Saturday June 20, 2009

Wolverine Park Moorings. Erie, PA. Were stuck. Bad weather. Large extended front with severe thunderstorms and a lot of rain. Wind from the west with gusts pushing waves 5 ft. plus. Not worth heading out just to fight the "system" and only make a shorter distance.  Rain all day with radar showing strong cells yet to pass.

Visited the Maritime Museum. Large and extensive. Erie and several of its people figured in the war of 1812. In fact Oliver Hazard Perry won the battle of the great lakes here by defeating the British fleet while flying his famous flag "Don't give up the Ship". Also Erie, PA. had eight Admirals during WWII as well as numerous other distinguished navy heroes. This is a water based town.

The museum and a big library are housed in in a refurbished steam turbine generating plant.  Attractive urban renewal project and portrayed as a destination spot. Its working.

Friday June 19, 2009

The Welland Canal. Big. Awesome. 850 foot Great Lake freighters. Massive locks. Exciting.

This canal and lock system is an engineering masterpiece. Built 75 +years ago it functions perfectly. Original owned and operated by the Canadian Government, the operation was outsourced to a private company. Today only 40% or so of the ship traffic passes through as was the case in the '60s and '70s. The cost of  a one way passage for a big ship is $23,000 to $$25,000. Big bucks but the only game in town.

We took on a third person as a deck hand, required by the Canadian authorities, and lucky we were to find the man we did. Rodger St. Amand, a recently retired 40 veteran of the canal, took us through flawlessly. Not only did he place us perfectly in each lock, knew all the operators, but was able because of his contacts to put in the cue early ahead of several freighters. A conversationalist and a historian of the canal systems, the time passed quickly. All in all it was a great experience and we finished the eight lock, 25 mile system in only six hours. 

Once through and out at Port Colbourne, ON., the southern terminus to the canal, it was straight across Lake Erie to a safe harbor at Erie, PA.  One foot waves and bright sunshine. Arrived at Wolverine Park Moorings around 7:30PM.

Thursday June 18, 2009

Left Oswego at 6:55AM for the rub west on lake Ontario. Overcast with sprinkles and 54°. Waves expected to be 1' - 3' all day with and easterly wind at 10 - 17 kt. We'll have a following sea in rear starboard quarter for the entire day. Destination is the pleasure craft basin at the northern entry to the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada. 

Port Weller, Ontario, Canada. The Welland canal. Arrived at 7:30PM. Ran all day, drizzle and very limited visibility. Radar worked perfectly but didn't pass a lot of boats. In fact we didn't see land until we entered the northern terminus of the canal. Secured to the long wall at the pleasure craft basin and awaiting Canadian customs approval. Pass to transit the locks is $200 and had to hire a third person as required. Very large boats going through and they do create turbulence. The plan is to leave early in the morning if we can due to commercial traffic.

Wednesday June 17, 2009

Awake!  Arise ye who would go to the sea. Bright is the day making way. 

Brightwater is awake. Convalescence is over. The epic journey resumes. 

Left Winter harbor marina at 11:00AM en route to Oswego, NY on lake Ontario. Repairs and maintenance complete we're once again  on our way. Eight locks today and we're finished with the lock systems. We'll be able to raise the radar arch and reload the dingy. Big plus here is we'll have satellite TV once more but be bothered by the news. 

                          43° 27' 40" N

76° 30' 36" W

Canvas up. Dingy loaded. Dingy covered. Good to go.