Monday, June 21, 2021

SMALL TOWNS CHARM

 We are very much enjoying our stops along Lake Huron. It is way less developed than Lake Erie, and Lake St. Clair . Our first stop was Harbor Beach, middle of no where, but oh so quiet at night and the stars were magnificent!From there we continued to Harrisville.....a small town stereotype. Friendly people that love where they live, well kept modest houses , and a highlight of theirs is to walk the docks in the harbour, have and ice cream cone in the evening and look at boats and the lake.

We walked into the one dinner restaurant in town... Shotmakers. It was full of locals on a friday night. We sat at the bar, and instantly became engaged in talking to the people sitting at the bar. It was so much fun. We heard lots of local stories.

Next stop was Presque Isle. In the midst of wilderness, with no wifi, and lots of small fishing boats. We are so far north, that the sun doesn't set until 9:45 and rises at 5:30. Everyone is truly up at the crack of dawn.

Last night we arrive to Cheybogen MI. We were met at the dock by boating friends from home, June and Tim Schnieder. We had a great steak dinner on their boat and shared lots of sea stories. We are still in port today due to high winds and rain.





GETTING A RIDE TO WALMART WITH JUNE AND TIM SCHNEIDER ON THEIR RV IN CHEYBOYGEN MI
(boating friends that also live near us in Texas)



Tuesday, June 15, 2021

PUSHING FORWARD EACH DAY

Since the last post, we've been to Erie,PA.....wild and crazy marina on a wknd, Mentor, OH.....nice and quiet, Put In Bay ,OH...a really fun time with friends Greg and Sue, Jefferson Beach Marina in St. Clair Shores....another wild and crazy place on a wknd, Gross Pointe Yacht Club for an evening with long ago friends, Rob and Vanessa.....afternoon by the pool and a trip up to THE OLD CLUB on Harsens Island on their friends gorgeous boat, St. Clair, MI....quiet, and tonight Port Huron, MI waiting out very strong winds from the North and mega waves. Hoping to head up Lake Huron tomorrow. Hoping for calmer weather.

FIRST STOP IN PUT IN BAY....GREAT MOJITO

WELCOME TO DETROIT MI/WINDSOR CANADA








MAY FLIES COVERED EVERYTHING

WE THOUGHT WE WERE IN THE CARIBBEAN IN PUT IN BAY



GREG AND SUE'S PLANE, THEY FLEW IN FROM OHIO



Sunday, June 6, 2021

MEDINA, TONAWANDA, BUFFALO NEW YORK

 Had great stays at the above towns . Medina was quiet, Tonawanda was lively, and the Erie Basin by Buffalo was filled with many, many boats.... we literally rocked..........................not a good thing.

TONAWANDA CASTLE
WE SAW HUNDREDS OF GEESE FAMILIES
THE PARENTS ALWAYS ARE IN FRONT AND BEHIND THEIR BABIES



ONE OF THE MANY LIFT BRIDGES ALONG THE CANAL
BRIDGE OPERATOR HOPS IN HIS CAR TO GO BETWEEN BRIDGES
CRUISING DOWN THE NIAGRA RIVER TO LAKE ERIE
                                 

                                  SERIES OF SCENIC BRIDGES ALONG THE CANAL


Tuesday, June 1, 2021

6 NIGHTS IN NEWARK NY

 So....as luck would have it, Lock 29 continued to be an issue with very shallow water. There were severe depth issues due to a stream between the old canal and the new Erie canal. A dam between the two, collapsed.We finally ventured after two "canary" boats left yesterday and made it through,

Tonight we are tied up  on the lock 33 wall just west of Pittsford , NY. Once again, all is good. Many of the pictures below are compliments of Mr. Erie Canal, Bob Stopper. A friend to all doing the Loop.

Sadly, the Erie Canal is showing its age,having been around since 1817. The locks and their mechanisms are regularly failing. Every day another issue pops up somewhere. It's such a priceless historical attraction. We feel fortunate to be experiencing it.

                                               ENTERING THE LOCK FROM HELL #29


                                                MY CAPTAIN AND HIS FIRST MATE RELAXING AFTER A                                                                                           ROUGH DAY

                                              

                                                OUR WALK HOME FROM THE GROCERY 

                                                STORE ALONG THE ERIE CANAL PATH


                             TYPICAL CANAL BOAT REPLICA THAT YOU CAN RENT


NEWARK  HAD ALL SORTS OF BEAUTIFUL MURALS AROUND THE WATERFRONT                                                                DEPICTING THE CANAL HISTORY



                                           ACTUAL ORIGINAL LOCK