July 9, 2011

Wow!  The wind really blew last night.  It started around 10:15-10:30 PM.  Greg got up (because Kate was up and fussing) and put 2 more lines on.  I was being blown about a foot off the dock.

We headed for Canada today!  It was cool with very little breeze.  We left at 9:00 AM and had a very pleasant ride, if I do say so myself!

We pulled into Confederation Basin and tied to a dock w/o power or water.  We met up with “Seamoore”, “Dream Catcher”, “Jeremiah”, and some other boats we met in Norfolk at the Rendezvous.  I like meeting with friends again!

The people walked around the park grounds for “A Taste of Kingston” – food tents with samples from area restaurants benefitting the Canadian diabetes Assoc.  Then they quick ran back to “Crawdad” and I because we finally had slips.  Yeah!  Hydro (electric) & water!

Greg popped a beer and took a nap, Kate went to the farmer’s market, and I just settled in.

Greg & Kate went to dinner w/Jim & Gloria.  They found a couple of Irish pubs, and a brewery.  They had a good meal at the brewpub and then walked around the city a bit.  We are staying tomorrow also, so there will be more adventures.

July 8, 2011

Wow – it was a bit cooler this morning.  My people were wearing sweatshirts.  We headed for Clayton, NY.

“Old Grouch” stayed as they had to replace a chip, but “Crawdad” and I headed out around 7:30.

The weather was really good for the crossing – mostly sunny with only a few clouds.  Seas were good too (Kate took a pill just in case, though).

We arrived in Clayton @ 2:00 PM.  We had to move around the pier a bit to find power.  They only have 2 - 50 amp stands and we had to wait for people to leave.  We were all set by 2:30 so the people went to the Antique Boat Museum.  It was right at the end of the pier so they didn’t have far to go.  They discussed it at dinner on board with Jim & Gloria Crawford.  I’m jealous of all the pretty wooden boats they talked about!  Everything from Birch bark canoes to a really big houseboat with 9 bedrooms.

I think I’d like to stay here when I get old – they really like boats and take good care of the older ones!

The people were eating in tonight I order to use up the veggies before we go to Canada.  They might not be able to bring fruit and such in.

Clayton is on the St Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands are right here.  It is very pretty country.  We could cruise around here for a whole summer, explore, and not grow tired of it.

July 7, 2011

Well, after all that work yesterday we had to wait a bit this morning for the part for my stern thruster.  We got underway about 8:45 AM.  We are heading for the Oswego Canal with “Crawdad” (she’s a Grand Banks 42) and “The Old Grouch”  (she’s a Nordic Tug 37).

It was a beautiful day, no wind, no humidity, and just a bit cool.

We did 8 locks today, 1 on the Erie Canal and the rest on the Oswego Canal.  My engine only ran for 5 hours today, but it took us 7 hours to get to Oswego Marina.  We did a lot of waiting today!  Lock 7 on the Oswego is on a restricted schedule of openings.  We aimed for the 2:30 and thank goodness we made it!  The next opening was 6:00 PM.

We’re spending the night on the shores of Lake Ontario.  We’re not sure yet if we’re going to Clayton, NY tomorrow or across to Kingston, Ont.

I’ll keep you posted!

PS - Greg is glad he filled me up yesterday.  Fuel is 40 cents more expensive here - $4.44!

July 5, 2011

Wow! It was cool this morning.  There was a lot of mist off the water.  My people are thinking of heading to Sylvan Beach (on the shore of Lake Oneida) today.

It was a gorgeous day!  We did 5 locks  -- there was a long way between a few of them. 

We got into Sylvan Beach @ 5:00 PM and tied up on the free dock.  There is no power or water, but they should be ok – it is a nice night with a breeze.

I met another boat yesterday at Little Falls – “Crawdad”     (Jim & Gloria Crawford) from Michigan.  We traveled with them & “Old Grouch” today.  All the people went out to dinner @ a funny place called The Crazy Clam.  They seemed to have had a good time when they got back.

I enjoyed the other boats!

