July 31, 2013 Winter Harbor in Brewerton New York

Topless no more!

The radar arch was hoisted into place and Will and Charlie got it all bolted down and managed to thread all the wires back through the arch.

Meanwhile Geordie and Andy replaced all the support poles and stitched up the canvas and were able to re-fit it all back together.  Impressive.

Tomorrow (I hope) will be the solar panel installation seen here prior to the frame being dismantled.  Mary's dismay is not related to the solar panels.  We ran out of coffee this morning.






And also tomorrow we'll be hauled out of the water to remove the old dinged up props.  We'll replace them with a spare set of propellers we have on board.  

So Mary maybe correct once again.  She predicted we'll be leaving here by Sunday, while my more pessimistic assessment of another weeks delay seems destined for "your wrong again" column.  Oh well.




 

July 30, 2013 Brewerton NY at Winter Harbor

The radar arch has been painted and the hinge straps are ready.  We just might actually get out of here by the weekend!

Otherwise we're just doing normal boat chores.

July 27, 2013 Brewerton,NY at Winter Harbor Marina

Removing the solar panels

The work continued Friday July 26 with the removal of the solar panel array and then the radar arch.  Talk about that airy feeling up top.

There goes the radar arch

And the weather, which has been cool and sunny will be turning to rain later this afternoon and into Sunday.  So we've begun to cover and remove what we can although there isn't much to protect except for the bridge instruments, and the cable access holes.  At least it'll get clean and the carpet will dry.

Anyone visiting us here will have to endure a partially disassembled boat, non functional boat.  But the dinghy is perfectly functional so boat rides aren't entirely out of the question.

July 25, 2013 Topless in Brewerton

This afternoon canvas repairs were begun!. We took down all the side pieces and then the top but left the poles up.  The radar arch is under going scrutiny and its hinges will be straightened or re-fabricated.

Its rather airy up on the fly bridge.  Luckily the weather is projected to be dry for several more days.  

July 23 2013 Brewerton NY at Winter Harbor Marina

We haven't moved much here in Winter Harbor marina. Well we did move 25 feet down the dock and then 25 feet back to where we were originally.

A 74' boat with a severely damaged prop had to enter the lift and we are too fat for it to get into the lift bay so the dock hands hauled us further back towards the river to accommodate this larger boat.

Like I said, it was a really tight fit.  Kudos to Jim the boat yard foreman who drove it in.











Otherwise we just sit and wait.  I thought I discovered a mildly alarming leak this morning but it turned out to be a minor problem at least from this perspective.  A leaky shaft log which should respond to some clamp tightening.  Took the dinghy out for a spin and ended up out in the lake for a swim.  Water is really refreshing.   Tomorrow we'll be using the courtesy car, some sort of mini-van, to go shopping and do laundry,  Life could be worse!

July 21 2013 Brewerton NY at Winter Harbor Marina

Early this morning (7 a.m.) I was up and chatting with a number of boaters we have met along the way.  Bucket List, Spiritus, Easy Go and a few others.  Wayward came down the river, too, and was intending on taking fuel aboard but the fuel dock was rather full in no small part because we were docked there.  So they decided to go back up river to a different marina for fuel  We hopped in the dingy and went down there to see them for a while, and when we got back, the dock master was anxious to move us.  Great I thought.  We'll just mosey on over to the other wall.

Yeah, were it so simple.  She directed us to the small inlet they use to get boats into the travel lift.  Boats were tied to both sides of the inlet.  And no, not cute petite craft, but big honkers like us.  That left us about 20 feet of water width-wise .  We are 15 feet wide.  5 feet... no big deal right?  My view point is a little different driving a 25 ton boat with no brakes that reacts unpredictably to the wind.  Heighten state of awareness is an understatement.  

