Sunday: They got an early start and did 95 miles all the way to Oswego….had one more lock to go to Lake Ontario, but they had to wait until 9:30pm for the lock to open…the lock was right by the motel where they had prepositioned their car, so they toured the area while waiting the 3-4 hours for the lock to open. Once the lock opened, they passed thru,tied up at the marina and stayed the night in the motel.
Monday: Jean took the car and headed up to Sackett’s Harbor. George got going early and crossed Mexico Bay and made it up to Sackett’s Harbor in 3.5 hours ! Water conditions were not as bad as Albemarle Sound and the times he was in the Chesapeake…but………. he had no whitecaps, but the rollers which had built all the way from Toronto were at 3-4 ft +…….they were not sharp, short waves, but long rollers……he had a light breeze from the southwest, a tailwind which helped along the way……they were at the marina by noon…..I have stayed at Sacketts Harbor for some time in the late ‘90’s…..there are several very, very good restaurants….and a microbrewery which makes some the best beer I have ever had…I am very jealous!!! Today was probably 65 miles.
I HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN….AT MY MOTHER’S, MYER’S POINT ON CAYUGA LAKE FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER’S WEDDING RECEPTION…ABOUT 15 MILES FROM GEORGE’S LAKE HOUSE, SO WILL REFER TO HIS DETAILED LETTER ABOUT WHAT HAS GONE ON FOR THE LAST 9 DAYS.
“Jean and I have had a wonderful week touring the Erie & Oswego Canals and then up to the 1000 Islands for three days. We stayed in Sackets Harbor two nights, one night because of the winds and then up to Clayton and Alex Bay. Jean is now on her way back to FL and I am on the Trent-Severn water way, much like the Erie Canal going across So. Ontario.”
Thursday (7/21): recvd a call from George at 1:00pm, he was at Kirkfield Lock on the Trent Canal, about 2/3 of the way to Georgian Bay. He is hoping to get to Lake Simcoe by the end of today…..the lake is about 70 miles north of Toronto, if you are looking at a map. He has 20-30 mph winds right now, so he may have to wait a day to cross the lake…..as you may notice on a map, the lake is not small……and he is being cautious. He has passed the high point of the canal’s system, and all the locks now are lowering him.
Monday (7/25 pm) Just got an email…..
“Yo there,
I am stuck at the Little Current Marina all day due to the high NW winds. I arrived at the Harbor Vue Marina last night after a very long cruise of 120 miles but the weather and wind were with me. Immediately I met Bob who has seen my boat off Pine Island, they live near Charlotte Harbor. Well they took me to a pot luck dinner and I met several other boaters from Ft Myers, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda. This morning he introduced me to Stan who runs the marina and
I sat down with them for coffee and discussed what I needed done to the boat. At 0845 the Patriot was pulled out of the water and into the shop bay for her 300 hour oil and gear lube change and by 1000 hrs we were back into the water fueled up and ready to go. In recognition for my efforts they gave me 1st class service and a very nice discount on the fuel and oil change. Truly, its guys like this that makes the world a better place. I hope to shove off in the in the early AM and head out for the North Bay Channel which will bring me back to the good ole USA. “
I am stuck at the Little Current Marina all day due to the high NW winds. I arrived at the Harbor Vue Marina last night after a very long cruise of 120 miles but the weather and wind were with me. Immediately I met Bob who has seen my boat off Pine Island, they live near Charlotte Harbor. Well they took me to a pot luck dinner and I met several other boaters from Ft Myers, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda. This morning he introduced me to Stan who runs the marina and
I sat down with them for coffee and discussed what I needed done to the boat. At 0845 the Patriot was pulled out of the water and into the shop bay for her 300 hour oil and gear lube change and by 1000 hrs we were back into the water fueled up and ready to go. In recognition for my efforts they gave me 1st class service and a very nice discount on the fuel and oil change. Truly, its guys like this that makes the world a better place. I hope to shove off in the in the early AM and head out for the North Bay Channel which will bring me back to the good ole USA. “
Wednesday (7/27) just recvd a phone call, very bad connection. After waiting in Little Current Marina for the last 2 days, this morning was calm and clear. I figure he made about 120 miles and he crossed over to the USA. He is on Drummond Island, far western end of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. Water was calm and he made great time, including crossing a very large bay between the islands. If you look at a map he is just to the east and above Mackinaw Straits.
He is sputtering a “bit” about the customs clearance procedures……when he went into Canada, he cleared customs via a phone call…in the US the “procedures” were a bit more “cumbersome”…….the town is about 12 miles from the marina, and they rent a car for $12 to go to town….
Friday 7/28 email : “Attached is week #7. I am in a Pub in Charleoiux, Mi. and running low on battery power! Please send around, George” Bill Banfield
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