Sunday, August 25, 2013

Day 311-314 August 21-24 899 mi Marion IL


We are at Winter Harbor Marina getting the Nanseann ready  to spend the winter and loading up the rental car to return to Marion.  Things have been busy around here.
 
 


One of the heated storage buildings
 
 
The other heated storage building
 
 
82 foot Yacht on the end was cruising the Erie Canal after the big summer storm that closed the canal for a month and guess what.....they ran over a submerged car in the canal....major problems
 
 
Shot of the moon during the day
 
 
Marina is full....most waiting for repair work and winter storage
 
 
Bright moon tonight
 
 
Tower Garden put to bed....this was our tomato crop
 
 
Securing doors open so we will not get mold....
 
 
Final Job.....take Saddi's ramp off....one more time....
 
 
Owner's Home....beautiful lawn and flowers
 
 
Beautiful morning
 
 
I'm Ready.....I'm Ready....to GO!!!!!
 
 
We depart Brewerton 8:30AM Friday morning leaving the Nanseann behind with mixed emotions!!!  She will have her engines serviced and then will be lifted out of the water, have her bottom cleaned and will be put to bed for the winter.  Tom has been doing this for over 15 years and came with high recommendations.  The three of us have been on the boat for over 10 months now so we can be sentimental.  Anyway the rental car is loaded......I'm sure the Captain could not have put another item aboard.
 
 
I have my own space
 
 
West side of Indianapolis....I have never stayed in a motel
 
 
Well I know this place....the Coach House with ALL our Stuff
 
 
Rental Car unloaded
 
 
Our home for the winter but remember it is For Sale.....Last fall we took everything out of the coach in order to sell it.....well we didn't.....now we are moving back into the coach for the winter.  We will return to the boat in May and the blog will continue.....We plan on being in Canada for 4 months and in Chicago by Labor Day weekend.  After that we will travel the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers back to Green Turtle Bay Marina where it all started.
We have had a wonderful trip.....seeing the USA via water is really an experience.
Thanks for watching my blog.....I have had a great time working on it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Day 310 August 20 23 mi Winter Harbor Marina Brewerton NY

 
Sylvan Beach......across Oneida Lake and into Brewerton NY today.....sunny....no wind and we are ready to depart.....Port Engine will not start.....Captain needs to preform surgery, hotwire the boat...call someone....say a prayer.....
 
 

Tugboat going East
 
 
Mike got us started.....solenoid going bad....Captain paying his bill
 
 
Leaving the marina with Oneida Lake in sight
 
 
Free Dock w/o power and water
 
 
Snug Harbor another marina for boats our size
 
 
Amusement Park by the Free Dock
 
 
Hot Spot for Tourist.....guess that is what we are
 
 
Canal View Cafe
 
 
You can see the roller coaster
 
 
Oneida Lake is the largest lake located entirely within New York State.  While not included as one of the Finger Lakes, it is sometimes referred to as the other lakes "thumb."  At 22 miles long and up to 5 miles wide with an average depth of 20 feet, it is an integral part of today's Erie Canal, entering on the east end of Sylvan Beach and exiting on the west end at Brewerton.  The lake is very shallow and the east end can be as smooth as glass while the west end can have waves up to 6 feet so you watch your weather.....
 
The East End is as smooth as glass
 
 
Stay in the channel and follow the daymarkers...lots of shoals
 
 
Lighthouse
 
 
Oneida Lake is known nationally as a fishing mecca, especially for walleye pike.  The lake is the site of the Biological Field Station at Shackelton Point, home to the world's foremost walleye biologists.
 
 
I would like walleye for dinner
 
 
Homes line the lake....all with fishing boats
 
 
In the wintertime there is ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling
 
 
The original Erie Canal passed to the south of Lake Oneida.  Originally the canal was nothing more than a ditch which mules and horses pulled barges through.  Lake Oneida was too large and there were no self-propelled boats on the canal then.  As time went on, self propelled boats were introduced to the canal and in 1917 when the Erie Canal was enlarged and relocated; it passed right through Lake Oneida and Brewerton.
 