That's us on the right and the inlet we went down

We got off the fuel dock, and I lined it up and proceeded in, noting that every boat along the inlet was now littered with owners and crew out in force with boat hooks and fenders.  I can think of any number of euphemisms, some less refined than others; but suffice to say, it was a frigg'n tight fit made more difficult by the lack of bite on the props due to some damage from whatever we caught on the bottom of the Erie..





But we made it in without incident.  And we are staged right next to the lift.   So maybe if the stars are aligned correctly we could be hauled tomorrow, and new props and support strut put in place.









After the canvas guy leaves we'll probably take a dinghy ride into the lake and go swimming.  Did I mention they have some indigenous water snakes here?

July 20 2013 Brewerton New York

We are at Winter Harbor, a marine storage and repair facility in Brewerton New York.  We crossed Lake Oneida into a westerly wind.  For us that meant head on.   Not uncomfortable but not flat seas either.  We had one brief cloudburst too.  Brewerton is actually part of the Canal at the other end of the lake.  It was a nice change not to have to go through locks all day.

And yes we are at the fuel dock again although I suspect we'll be moving soon.  We'll be seeing the canvas repair guy tomorrow (Sunday) and then Monday find out when we can be hauled out to check out an odd vibration that's been reoccurring with increasing intensity over the last few days.  Luckily we have a spare set of props.  I think we may have dinged them running through all the debris in the Canal the other day.




 Took the dinghy to a local bar (Castaways) this evening and met an interesting waitress who's an epidemiology student at USC.  She was interesting,  The rum and coke not so much.

You can see where we have been so far on our map of where we have been

July 19, 2013 Sylvan Beach New York

We made it to Sylvan Beach all the way from Little Falls.   We were alone for the most part.  Sylvan Beach is sort of a resort town like Door County.  Lots of activity.  Loud activity.  But it was a good spot to stay since the winds really picked up.

 We had trouble finding a place to stay since all the free dock space was taken but finally ended up at Marina Landing and their gas dock.  It was conveniently right in front of our friends Dave and Joanne.  We biked to a restaurant with them and waited out the thunderstorm before heading back to the boat.

Heading to Brewerton tomorrow morning on the other end of the lake.

July 18, 2013 Little Falls New York

Slow day traveling but at least we made it in time to lock through lock 17 before they closed.   Little Falls has a small marina filled at the moment with Canal work boats.  We had to tie up to a Canal tree-plucker  barge.  We're veterans at tying up to barges from our experiences in Waterford.  At least we have water and electric power at only $1 a foot.  Another hot day so all three A/C units are running full tilt while we're plugged into shore power.  Even doing laundry on board.


Tomorrow we hope to get to Sylvan Beach at the eastern end of Lake Oneida.

July 17, 2013 Fonda, New York

We are here!  Which is not Waterford!  This is Fonda New York

Lock  3 with our lock mates

It was the straw that punctured the balloon of complacency.  The third canvas repair guy in Waterford couldn't start on anything until late the following week.  At least he returned a phone call.  So knowing the Canal was re-opening today (Wednesday) we tossed the bikes on the boat, hauled up the dinghy and after watching the first parade of boats head for lock #3 at 8:00am we inserted ourselves in the 8:30 procession.  4 other boats and us.  We went up the Waterford flight of locks (4 locks lifting over 120 feet in total) in about an hour and half.

Lock 12, our last lock of the day.

We motored all day and went through 6 more locks and made it all the way to a town named Fonda near lock #13.  In 90+ degree heat.  The afternoon was a blast (furnace) with the sun directly in our faces.

We found some space on the Wall among some Canal tugs and barges here in Fonda.  Not much else here but we had some Canadian friends over for a visit.  Very fun.

Curious where Fonda is on our journey?  Go here

Had some good news from Brewerton about repairs.  The guy is going to meet us Friday.  All we have to do is boogey through another 10 locks  which is at least another day.  Somewhere in there we have to spend about 5 hours running the generator to make water too. 

