Lake Huron to the Hudson River–Roundtrip

15 Miles on the Erie Canal  Springsteen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hvomfb1SJ8

Click this link

http://tiny.cc/LFMap

DAY 10 - ERIE CANAL - LOCKPORT, NY - LOCKS 35 & 34

Thursday, July 29, 2010

• Weather: gorgeous! 
• Canal: flat
• Travel time and distance: 0
• Night mooring: Lockport, Erie Canal wall 
• Daily Funnies: 
• Jim and John rented utility van for the trip back to Midland - VERY GLAM!  
• D/J/R share a few jokes with the Border Patrol at Port Huron - NOT! 
• Bra strap as headband on Jen, our server at Molinaro’s in Lockport; read below!
• Resturant Rating (0-5):  Molinaro’s: 4
• Comments:  John and Jim head back to Midland in time for John to spend time with daughter Kelli, who is in town from her home in Aspen, and Jim’s Dow trip to China on Friday.  D/J/R ditch navigator in East Lansing and set out in the Bates’ Honda around 10 A.M.  They arrive at Lockport by 4:30.  Rick spent the day doing laundry, smoozing with the ladies at the Discovery Center, and eating cheesecake from the Italian bakery.  
• The new crew soon set out for a walk around the cute town, which now exists  for the Erie Canal and and General Electric.  The town was originally founded as the 10 “Flight Locks” were built.  See photo section.  Great dinner at Molinaro’s Italian Restaurant and Bakery.  Diner type place with authentic food.  Joyce: spaghetti and huge meatballs; Rick: stromboli; Donna: anti-pasto salad;  Rolf: Veal and Sausage (amazing!) 
• Server Jen, wearing a tan headband -  Rick asked her why she was wearing a rubber band around her head.  “Bra strap,” she says, turning around to display all the associated hardware!  Indeed, and banter managed to capture the attention of the other dinners.  And a good time was had by all!
• Back at Loon Feather, Lock Master, John, gave us a personal tour of the old and new locking mechanics. Tons of history associated with these locks.  See photos and history online at

 Day 9 - Abino Bay, ON to Lockport, NY  Crew:  Jim Lampe and John Gordon

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

• Weather: From stormy to sunny
• Seas: 3-4′ following seas, Calm on Black Rock Canal/Erie Canal
• Travel Time and Distance: 5 hours and 35 miles
• Night mooring: City dock next to Lock 35 on the Erie Canal, Lockport, NY
• Comments:  Winds shifted to the south and pciked up in the early morning.  By 4:00-4:30 AM, I was up pciking up the items flying off the surfaces in the Galley and Helm.  Finally, by 5:30 AM I had to get out of bed, and at 5:50 AM I had the crew up.  We got ready, pulled the anchor, and were under way before 7:00 AM.  Within an hour, we were inside the sea wall at Buffalo.  We continued north on the Black Rock Canal, through the Black Rock Lock, and on to the Erie Canal.  Our destination for the night was the city dock on the top side of Lock 35. 
• Approaching Lock 35, we could not see the city dock to the north side of the lock as the cruise books indicated.   So we continued into the lock, only to find out that the city dock was very small, only accomadated one boat, and was truely back there.  By this time, a large tour boat had come into the lock behind us, and the lock master suggested that we lock through and turn around and come back up.  Fortunately, the tour boat backed out of the lock, and let us out so we could go directly to the city dock. 
• What a treat.  Charming little town and the site of the historic “Step Locks”, 1824-25, originally a set of 10 very narrow (9 feet wide) locks.  Five of the locks were for rising up canal, and 5 were for lowering down canal.  Today, there are 2 wide and long (and deep!) locks (#35 and #34), built in 1914-918.              
• Constuction of Erie Canal (today often called the Old Erie Canal) was authorized in 1816.   We learned that the Canal and locks were built where there were no towns.  Then, the towns built up around them.   Lock keeper, John, showed us the original 7 HP DC motors, brass knife switches, etc. that are still in use today. 

MEANWHILE, back in Michigan, Donna was getting ready to bring Joyce and Rolf Bates to Lockport for Leg 3 and their journey along the Erie Canal.  But, Murphy had a better idea.

