On the Water Again - June 2010

After leaving Rambler at Winter Harbor Marina from June 1-18, we continued on our way up the Oswego River to Lake Ontario and home to Eagle Creek Marina, Kendall, NY.  We couldn't leave Brewerton until 5 p.m. because some last minute work needed to be done - gel batteries, an electronics check, and final installation of new day/night shades.  Therefore, we only traveled for about two hours and spent the night in Phoenix, NY.  This is a nice little town for a stopover.  Other times that we have stopped here, the Bridge Brats, a group of young volunteers, can't help the boaters enough.  They help you dock, tie lines, offer a tour of the town's museum, offer to deliver groceries, or just chat it up.  It's a great way for a town to give students a chance to give back to their community.  The program is supported mainly by donations so even though dockage is free, they appreciate whatever one can offer.

The next day, we left as soon as the lock opened at 7 a.m. We easily locked through the remaining six locks on the Oswego River through Fulton, Minetto, and Oswego.  Once on Lake Ontario, we headed west towards Eagle Creek Marina.  The 90 nautical mile trip on a mild-mannered lake (2'-3' waves calming to less than 2') allowed us to arrive at the marina by 7 p.m.  Thankfully 12 hour days are not the norm, but we were very glad to be in our former marina for the next week.






After a few days of rest and some time at our home in Hamlin, NY, we said good-bye to all of our dear friends at Eagle Creek Marina, where we have been Eagle Creek Yacht Club members for 22 years.  'A' dock is where we spent nearly every week-end in the summers, cooking out, listening to music, swimming in the lake, and sitting at bonfires with the best group of friends that anyone could ask for.  Our departing was quite emotional but we are also continuing on the adventure of a lifetime.  Regardless of where we are or where our friends are, we will be together in spirit.





On June 25, we continued west on Lake Ontario to St. Catherines Marina, 56 NM.  Bruce and Donna Proctor (Proctor and Gamble!!) traveled with us for the trip through the Welland Canal.  Because we were traveling upbound, at least three adults are required on the boat to go through the 8 locks.  The cost to travel through the 8 locks is $200.  We spent the night at the marina and by 10 a.m. we were moored at Port Weller waiting for permission to enter Lock 1.  At 11 a.m. we and two other pleasure craft were allowed into the first lock.  Modern technology allowed us to "see" the freighter traffic in the lock system.  This information can be found at http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/navigating/map/index.html .  Knowing that only three freighters were in the locks gave us a good idea of how long it would take us to lock through.  Also, only the turbulence in Lock 3 was a problem when Bruce and I really struggled to hold the boat near the wall.  At one point we were nearly in the middle of the lock and short on line.  A harrowing experience, but we survived, although Bruce swears his arms are longer! At 8 p.m. we tied our lines for the night at SugarLoaf Marina in Port Colbourne, Ontario.  Wine and lasagna (courtesy of Donna) were served and we called it a night!

Port Weller - entrance to Lock 1

The cargo ships look imposing at first sight but we had absolutely no
trouble navigating the canal with them.  Thanks to a web site that provides
the ships' transit information, we always knew what was coming towards or behind us.  

Bruce manned the bow lines as we locked through.