Currently were sitting on the boat with the generator running and all 3 A/C units blasting out cold air.   Ahhh …

Waterford, NY between Lock #2 and #3

Still here.  Our attempt at engaging a boat yard canvas specialist fell through so we're simply waiting for the local canvas shop to remove everything before we head down to Albany for the radar arch hinge-strap repair.

If timing is everything we seemed to have missed the boat. <sorry>  The Canal is slated to re-open on Wednesday July 17th which is when we will most likely be in Albany and facing another day or two after that for the canvas top to be re-installed.  On the plus side the first glut of boats will be heading up the Canal and confronting any remaining debris which escaped the maintenance crews.  The down side is we'll be forced to dash through some of the best places if were going to be in Lake Michigan by mid August. But we'll make the best of it I'm sure.

Meanwhile its 93 degree's here.  Summer in Waterford anyone?

July 11, 2013 Waterford (between lock #2 and #3)

Movement!  We've ceased being a stationary floating barge and moved.  10 feet.  Ok, so it wasn't much but it allowed me to loop the shore power cable under the shore side receptacle.  Other than that, we've moved nary an inch.  Even when boats are locking through the #3 lock a few hundred feet away, the discharge from the locks only very gently rocks us a few times.  We're so well planted I'm wondering if checking for roots might be in order.

Our path up to the park and points beyond.  We don't have the Fit anymore but that bike with the blue basket is a compact and very suitable replacement.










We may have to move the boat to Albany for some work if it can't be completed here in this remote area of Waterford.  Did I mention the park we're tied behind is the home of the Waterford Bocce Ball league?

Our only excitement lately was during the latest torrential downpour when the power screeched to a halt.  GFI's tripped and I finally isolated the problem (fly bridge110V receptacle) and we were back on line.

Meanwhile we wait to see the estimates and time lines and hope we can have things completed by the time the Canal re-opens some time late next week.

July 7, 2013 Waterford NY (Between lock #2 and #3)

Still here between Lock 2 and 3 on a rather rough seawall with the same 3 sailboats.  There is power but very limited.  We will be seeing a local canvas repair guy Monday for some idea of what we're facing.

Meanwhile we've been busy.  Well not really.  Just taking in the sights which oddly convey the sense of familiarity.  Can't imagine why that is ...

The satellite and radar antennas are currently resting in the forward stateroom. We had to move them  when we put up some temporary fixtures on the fly bridge to keep the rain at bay.  Ironically I was able to get the forward cabin A/C working so the electronics are comfortably cool.  In contrast  we are left sitting in the sweltering salon occasionally glaring down there and pondering  the order of things.  I mean really.  Do we  need all this cool electronic stuff?

We've been consuming chilled drinks.  However our ice supply is rapidly being depleted and running the ice maker kills the breaker. I'm betting if I bought  a bag of ice by the time I'd be able to get it back to the boat I'd have purchased a leaking bag of water.

The fine people here threw a fourth of July party for us.   Made lazy by the heat, we went to the party in the dinghy.  It's about 1/4 of a mile up the canal.  Even a short dinghy ride is a nice diversion.  It's movement!   Fireworks on the 6th.








Ran into Papillon the day before.  The had a rental car so we did some errands yesterday.  The ensuing comedy of two old guys repeatedly loosing their car in these damn mall parking lots is memorable.  But I did manage to get my one-way valves.  Forgot the water filters though.

Steamboat festival is this weekend along with Fireworks.    A number of vendors are here and along with it, food.  We  had sausage with peppers and onions.  This is really a hot brat with onions.  Yummy but leaves you with this lead in the tummy sensation.

July 3, 2013 Waterford between lock 2 and 3

We left for the Champlain Canal alone this morning.  The other boats elected to sleep in.  Our  whisker pole on the bow scrapped along the bottom as we started  under.

We couldn't stop in time and we caught some low hanging support strut along the port side which ripped the canvas, bent the support poles and the solar panel support poles.  The momentum also bent the hinges on the radar arch.