 
Today Brewerton is one of the best-equipped areas on the Erie Canal to have maintenance performed on your boat.  And the wind has picked up as we head under the bridge......
 
 
We are now on the Oneida River
 
 
Marinas for all sizes line the banks
 
 
Waterfront Restaurants for dining
 
 
Cute homes to see
 
 
Everyone lives on the water
 
 
This one catches your eye
 
 
Boat Houses
 
 
Lots of places to find walleye on the menu
 
 
Ess-Kay Yards.....large service yard
 
 
Winter Harbor Marina...151.0 miles....winter home for the Nanseann
 
 
The Nanseann will come out of the water and go into headed storage for the winter......we will pick-up our rental car in Syracuse NY and head for Illinois.  We left Green Turtle Bay Marina 10 months ago on our adventure and have logged 4,000 miles.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Day 309 August 19 40 mi Mariner's Landing Sylvan Beach NY

We have had a nice weekend at the Village of Ilion cleaning, organizing the boat and watching the Solheim Cup.  Walked downtown and had  Chicken Riggies for lunch.  This dish is chicken, rigatoni, and peppers and onions, in a spicy cream-and-tomato sauce.  Famous in the Utica/Rome area and they have cook-offs on preparing it......We will say.....it is spicy and good!!!
The small village of Ilion is a classic canal success story.  When Eliphalet Remington Jr. built his first rifle in 1816, he had no idea he was attending the birth of one of the largest firearms companies in the world.  For nearly two centuries Remington firearms have helped shape American history.  The Remington Factory is the oldest firm in the United States still manufacturing the original product.  There are no tours available of the Factory now days and the museum is closed on weekends.  Just our luck.


Jody at the Solheim Cup.....Go USA

  

8:10AM departure.....53 degrees with sweatshirts
 
 
Popular place to lunch on weekends
 
 
West bound with my ole dog....Saddi

 
This part of the canal was the hardest hit with the storm that closed it for over a month
 
 
Lock 19   93.9 miles   21 foot lift and our last TRAIN
 
 
They have been working since July 4th to clear the mud behind the East wall
 
 
One gate open because of the NY Canal Workers
 
 
Was 3 foot.....now 7 foot deep.....barge of black mud
 
 
Utica Marina adjacent to Aqua Vino restaurant
 
 
Smooth as glass going under the 3 bridges in Utica
 
 
Lock 20   104.2 miles   16 foot lift
 
 
Present Day Canal opened in 1903....pretty good shape
 
 
When we got to the top of the lock.....these cute little faces is what we saw....waving at us
 
 
NY Canal workers Condo and work boat
 
 
Lots of activity today
 
 
Rome Bellamy Harbor Park.....new 200' fixed docks at the west end
 
 
Guard Gate 6
 
 
Summit of the Erie Canal
 
 
I'm doing what I do best
 
 
We are as high as we are going to be


Lock 21   122.8 miles   25 foot Drop
 
 
Different feeling starting at the top
 
 
Quite a current from the lock
 
 
Lock 22   124.2 Miles   25 foot Drop
 
 
We are going down....looking at the water being released
 
 
Last LOCK for this season
 
 
Interesting Bridge....Water sheriff likes to give you a ticket if you are speeding
 
 
He isn't out today
 
It could be a movie set: a perfect mile-long beach, breath taking sunsets, a fish-filled lake, an old-fashioned amusement park, lakeside dining, a beach-front chapel that has been welcoming visitors and locals since 1882 and of course the Erie Canal.   Welcome to Sylvan Beach.....the hot spot for boaters in central New York......
 
 
Beach is busy busy busy for a Monday
 
 
Eddie's.....popular stop
 
 
Mariner's Landing....we're on the long wall
 
 
He must be Eastbound
 
 
Holmes Marina....we're too large
 
 
Boats everywhere to go along with the people
 
 
Nice Sunset for our last evening on the Erie Canal.....Plus NO TRAINS
 
 
Allie starts the 8th grade today....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
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