant-bar immediately adjacent to the channel wall (100 yds). We decide we deserve a hot meal & a drink in a warm environment.  Turns out to be a great decision. Excellent restaurant with very reasonable prices. Soooo... Pat has LOBSTER! We all return to our boats. Our cloths are damp or wet from the high humidity & rain. Take cloths to a locally laundry. Hit sack ~2330.

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