So it was back to Waterford where we had to wait for about an hour to get into the lock.  We're currently tied up in a rustic area along an old sea wall with three other sailboats who have been here as long as we have.   There is 110v 15 amp electricity  which is good but it's not enough to power up the AC electrical panel on the boat where all the air conditioning is located.   And of course its hot.  So we drink cold beer.

We're assessing our options.  The boat is functional however any storms will certainly be an issue due to the top canvas structure being damaged.  We made some temporary repairs for the time being.  There are no real canvas repair shops along here and the latest news on the Canal is that it could open in 10 days.  Or three weeks.

Water levels preclude us from heading to the Champlain again.  That and the added distance would throw us way behind in our plans to be in Chicago by September.

Do we wait for the Erie to re-open?   Wait until the water levels drop and try the Champlain Canal again and travel the added distance?  Head back south towards New York?  All good questions I'm sure we'll be answering in the days ahead.  Meanwhile we'll be sipping cocktails at the upcoming Steam Tug festival here in Lovely Waterford.

We invited a couple from one of the sailboats over to the boat for wine (2 bottles!) and some cool air.  We had a marvelous time.  Great people!  They are french and were on basically the same route we're on.  And they've been stranded for about as long.

Waterford.  Who knew ...

July 3, 2013 Leaving for the Champlain Canal

The anticipated bad weather and flooding was only minor and we were allowed to stay on the Waterford dock until today.  The steam tug boats  will begin arriving today and we have to vacate.  So we're finally on the move again and heading for the Champlain canal and Lake Champlain.


 The boat has been slimmed down but to keep us below 17' we'll have to tow the dinghy.  The first Lock opens at 8am and we'll be part of a little flotilla of 3 other boats.  I took both radars down and cobbled together a crate and some bungee cords to keep the mast below the level of the solar panels.  As a last step we put up a whisker pole set at 17' 1" on the bow.  If it scrapes I know we have about 6" of space left.





We've been in Waterford for a little over 3 weeks.  All the folks here have been very gracious and we know many of them by name.  But as comfortable as it is, we are anxious to get moving.  We're still anticipating arriving in WI by early August.  We'll need to purchase a Rideau Canal pass in addition to the Trent-Severn Canal pass we've already procured.  Not sure what other unanticipated expenses we'll have but in light of the long delays on the Erie it's worth it. 

June 30-July 2, 2013 back at the Waterford dock

We moved down from the basin above lock 3 and returned to the Waterford Dock early this afternoon.  A last minute plan was hatched to try the Champlain Canal route  instead of the Erie Canal.  The Erie appears to be headed for a 2-3 week closure.

 We planned to leave the dock here around 6:30am for the first Champlain Lock about 3 miles up the Hudson.

The air height restrictions for bridges on this route is  17 feet.  I removed the KVH Satellite, and one of the radars and then lowered the stub mast on it's side as far as it would go.  Calculations indicated we were at 17' 1" but I figured that inch would be wiggle room and we'd have no trouble.


 Yup, you know where this is headed.

We were up a 5:30am to fill the water tanks and get everything ready to depart.  I was still worried about the height so Mary looked at the boat's profile again and said the radar mast was fine.  The solar panels stuck up higher.  Oops ...

I had taken measurements from the rear of the solar panel rail mounts.  But I'd forgotten they actually have a slope to them so water doesn't collect and block the light.   So what I thought was 16' 8" is really 17' 3" which is well outside the the 17' limit.  


Our friends departed at 6:30am while we put one of the radar's back together.  Next we have to decide what to do.  There is a steamboat festival slated for this coming weekend and we'll have to vacate the dock. And of course the current forecast is for heavy rain in the Mohawk river valley today and tomorrow which usually means high water and flooding for us down here.  We might (dont mention this to Mary) have to lock back up above lock #3 (where we were twice before now) to wait out the high water.  The Canal itself is still closed and might be for the bulk of July.  Where we go from here has yet to be decided.