A note from us: Last May we had a lovely cruise back to Erie via the Hudson River and Erie Canal. When we arrived we were immediately greeted by friends and then set to hauling the boat out for a new bottom paint and rudder repairs. Once back in the water, we had a few great sails but spent most of our time refitting and outfitting Northern Lights for her return to Florida.
Jeff Turning Shaft Zincs with Neala's Brother Don
Companionway Louvered Door Parts Ready For Assembly
Louvered Doors Coming Together
Newly Varnished Tables and Companionway Doors
(Neala's request and she loves them)
New, Fully-Enclosed Cockpit Canvas
Jeff on Powder Hound in Interclub Race
So much for the boat. In August, Neala and I were married at the Erie Art Museum! We spent our honeymoon at The Queen's Landing in Niagara-on-the-Lake, rode the jet boat up the class 5 rapids to the whirlpool, saw a play, went wine tasting and ate some wonderful, romantic meals together.
Neala & Jeff Eastman!
Tea At Prince Of Wales Hotel
Jeff's First Niagara Falls Experience
Today, (10/1/13) we are in Ilion NY on our way back down the Erie Canal and we PROMISE to post our experiences on this trip - the weather has been fantastic - before we actually get started on the trip home next summer. PROMISE.
Here are the ship's log entries from our trip home from Liberty Landing Marina on the Hudson:
5/16/13 - Up the Hudson
At 0800 we move to the fuel dock to take on fuel and pump
sanitaries for our trip north. We ran into Andy and “Gorgeous” (aka Debra) on
S/V Between the Sheets that we had met last summer on the Interclub race. They
are also heading to Lake Erie in a couple of days so we may see them again. We
said goodbye to NYC and followed the rising tide up to Shadows Marina in
Poughkeepsie NY. Because our boat speed through the water was so close to the
speed of the tidal crest, we got a nice kicker all the way up river. Dinner at
the Shadows Restaurant was delicious and reasonably priced.
Northern Lights at Liberty Landing
Neala Enjoying Dinner at Shadows
West Point on the Hudson
Picturesque Lighthouse on the Hudson
5/17/13 - Hop-O-Nose Marina
We departed Shadows on a falling tide that also chased us up
river all the way to Catskill Marina. Along the way we often noticed tug boats
and barges anchored against the ebbing tide and waiting for the flood to resume
their journeys. For them it is all about money and not time as bucking an ebb
chews up expensive fuel while waiting for the flood just creates some down time
for the full-time crew. We pulled into Hop-O-Nose Marina and made preparations
to unstep the mast in the morning.
Stepping The Mast at Hop-O-Nose Marina
5/18/13 - On to Albany
We spent the morning unrigging the boat to be ready for the
marina crew to unstep the mast. Fortunately, the mast supports and lock fenders
we had left on our way down river last fall were still there so the process
went very smoothly. At 1300 we backed out of our slip and followed a departing
catamaran all the way to the Albany Yacht Club where they continued northward
and we pulled in for the night. As we checked in with their harbormaster, we
also bought a season’s pass on the Erie canal. This avoided a stop in Waterford
and set us up for our return passage in the fall.
Saugerties Lighthouse on Hudson
5/19/13 - Back on the Erie Canal
We departed AYC at 0830 to motor up to the Federal Lock in
Troy, NY. After waiting a bit for passage we entered the “Flight of Five” locks
and began our Erie Canal passage. We managed the locks
like old pros and continued up to Schenectady YC where we waited for fuel and
for Neala’s girlfriend Jen Kostrubanic and her daughter Jaden to join us for a
visit. Jen used to live across the street from Neala and they had not seen each
other in a couple of years.
Tied Up At Schenectady Yacht Club
5/20/13 - Westward Ho!
We awoke in light rain and got underway at 0715. Soon the
rain abated and the sun came out. We met another westbound sailboat at one of
the locks and cruised with them for a while. The weather became warm and muggy
with thundershowers that we somehow managed to avoid during the day. Just short
of Lock E15 we tied up in St. Johnstown to shop for groceries and replenish our
supplies.
Tug and Barge on the Erie Canal
5/21/13 - Along the Mohawk
Another early departure in warmish weather got us started
westward again. A cool wind blew over the water and soft mists rose up to
soften the visual presentation of the canal. We met the other sailboat at lock
E16 and then passed them by on our run up the Mohawk River. At lock E17 in
Little Falls there was a large log blocking the entrance so we had to gently
push it out of the way before we could enter the tallest lock on the canal.
After a few more locks in pristine surroundings we locked down to Sylvan Beach
to take on fuel and tie up for the night at Mariner's Landing.
Misty Morning on the Mohawk River
5/22/13 - Crossing Lake Oneida
Awoke early again and were underway across Lake Oneida by
0730. The weather was calm and comfortably warm as we motored across the lake
to Brewerton NY. We tied up there for 3 hrs until Jeff could complete his
business calls then headed on to stop at Baldwinsville NY for the night. There
we found a liquor store and a pharmacy to complete our provisioning
needs. We had a lovely dinner at the Lock 24 Seafood Deli. Several noisy
squalls with thunder and lightening passed over us during the night. Baldwinsville is a wonderful little town with a great wall for cruisers that we will try to visit again.
