It's Tuesday now and the first time we've been able to get internet access. Spent Sunday the 21st in Oswego. Woke up to see Distant Shores, the Shard's boat, docked there. (They are kind of famous in the sailing world for making cruising DVDs and TV shows -called Distant Shores). Dave chatted with them and found out they are filming the canals and the intracoastal waterway. They had just stopped to clear customs having put their mast on their frame in Port Credit. Spent the day getting our wood frame ready for the unstepping on Monday. It might have been a blessing in disguise that there had been a mistake about the Sunday appointment. Another boat from Toronto, the Blue Blazer, was doing the same thing so it was great to exchange ideas. Dave worked all day on this project and Shirley and Christopher followed the old railway trail to the grocery store which turned out to be the old train station.
Monday found us up and ready early as we were the first of a few boats to be unstepped that day. Once we got the mast on the frame, spent some time securing everything before heading off. Went through locks 8, 7, and 6 right away, our first experience at that procedure. It was good to do right away, baptism by fire, I think they call it. It can be a bit unnerving because the mast is so much longer than the boat and the water motion in the locks make the possibility of the mast hitting the wall a bit of a worry. We seemed to get the hang of it, but each lock is a new experience. Had time to enjoy the serenity of the canal between locks 6 and 3 as they were more spaced out than the first three. The Blue Blazer, which had been travelling with us through the locks kept going after lock 3 (Fulton, NY) but we decided to tie up there for the night. We had a mission. Find the Walmart to buy an Amercan phone. After a bit of an extended hike we did get there, and voila, we can now make phone calls, even to Canada, without breaking the bank. The lockmaster at Fulton was really helpful. We overnighted at a free dock and were given keys to the washroom and shower.
Today it was a bit misty when we left, but after we cleared lock 2 we had about fifteen minutes of almost no visability, so we made really slow progress. After the fog lifted it was a beautiful day as we cruised the canal. Willie, from the Blue Blazer was at lock 1 and filmed us going through, which, if we ever get the video from him will be the only way we can share that experience, as we're not yet casual enough about it to film it ourselves. We finished the Oswego canal and turned east on the Erie Canal. Went through their lock 23 and stopped in Brewerton. Stopped for fuel and met up again with the Shards. We're docked next to the railway bridge and are at the public library using their internet. Christopher's already seen one train go by.
Monday found us up and ready early as we were the first of a few boats to be unstepped that day. Once we got the mast on the frame, spent some time securing everything before heading off. Went through locks 8, 7, and 6 right away, our first experience at that procedure. It was good to do right away, baptism by fire, I think they call it. It can be a bit unnerving because the mast is so much longer than the boat and the water motion in the locks make the possibility of the mast hitting the wall a bit of a worry. We seemed to get the hang of it, but each lock is a new experience. Had time to enjoy the serenity of the canal between locks 6 and 3 as they were more spaced out than the first three. The Blue Blazer, which had been travelling with us through the locks kept going after lock 3 (Fulton, NY) but we decided to tie up there for the night. We had a mission. Find the Walmart to buy an Amercan phone. After a bit of an extended hike we did get there, and voila, we can now make phone calls, even to Canada, without breaking the bank. The lockmaster at Fulton was really helpful. We overnighted at a free dock and were given keys to the washroom and shower.
Today it was a bit misty when we left, but after we cleared lock 2 we had about fifteen minutes of almost no visability, so we made really slow progress. After the fog lifted it was a beautiful day as we cruised the canal. Willie, from the Blue Blazer was at lock 1 and filmed us going through, which, if we ever get the video from him will be the only way we can share that experience, as we're not yet casual enough about it to film it ourselves. We finished the Oswego canal and turned east on the Erie Canal. Went through their lock 23 and stopped in Brewerton. Stopped for fuel and met up again with the Shards. We're docked next to the railway bridge and are at the public library using their internet. Christopher's already seen one train go by.
1 comment:
Wow, great pics and what an awesome adventure, all in under a week! Everything is working in your favour, even the trains for Christopher. It is wonderful to follow your adventures.
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