Sherry Pickett

Fun day on Esmeralda with James, Jaqueline & Keira. Race to the Ajax weather buoy and back. Winds were about 7kts from SW to start and built to about 18-20kts W or NW after rounding the Ajax weather buoy. Waves were about .5 m, 3 sec. The snacks were great and company superb!

Light winds and flat calm most of the way. Overcast skies cleared to sunshine by the time we arrived. Uneventful motor home with our mast carried on deck. Arrived home to a big welcome crew on dock eight. So nice to be back at PWM with so many familiar and friendly faces. Champagne popped and flowing all afternoon celebrating the completion of our trip to the Bahamas and back. One year, one week and one day!

Very light winds and calm sea state for the entire trip, which is what we were looking for as we are still carrying our mast on cradles on the deck. Some fog about 6nm from Oswego which cleared within an hour. Light rain as we approached Cobourg. We chose this weather window to motor across the lake and will get the mast stepped at our home marina in Whitby. Now waiting in Cobourg as winds from the west for the next few days will create head on waves, we don’t want to be motoring into the wind with the mast on deck. Considering all the big storms north and south of the lake glad we had the opportunity to cross the lake, home to Canada when we did.

Moved past the last lock in prepare for an early morning departure on Saturday since the locks open at 8AM. Docked on a wall managed by the Best Western. Walked around town and bought treats for our lake crossing tomorrow at Man in the Moon Candies. Dinner and drinks with Scott & Leslie MV A Loan Again (from Ottawa) and an early night.

Very early morning to cross the shallow lake in calm conditions. Winds picked up becoming very gusty once we were in the Erie then Oswego Canals. Third long day in a row. Seven locks today. Only one more before Lake Ontario!! The Oswego River is very pretty with lots of cottages & homes along the banks. We docked just south of lock 7 on a free wall. The river is flowing strong just beside the canal walls. Had a few minutes of heavy rain just after we docked. Sky has been threatening on and off all afternoon.

Hot humid day. Travelled through locks 18-22 with two other sailboats. Lots of shallow spots to navigate. David & Susan drove from Syracuse to meet us for dinner. 🥰

Travelled through locks with five power boats. One couple from Trenton used to have their boat at PWM. Most challenging lock and the biggest lock was #17. 16/17 were where the repairs were done that delayed opening the canal this year. Stopped at Little Falls Canal Harbor for the night. Great facilities. Walked across bridge to town to Ed’s pizza (small mostly take out). Great pizza.

Very calm morning, well marked canal. Little boat traffic, we were the only boat in every lock we transited. Lock masters have all been very friendly. Stopped just west of lock E11 at Amsterdam for the night.

On the move again! After a week at Catskill Marina/Hop-O-Nose and building cradles, unstepping the mast and fixing it to the boat last week we got news on Friday that Erie locks 16 & 17 were finally open and that the Oswego Canal would be open Saturday. Early morning departure in calm overcast conditions we headed north up the Hudson River, stopping briefly at the Albany YC for fuel and a pump out. We then continued on to the Troy Lock, then the first flight of 5 locks on the Erie Canal. There were several boats together in the lock at Troy but then only us and one power boat through the next five. All locks on the Erie had weighted lines hanging down that you just hang onto. Some current in the lock as it fills. We found it best to hold on at bow and stern rather than one midship line.

Lights winds that diminished and calm conditions on the Hudson River. Travelled at slack tide so made good time. Lots of canalagators again (logs and debris) floating downstream from all the rain. Several locks on the Erie Canal have been closed today due to flooding. This is the location where we will unstep the mast to prepare for transiting the canals. Rocco met us on the dock and discussed our plans for removing the mast and building our cradle. He was very helpful. After we docked we removed our Genoa, removed the boom and prepared all the lines. Tomorrow we will remove a solar panel so we can use the arch to support the mast when it is down, and disconnect the electrical from the mast (among other related jobs). Once they have space for our boat closer to the crane they will have us move to another dock where we will build the cradle. They have all the materials needed here and our friends on Esmeralda and Someday V who were here a few weeks ago have left us a circular saw and some supplies. Very helpful! 😊 For anyone following us on Marine Traffic our AIS will no longer be working once we disconnect the antennae and take down the mast.