A. Donna left her passport in Petoskey.

B. Donna arranged to meet a couple in Grand Rapids (who were driving from Petoskey to Chicago), and grab her passport from them.  (3 hours driving vs. 7)

C. On the way to Grand Rapids, the A/C in the Navigator went out.  An hour later, it went on again.   Then, made a horrendous noise.  Then, a loud squeal. 

Diagonsis: 4 parts, $2000.  However, our precious Navi, which still shines with 245,000 miles,  is only worth $3000 (plus the 4 brand new tires that were put on a week ago!). 

Hence, Donna ditched the car at the Ford dealer, pending a decision regarded the purchase of a new car.  And, on DAY 10,  Joyce, Rolf, and Donna left East Lansing in the infamous Bates Honda CR-V.   Back at Lockport, Jim and John left in a rental - A UTILITY VAN!!!   Life couldn’t be crazier!

Day 8 - Burwell Harbor to Albino Bay, ON   CREW:  John Gordon and Jim Lampe

July 27, 2010

Weather: Clear and sunny–but very humid!

Seas:  Less than 2 feet.

Travel Times and Distance:  12.5 hours and 102 miles

Night Dockage:  Dropped anchor in Albino Bay and swung on the hook for the night

Comments:  We decided to get an early start today, figuring that this fishing harbor would be alive with activity very early.  However, we did not plan on the large commercial fishing vessel, tied up right across the river from us, leaving at 4:00 AM.  We were up and pushing off just before 7:00 AM. 

We were off to a bad start when we ran aground in the river no more than 100 feet from our dock–the west side of the river, across from our dock on the east side, went to less than 3.5 feet (the draft on Loon Feather) in a real hurry.  We were able to back off and get on the east side of the river with out much effort.  As we went by the “marina” Jim shouted from the bow asking we owed him anything for the stay–after thinking for a moment he said yes-$20.  We gave the money to a passing 14′ fishing boat to give to the harbor master (?) since there was no way we could go back over to the north side of the river. 

Once out of the river we had a great day of cruising.  Our target for the night was at one of the marinas in Albino Bay (Fort Erie, ON).  Calling ahead on the cell phone either got us no response, or we found out that more than one was a private club with no transient slips for non-members.  We had to stop in Port Colborne for fuel and decided to check out our options at the marina there.  We didn’t like the marina, to anaseptic for us, so we decided to push on and see what we could find in Albino Bay or beyond. 

Once we got to Albino Bay we decided to drop anchor, go for a swim and decide if we wanted to swing on the hook for the night.  Just after our swim, while on the aft deck having a refreshment break, sail boats started to desend on our location. 

After awhile we decided that there must be a race tonight, which was confirmed when we spotted the committee boat getting ready to set up the course.  As the committee boat head our way, I guessed that we were in their way and we were about to be asked to move.  Well, instead the captain of the committee boat stopped to admire Loon Feather, he had guessed it was a Richardson, but knew the lines weren’t right as he got closer.  He said we could stay where we were, and asked if we had been in to the club, The Buffalo Canoe Club.  When we said no, he informed us that we could hail the club on channel 68, and they would send out a launch for us.  This is the same club that on the phone said they didn’t have transient slips, and their moorings were for members only! 

We watched several races, with the benefit of the committee boat setting up the finish right next to our mooring.  We decided to stay for the night, even though the large fleet of sail boats on moorings, forced us to be just outside of the harbor.  With the winds out of the southwest at 5 knots, we were OK for the time being, but the winds were forecasted to shift to the south after midnight and increase to 10-15 knots.  We knew it might be an interesting night.

DAY 7 - Erieau,ON to Burwell Harbor, ON   CREW: Jim Lampe and John Gordon

July 26, 2010

Weather: Clear and sunny.

Seas: Calm to less than 2′.

Travel Times and Distance: 6.5 hours and 65 miles.

Night Dockage:  The Burwell Harbor Marina

Comments:  We did a number of chores on the boat, and worked on this blog, before leaving at 11:30 AM.  One key item, was to go to the ships store and get a spare float switch for the automatic bilge pumps.  The forward switch had been acting up earlier, and even though we cleaned it up, we wanted a spare switch to go with the two brand new bilge pumps. 

We continued along the north shore of Lake Erie, in Canadian waters and decided that we would look for dockage in Burwell Harbor.  We called ahead on a cell phone and arranged for a transient slip for the night.  Fortunately, before entering Burwell Harbor we stopped for a swim break out in Lake Erie-not knowing how smart we were! 