July 6, 2011

Today we crossed Lake Oneida!  “Crawdad” and “Old Grouch” went with us.  It was a beautiful, calm morning.  A bit cool, but warming up as the day went on. We were only going as far as Ess-Kay Marina in Brewerton today, so it was a short day.

I had a Spa treatment today!  We did a short haul and got rid of all the barnacles, and then put new zincs on my shaft.  I also got fuel and a pump-out, so I’m all ready to go!

Kate says it was a very expensive day with my treatments and a grocery trip!  But I feel good!

July 4, 2011

Happy 4^th of July!  We hope everybody had a wonderful holiday (Kate told me to say that).

Today was a very long day. We started at 7:05 AM and didn’t finish until 6:00 PM.  We did 10 locks today.  Part of the problem was waiting for other boats to leave the locks – oh well.

When we left Schenectady this morning we ran into racing sculls (just like last year!).  It was a bit cool today and somewhat breezy.  We had a bit of a problem in Lock 8 (the first one we did), but Greg decided to open the greenhouse up and that seemed to help.

I was really upset because there is a lot of debris in the water here, especially around the locks!  I was dodging branches and logs all day!

We traveled with “The Old Grouch” and another trawler named “Grace” today.  We all ended up at Little Falls Canal Harbor.    Time for a rest!

July 2, 2011

We start the canal today!  We’re heading to Schenectady Yacht Club.  I remember being there last year.

We stopped at Waterford Visitor’s Center.  They were having a Steamboat Rally.  Saw a lot of little steamboats.  I’m glad I don’t have a fire going in me!

We went through 7 locks today – the Federal Lock, the Waterford flight (5 locks in 1.5 miles), and finally Lock 7.

We followed another trawler “Glory B”  today.

The weather was perfect.  It got a bit hot just before we reached the Marina.

The owners went to the pool (I was kind of in the shade so it was ok). They also did some laundry.  “The Old Grouch” caught up to us, so they had dinner with my two people.  They were too far away for us to exchange news, though.

July 3, 2011

Rain, rain go away!  Rain and thunderstorms off and on until about 12:30.  My people decided to just stay put, so did “Grouch”.  We hope tomorrow will be better.

June 29, 2011

On the road (water) again!!!

We all got up early and were off the dock by 7 AM.

We had a pretty smooth ride today.  I saw lots of ferryboats early, but once we passed under the GW Bridge boat traffic eased up.

I got to see the Verrazano Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the George Washington Bridge today.  Pretty neat!

A breeze kicked up just before we got to Haverstraw, so we had a bit of trouble getting into our slip.  No pilings between boats, so we had to be careful not to hit the next boat.  No dockhands or dockmaster to help grab lines.  A nice man from down the dock came and helped.  We were tied up securely at 1:50 PM.  Not too long a day.

Greg cleaned me off and then he and Kate went to the office.  They were gone a long time (they found an outdoor bar and restaurant).

On the good side --- I’m in fresh water for at least the next 4-5 months!  I feel so good already!

June 30, 2011

They let me sleep a little later this morning!  We only had to go 46 miles today.

The stern thruster was acting up yesterday and then it quit altogether today when leaving Haverstraw.

Pleasant ride – weather a little cooler, but not too bad.  Much easier docking today.  We had a very nice dockgirl help us.

The owners went out again!  Kate found an Irish pub (of course, she had a Guinness for me).  They walked to Ship to Shore Restaurant for dinner and then to the Steel House for after.  Guess what!  It was country night!  Line dancing and a mechanical bull – wish I could have seen that!

All-in-all a good day.

July 1, 2011

Got to sleep in again – 54 miles to do today.

Yeah!  My stern thruster works!  Greg was able to fix it.  It’s a nice day - cool and a bit cloudy.  A nice ride up the river  -- no problems. 

We fueled and docked at Troy Dock.  Fuel is high -- $4.11 a gallon.  My owners met a couple from Canada who are finishing up the Loop in Georgian Bay, David & Brenda Middleton.  They had drinks & dinner with them.  I made friends with The Old Grouch (their boat).  It was a really pleasant evening.

Greg got all the fenders ready for the locks.  We are good to go!!