Canada, Eh!

Monday-Sunday, July 10-17

We departed Oswego, NY mid-morning to try to take advantage of less wind in the afternoon going across Lake Ontario. We were estimating that it would take us about 6 hours for the crossing. There were 4 of us cruising as a group even though we were spaced out over several miles. 

Oswego Lighthouse

The winds never calmed down. They stayed 10 to 20 knots from the southwest which produced waves of 2 to 4 feet on our beam. We were wallowing and rocking and rolling. But if that wasn't bad enough, biting flies found us about 30 miles out in the middle of the Lake! We could not kill enough of them. Thank goodness when we got close to land, they got off the boat minus the ones we managed to swat!

We pulled into a nice cove with a mooring field. Caught the lead on the first time, but I didn't have my line ready. Even managed to hook it a second time and tied the boat to it!

The very next thing to do was to call Canadian Customs. Well we tried Kelly's phone--no service! But my phone worked!! Kelly answered a few basic questions about us, then verified we did not transport guns aboard the boat. Our confirmation number must be displayed in the window during our visit to Canada.

On Tuesday we departed  at 6 a.m. to cruise the Bay of Quinte (qwin-tay) to Trenton Port Marina. A very new and nice marina with great wifi, free laundry, and fantastic showers. So we stayed 2 days.

All 4 boats were tied up on the blue line before the locks on the Trent Severn Waterway opened at 9 a.m. on Thursday. We only traveled 8 miles that day, but we went through 6 locks. Most of these locks are hand-opened, so lots of going around in circles for these summer students working for the Canadian Parks System.

On Friday we traveled 24 miles through 6 more locks! Locks 11 and 12 were a flight--meaning we went out of lock 11 directly into lock 12! Wow, really different than the locks on the Ohio River. We stopped in Campbellford and paid for 2 nights and got 1 night free.

On Saturday Kelly had a mechanic bring us a new battery and check the alternator. The new battery solved the slow starting of the motor. And that left me free to visit the farmers market! Beets and carrots and organic fed pork--oh my!!!  Only 1 block to Dooher's Bakery!!! And 1/2 block to the liquor store!!! And we had front row seats for the classic and collectible boat parade!

 Campbellford is a great little town. The the person who designed the Canadian $2 coin (a Toonie) is from Campbellford. A giant replica is in the park.

The Erie Canal

Tues-Sat, June 27-July 8

As soon as we made that left turn into the eastern end of the Erie Canal we pulled into the city of Waterford public dock. It is a fantastic free dock (donations appreciated)!!! You can only stay for 2 days and the charge for electriciy is $10. There are a couple restaurants and a small grocery store within walking distance.

On Thursday fellow boaters Time Out, The Journey and Magic arrived and after a short wait we all pulled in the lock to travel west to Schnectady Yacht Club. 

Up early on Friday we traveled to St. Johnsville during a big rain storm. We caught a ride to a local restaurant (okay it was more of a bar) for some awesome burgers and beer! The sun came out so we walked back to the boat.

We traveled on Saturday with more rain and mist and the scenery was beautiful.

 This part of the Erie Canal is higher than the neighboring city of Little Falls, NY.

 
We only traveled about 20 miles but the rain was moving into the area and the City of Ilion had room on their wall for all of us. Ilion is the home of Remington Firearms and Typewriter Manufacturing! They were closed for their annual vacation during our visit in Ilion.

And it was a lot of rain. On Sunday the level on the canal rose about 3 feet!  They closed the locks because of the swift current and debris. We also heard on the news that 3 people drowned near the lock just east of Ilion. 

On Monday they lowered the water level to search for bodies. And then they lowered it even more. We were almost sitting in the mud. By evening the water level was normal.

On Tuesday all the other boaters left early to be at the lock when it opened at 7 a.m. We were waiting for filters from NAPA to be delivered. By 8:30 a.m. all the boaters were back and tied up to the wall. Too much debris will keep the locks closed another day. 

Wednesday we saw a repair barge heading west.