The entrance to Burwell harbor silts up and we carefully followed the cruise books description of entering the river, along with the GPS.  This was not enough to keep us out of danger–we ran aground moments after I took the helm from Jim!  When I asked him to let me know when he wanted me to take the helm, he said “Right now.  I don’t want to be the one who runs your boat aground.”  Well, Jim jumps in the water, and with a line off the stern he was able to pull us off the sand bar.  Fortunately, we were barely moving when we went aground.

Hailing the habor master, along with a helpful pontoon boat skipper, we learned that the recently dredged channel was to the east and marked poorly with milk jugs.  On arrival at this fishing marina, we discovered that we might have been the only recreatational transient boat they had seen in a very long time.  No bath/head facilities.  They had us tie-up to a large commercial scale dock on the other side of the river, that looked like it dated back before WWII.  No one came over from the marina to check on us or to collect any money!  We walked around the very small town, and the oldest wooden light house in Canada (built in 1840),–before we had a very peaceful dinner on board-BBQ ribs and baked patatoes, complements of Donna.  We had a cool night for sleeping.

Day 6  July 25, 2010

• Weather:  Heavy rain overnight and in the early morning, then steady rain until around 2:00 PM. 
• Seas: 2-3′, wind out of the North/Northeast
• Travel Times and Distance:  6 hours and 63 miles
• Night Morring: Erieau Marina at Rondeau Bay
• Comments:  Waited until 10:30 AM to depart, hoping the weahter/seas would improve.  With the rain and spray over the bow we discovered several minor water leaks around the windshield and theforward windows on the port side.  We caulked these areas the next morning before departing Erieau.  Just as we were getting ready to go for a swim in the salt water pool at the marina and have happy hour, we dicovered that the aft bilge pump had kicked in since the forward bilge pump had failed.  Fortunately, I had brought along a spare bilge pump, so by 9:30 PM we were off to the local tavern for dinner, deciding that cooking the avacado chicken on the grill was not in the cards for tonight.   

DAY 5 - ST. Clair Shores, MI to Clochester, ON  CREW: John Gordon, Jim Lampe

July 24, 2010

• Weather: Overcast, very humid, and in the high 80’s.
• Seas: 2-4′ on Lake Erie, winds out of the Southwest 
• Travel Time and Distance:  4.5 hours and 45 miles
• Night Mooring: Clochester, Ontario
• Comments: After arriving at Jeffereson Beach Marina in St. Clair Shores Michigan and doing multiple chores, we departed at 2:00 PM.  We were on the water for 4.5 hours, arriving in Clochester at 6:30 PM.  The current in the Detroit River was about 2 knots, so our speed over ground was about 11 knots.  Took the branch of the river that took us by downtown Detroit was great to see from the water.  With the winds out of the South/Southwest, we had an interesting heading on our way to Glochester.

http://www.eriecanal.org/Lockport-1.html

Loon Feather 1955 42

LOON FEATHER

CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN    -    JULY 17, 2010, 12:35 P.M.

RICK GROSS, CAPTAIN

7 WEEK CRUISE:    

Lake Huron    Lake St. Claire    Lake Erie    Niagra River    Erie Canal    Lake Ontario   

Trent-Severn Canal, Ontario, Canada    Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron    

Day 4

• Weather: Clear
• Seas: Lake St. Clair 0-2 feet
• Night Mooring:
• Comments: 

DAY 3

• Weather: stiff winds
• Seas: Lake Huron 3-5 feet; a following sea
• Night Mooring:  St. Clair, Michigan, on the St. Clair River.
• Comments:  Left Port Sanilac after 3:00 in the afternoon due to high winds.

DAY 2

• Weather: clear
• Seas: 0-2 feet
• Night Mooring: Port Sanilac, Michigan - eastern side of the Thumb
• Cruising time: 12 hours
• Comments: crossed Saginaw Bay with no land in sight for an hour.

DAY 1 - Crew:  Bob Charlton, Gary Krook

• Weather: sunny, cloudy, rainy
• Seas: Lake Huron 3-5 feet; a following sea 
• Night mooring: Presque Isle, Michigan
• Cruising time: 6 hours 
• Comments: