All locked up

Late start this morning after all the activity yesterday we felt like a cooked breakfast. Topped up the engine coolant and made certain everything was as it should be before shoving off at 9:05am. There is no Lock 4, they designed it then decided they didn't need it and rather than re-number all the locks they just left it out! So............ next is Lock 3 which raises you 27' then Lock 2 18'.

Entering Lock 2 raising us 18'

We're starting to get the hang of locks but you're never absolutely sure what to expect so have to stay alert. I usually take the bow and Mary the stern with Ron at the helm. Its a case of grabbing a rope or line down the wall of the lock and hanging on while the water raises you up at the same time making sure you stay parallel with the wall - its a matter of hook work!

Lock 1 at Phoenix, thankfully they raise this road bridge!

This lock raised us 10'. The road bridge rises just enough for taller boats to get under on the left (port) side, we are about 15', the maximum you can be is 21' to be safe. The weather improved as we headed toward Brewerton just before Lake Onedia. Sorry Greg we didn't get to stop in Phoenix.

These bridges are just 23' which is lots of room - but you still duck.

Turning up the Onedia River at Three Rivers off the Oswego River. If we'd kept going we would enter the Seneca River - check the chart.

And this is lock 23 (don't ask) raising us just 7'.

Actually Lock 23 is on a short stretch of the Erie Canal that takes a short cut from the Onedia River and back again just before Brewerton. Let me explain (duh) where ever possible they used the natural waterway (river) and where needed they dug the Erie Canal to go the better route. Once across the Onedia Lake we'll enter the Erie Canal again which later becomes the Mohawk River on and off till Waterford at the Hudson River.

On a free dock at the entrance to Onedia Lake behind us

Where we came from and the sun setting.

Oswego or bust

I apologize for not keeping this thing updated, only being Captain and all and all the exciting stuff happening is hampering my ability to get at the computer. As it is Mary and Ron are as we speak cooking up a storm of culenary delights while I type!

So suffice to say we finally made it to Oswego and left Lake Ontario, a mile stone of itself! The only somewhat exciting thing that happened enroute was a visit from the Coast Guard and passing registration paperwork mid Lake Ontario - sorry no pictures.

You know who

Docked at Shumway Marina in Rochester

Historical Lighthouse Rochester

We discovered on entering Oswego that the Yacht Club was having a $5 pasta dinner evening so naturally thats where we decided to dock. The fact that it was a free reciprocal dock played just a small part in the decision making process. Members of the club went out of their way to help - they drove us to the grocery store and way out to find a place that topped up our propane tanks. At the grocery store another member took pity on us and drove us back to the boat - he recognised us from the pasta party the night before! Today we got our Cruising Permit and started down the Oswego Canal. At Lock 5 the engine overheated and failing to diagnose the problem we called a mechanic from Oswego who came and fixed for just $20. He was riding a scooter, which probably explains the oh so reasonable fee! Lock 5 is at Minetto which is where we are now enjoying chicken for dinner. Wow that was good but I missed the sunset so maybe I'll get a sunrise.

Oswego Power Plant & Lighthouse

Docked at Oswego Yacht Club

Yacht Club bar - great people great club

Traditions die hard

End of first day down the Oswego Canal

Reportedly the prettiest bridge on the canal - Minetto

This place is amazing - washrooms with showers, everything!

3 Knot Sailors (Cast off)

Twas cold and chilly at PCHM on the morning of 19^th September 2012, but conditions were favourable for our purpose. We are 3 in a boat – the boat being Solent Breeze a 36’ Canadian Sailboat, the captain Dave Jackson enlisted two crew from Humber Sailing Club who had just returned from a two week cruise around Vancouver Island, Ron Roe and Mary Hutcheon both experienced sailors (well someone has to be) oh arrrrrrrr!

Solent Breeze ready for the off

All was ready and so we cast off butterflies raging, actually it felt more like eagles. So this is us now 55” long on account of the mast strapped to the deck. It feels like we should be participating in a jousting contest, a knight in shining armour and all that!

Skipper Dave got rid of the butterflies (eagles) by launching into a bowl of cereal, food always seems to work wonders for skipper Dave! With the mast down progress to begin with was a little rolly polly to say the least but eventually things settled down. The weather mostly clear with waves less than half a meter.

 

Ron Roe & Mary Hutcheon (Crew)

 Underway the mast is as solid as a rock (thank goodness)!

So we checked into Wilson but not before touching bottom trying to put in at the Public Dock. Thankfully people had seen us arriving and hurried over to guide us to a better spot on a wall in Tuscarora Yacht Club. As we were only staying overnight and it was the end of season they said we could stay free of charge with full use of the facilities. Lovely showers and club room with TV. One guy even offered to drive us into town but after our first day we begged off and took to our beds.

Tuscarora Yacht Club

 

By way of tradition – sunset in TYC Wilson

Our latest adventure - PCHM to Fort Pierce FL

Finally we are ready to take our own boat (Solent Breeze) south and meet up with that other boat Renrod in Fort Pierce. The plan is to leave PCHM (weather permitting) on the 19th September, head for Oswego with the mast unstepped. The crew will include Mary Hutcheon and Ron Roe both of Humber Sailing Club - Sue (my wife) will join us later after a trip to UK to visit her Mum.

Our New Location

This is where we are - Palm Beach Gardens Marina

The Marina is run by Loggerhead Club&Marina, they have a chain of Marina's up and down Florida, reasonable rates and well worth the stay. Nice people too, well be stopping here again for sure.

Well be here on Jeff's boat untill we leave on the 14th of Fenruary but lets not think about that for now. A few showers during the night and cloudy today but more importantly, its warm!

Boca Chita in Biscayne Bay is as far south as we went but if there is more of this we'll be back yet again. Its just a little south of Miami and quiet, during the week anyway according to the locals it gets a louder and busier on the weekends.

The problem with blogging is getting online and we really didn't have that ability during the whole trip which is why I didn't keep the thing updated. We are now back at Old Port Cove and exploring what Florida has to offer the more conventional way - on land!

I would like to correct one observation that I made on the last trip and of course it involves a bird. I identified as Bonaparts Gull what was actually the Laughing Gull ha ha! If you need to know anything about a bird you see go here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189&ac=ac and be thorough. There are a lot of similar birds, look for distinctive features, behaviour that sort of thing and chances are that the folks at this site will have noticed the same.

It certainly is beautiful down here even when the locals are complaining about the weather or maybe I'm getting old and enjoy what ever mother earth sends our way. I'm sorry I didn't keep the blog udated, still working on the wifi issue and hope to have it resolved for next time $$$$$.



The lure of paradise

We leave for Old Port Cove on monday to continue where we left off before Christmas. Our sights are set further south - The Keys, well at least as far as Biscayne Bay anyway, stay tuned.