Bridges and Locks

Aug 25 - Dunkirk, New York to Port Colborne, Ontario

Left the dock at 6:40am with no wind and thankfully no waves.  Unfortunately, this means no sailing. The wind picked up at around 9am and we put up the Genoa and Main.  We had a great sail all the way to Port Colborne.

Our friends Marc and Maryse called us from a winery and were going to meet us in the afternoon.  We had a great meet with Marc and Maryse and they stayed the night.

While we were waiting, a powerboat caught on fire at the gas dock.  It floated a short way off the dock and 3 guys on jet skies saved the day by catching the boat and towing it away from the docks.  A sailboat was also badly damaged by the heat.

We took off the windex and instruments form the top of the mast and stripped off the sails and dodger so that the mast can be removed the next day.  Also bought a fender to replace the one lost in Put-in-Bay OH.

Aug 26 - Porth Colborne, Ontario

Stepped the mast at 9am and was back at the dock by 11am.  Brian, Terry, and Marc finished building the frame and lashed the lines.  The technician came by for the freezer.  He ended up leaving the gas and gauges so that we can set the level overnight (total bill for the repair was $150......not bad!).

Aug 27 - Port Colborne, Ontario

Really bad weather day so we spent the day chilling at the marina and watching the Bourne series on TV.

AUG 28 - Port Colborne, Ontario to Buffalo, New York

Left the marina at 9:15am and headed to Buffalo.  The wind and waves were light and we motored quickly.  Reached Buffalo by 12:15pm and got into the Black River Canal system by 1:30pm.  The first lock was challenging but not as scary as the first two bridges.  We arrived at the Tonawanda town docks by 2:45pm.  We walked both, Tonawanda and North Tonawanda......nice but noisy.

Aug 29 - Tonawanda, New York to Medina New York

Left Tonawanda at about 8am and proceeded east on the Erie Canal.  A lot of bridges and two very deep canals.  This was the first deep canals and it was very unnerving.  There were two lift bridges and a couple of flood gates.  We arrived in Medina and tied up to the free town dock wall.  They allow anyone to stay there for two days.  While here, we changed the engine oil and fueled up from our Jerry cans.  We also had pie a the local diner.

Aug 30 - Medina, New York

We ended up staying another day and night in Medina.  We had a nice walk along the canal.....the views are spectacular!  Brian and Terry visited the railway museum while I stayed behind reading.