Jeff Enjoying the Scenery
5/23/13 - Rain.....
We headed west again to wander through the various towns
along the Seneca River in the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. In the
afternoon a light rain began to fall and we stopped for the night in Newark NY.
There we were greeted by a very nice harbormaster on her third day on the job.
The rain intensified and kept us aboard that night.
5/24/13 - COLD Rain.....
The squalls were soon replaced by chilly north winds as we
left Newark in 40 degree temperatures. And this is May?? We donned full foulies to keep the water
out and the heat in while we motored in cold fog and light rain all the way to
Fairport where we stopped for a hot toddy and lobster bisque before continuing
our trip to nearby Pittsford NY. We arrived there around 1600 and were happy
for the shore power to run the heater to reheat our chilly bones. Neala’s son
Ian, a student at RIT, came down to the boat at 2000 and we spent the evening together before
retiring for the night.
Ian, Neala & Jeff along the Pittsford Wall
5/25/13 - Hangin' with Ian
Got up at 0700 because Ian had a race at 0900 and we had to
drive to Rochester. The wind had warmed up a bit but was still cold and
blustery. We drove up to Genesee YC for Ian’s race but conditions there were
20-25 kt northerlies and the race was cancelled. We met Ian’s professor, Dr.
Linda Barton, who regaled us with sailing stories from her childhood and youth
for an hour or so then departed to restock our groceries at the flagship
Wegman’s. We returned to the boat to stow them and then drove up to RIT to see Ian’s lab and tech crew equipment. Back at the boat again, Jeff took on water
and pumped up the dinghy while we watched crew races on the canal. Ian and
Neala went shopping while Jeff puttered around the boat. Upon their return we
all went to the Erie Grill nearby to celebrate Ian’s 21st birthday.
For once, he could order a drink and be street legal.
Toasting Ian's 21st!
Pittsford Crew Racing
5/26/13 - Meeting another Neala!
Another day of crew races got underway on the canal outside.
Neala & Ian made one last trip
to the store then we waited for his friends Alex and Jessica to join us after
1000 for a short trip westward and two lock passages. We dropped them off at
the eastern guard gate and then motored west to Brockport where we tied up to
the wall in brisk winds and 60 degree temperatures. On the way, we passed a
lone kayaker paddling his way westward on the canal. Later that afternoon, we
met up with another Neala – Neala Rae Stull – whom she had met on Facebook but
never in person.
Ian Helping Out at Lock 31
Alex & Jessica Joining Us on the Canal
Neala Bea Meeting Neala Rae in Brockport NY
5/27/13 - Meeting kayaker Will Hembree
In the morning we met the kayaker from yesterday and made
Facebook friends with Will Hembree. He was on a 2300 mile paddling adventure from
Cold Spring NY on the Hudson via the Great Lakes to Oklahoma to raise money for
war veterans. Quite an adventure! Another early morning departure and several
lift bridges brought us to Lockport and the final locks E34 & E35 – 50 feet
in all – and from there to Tonowanda NY where we tied up on the south wall for
the night. There were many powerboats on the north wall enjoying Memorial Day
parties but as the evening wore on they departed one by one and we were left
alone on the south wall. We had a great dinner at the Remington Tavern and retired for
the night.
Decked out for Memorial Day on the Wall in Tonowanda
5/28/13 - Riding the Herschel Carousel
Massive thunderclaps and lightening awoke us in the middle
of the night as some major squalls passed over us. In the morning the winds on
Lake Erie were howling and so we spent the day doing some more shopping and
visiting the Herschel Carousel Factory. The factory was the original site of many of the
carousels used at fairs and parks all over the US. They had exhibits showing
the craftsmanship needed to fabricate the horses from wood and make the paper
rolls to drive the steam calliopes that provided the music for the carousels. The
exhibits also traced the evolution of the horse and other animal shapes until
they were finally made of fiberglass. What fun riding on an original Herschel carousel. Interesting what happens when you find yourselves unexpectedly delayed along the Erie Canal.
Never Too Old for a Carousel Ride!
Beautifully-restored Herschel Carousel in North Tonowanda
5/29/13 - Weather Lay Day
Another day of high winds on Lake Erie kept us hunkered down
in Tonowanda.
5/30/13 - Home Port Erie!
The winds had calmed as we departed Tonowanda for our last
leg home. We motored through the Black Rock Lock and past the Buffalo Yacht
Club before turning out onto the lake for a lazy motor back to Erie. We tied up
in our old slip at 1900, were hailed by dock friends and were very happy to be finally home to friends and family. We changed our clothes and joined the usual crowd at the Erie Yacht Club.
Approaching the Peace Bridge in Buffalo
Entering Home Port!
Home Again at Erie Yacht Club!
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