Thursday morning we get a call that the locks will open at noon. As nice as Ilion is, we are all glad to be moving!! By 5:30 we dock at Ess-Kay Marina in Brewerton, NY. 

Verona Beach Lighthouse, Lake Oneida NY

Only one more lock and we turn north into the Oswego Canal. The weather forecast to cross Lake Ontario does not look good until Monday. It will only take one day of travel to get to the southern edge of Lake Ontario at the city of Oswego, so we stay another day at Ess-Kay. They have a courtesy car so time to visit Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, and Home Depot.

The cruise up the Oswego Canal was relaxing and only took about 6 hours. 

Tomorrow we cross Lake Ontario into Canada!!

The Hudson

Friday - Tuesday, June 23 - 27, 2017

Some sights going up the Hudson River.

Ellis Island

New York Skyline and a Ferry

Little Red Lighthouse and the Big Gray Bridge (George Washington Bridge)

West Point Academy

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

Roundout Creek Lighthouse

Saugerties Lighthouse

 This passing boat did not slow down and rocked the ship out of us!

 Hudson-Athens Lighthouse

 Large cargo ships are way up the Hudson

Newburgh

Poughkeepsie

Albany

Take a left to the Erie Canal

New Day - New York

Friday, June 23

Arrived late last night, leave early today! Not the best way to travel, but we are going to New York harbor! And it is Friday! Does the harbor get as crazy as other people on Friday? We are not taking chances. Get up before sunrise and get in the harbor before all the ferries and commercial boats make us a nervous wreck traveling.

The sky was hazy this early, but sunrise was showing the beginnings of a great day. 

And then we spot the lady....

Up close--what a sight!

Our fellow boaters on The Journey and Time Out took pictures.

And we tried selfies.....

The sun was out, ferries and water taxis were starting to speed across the harbor. We think the big boats were anchored, but we started up the Hudson River.

The Hudson River is very wide and the farther away from the city, the more beautiful the scenery.

Sitting on the Dock at Cape May

Sat-Mon, June 17 to 19
Cape May, NJ

Somebody had a great day fishing

The weather window to get out of Cape May was slow to arrive. So slow that Jean of Time Out wrote new words to a classic song--"Sittin' on the dock at Cape May". Several boats waited 5 days so they could travel up the coast out in the ocean to Atlantic City. So we went sight seeing.

Cape May Lighthouse

WWII Bunker on the Beach

On Tuesday we decided to travel the New Jersey ICW. It is shallow, but traveling at mid-tide rising it should be deep enough (well almost). We found the shallow spots in 2 different places, but it is soft mud. Wait about 10 minutes and back off and try to stay in the channel. We need a forward looking depth finder!!!

Drawbridge on the NJ ICW

This is shallow!!

Atlantic City Casinos

Several other boats - Time Out, The Journey, and Captains Choice - ran out in the ocean the next day and anchored in Atlantic City. We passed them on our way north! Wednesday afternoon we could see the dark clouds but they appeared to be passing south. Then the clouds moved closer and closer. We pulled out of the channel at Surf City and quickly let down the anchor. We sat in the boat and watched the winds and rain. Sometime through that storm we lost a large fender, but no damage.

Here comes the storm!

Sunset after the storm

We stayed anchored for the night, very little rain or wind. Up early the next morning to take advantage of the rising tide and get to the northern end of the NJICW at Manasquan. 

Sunrise over New Jersey

Traveling was easy until we got to Point Pleasant Canal. Wow, what a fast current through this 60' wide canal! Everyone including a tow boat towing a vessel was going fast! We were bouncing all over! 

Point Pleasant Canal (a true washing machine!!)

The New Jersey ICW ends at Manasquan, so we had no choice but to travel in the ocean. Just another mile and we were out in the Atlantic Ocean. It was a beautiful day for a ride in the ocean. Nice easy swales to glide over. 

Avon-By-The-Sea Beach NJ

We made it to Great Kills Marina in lower New York City bay by 5 pm.