Searching for Lemonade

This is where we store “the receptical”. Getting access is kind of like playing Twister with tools and kneeling inches away from a 180 degree engine block the size of a small Volkswagen. Great fun!

The mechanic was knocking on the hull at 0900 sharp, thats promising. Looks like a sunny day today. 😎

We spent the morning working on the vacuum pump and tank and discovered the pump is not pulling down  a vacuum. That’s not good. Parts for our particular vacuum pump were not on hand, it is a 21 year old system after all. They did have what seemed to be around 15 other pumps in stock, just not the one we needed. Go figure. Instead of hovering over the guys shoulder, and I hate it when that happens to me, we played Yahtzee on the lawn with some giant wooden dice our daughter gave to us.

Around 1:00 we got a maintenance update and parts were ordered, that’s good. They’re not coming until tomorrow, that’s bad. So, what’s a feisty young couple to do? We fired up the engine, skipped town, and went to Sylvan Beach on the other side of Oneida Lake in search of lemonade. 🤗🍋

Guess what we discovered? Yup, a sandy beach and we made full use of it! We also suspect that it’s bike week in Sylvan Beach. They were parked along the road and a live band was playing some good ol’ classic rock. 

We grilled some burgers on the boat then went into town to enjoy some music. We stopped by Harpoon Eddie’s for a sunset drink before heading back to the boat. 

It was a great afternoon at a place we’ve never been before. I could do this all the time, yeah, all the time.

Trouble with the head. 🥴

 Why is it that everything works well on a boat all season long until you go on vacation? We started the day in the engine compartment, because that’s where the vacuum tank is for the head (our toilet) and the pump for the domestic water system is located. 

The screen is the filter for our water pump, it just needed a little love, and some cleaning, to get back to normal operation. We’re good to go for the domestic water, now to the address the head issues.

I tried changing a couple of valves and lubricating a seal to no avail. I’ll spare you the rest of the details but it’s still not working the way it is supposed to. So we made a little detour, we went east instead of west at Three Rivers Junction. 

We are in Brewerton at Ess Kay Yards Marina. They were voted the Sponsor of the Year for the Great Loop Cruisers Association last year. We figured they would have the parts we need and we got a bonus, it turns out they have a guy to do the work too. YAY!! 

So, we’re tied up for the night and going to get the work done tomorrow. 

There is a silver lining to terrible toilet troubles, we found a waterfront tavern and tiki bar that’s open on a Monday night and Sonja and Takeya  joined us for dinner. They certainly are a bright light wherever they go. I love those girls!

Providence is in Oswego!

 Well, today sure was a bouncy ride across Lake Ontario!

We left after the thunderstorms passed Cape Vincent this morning and headed out. I watched the radar app on my phone to try and time my way out of getting hit broadside by the storm cells marching their way across the lake. We experienced a couple light showers on the way but it was the wind driven waves that tossed us around. I made it through fine, Melissa was a little nauseous, and Sophie, well, she slept through it all. She leads such a dogs life! 

We tried to get a slip at Wrights Landing Marina but there were none available with power. So we opted for the the free wall with no services over the marina. 

They had a nice shower and that’s the only benefit to staying there. We have a shower on the boat and saved $$$ by staying on the free wall above Lock 8. 😊

For the second time in recent memory I left my phone behind…

We were putting our new bikes together and getting ready for a ride to Walmart to get new bike helmets and my phone fell to the ground, unnoticed by yours truly, and we departed, none the wiser. Until we got to Walmart and I wanted to take a photo. Oops, after a frantic search of my backpack we hastily rode our bikes back to the boat. Yup, there it was, lying screen down on the sidewalk right beside the boat. No damage save a dusty corner of the otter box where it landed on the sidewalk. Sometimes I wonder how I’m still alive after all these years… grace, it’s the only answer I can think of. Oh, it’s not my grace, it’s God’s grace that keeps me here, whew!

So, to finish our ride we went to Rudy’s to get some fish for dinner and then rode back to the boat to play Yahtzee. Yes, I’m tired, good night! 😴

Who doesn’t like a good dog picture?!

I won by 20 points, it the first time I’ve ever beat her at Yahtzee!

Providence and the Erie Canal

 Captains log: 31 July 2021

We slipped the lines around 1900 and made our way to Douglas Island and dropped the anchor in 8 feet of water. The wind was kicking up out of the northwest at 8 knots, not too bad, but the waves slapping the side of the hull were terrible. After dinner, Melissa made a tasty Chicken Spiedies, the wind was still blowing and we made the decision to move. I was uncomfortable with the wind blowing us towards a rocky lee shore that was less than 100 feet away during the night. So, We motored over to Alexandria Bay and tied up at the lower James Street dock for the night. There was no wave slap on the hull and we slept soundly. Yes!

Today we’re going to Top of the Bay (Tex-Mex) with friends to celebrate my 55th birthday, 😎🌮!

Captains log 2nd entry July 31, 2021.

Today we tested our bicycles and trailer on our first real mission. 

We were almost out of propane and needed to go get a refill. So, I disconnected the propane tank from the boat and proceeded to put the tank in the bicycle trailer for transport to a propane refill station. I walked the bike and trailer off the dock and we peddled our fannies off. It all went downhill from there.  I turned a corner too sharply and flipped the trailer. This put several holes in our brand new cargo bag. We were surprised at how easily a canvas bag can be torn by a metal container when the entire cart crashes to the ground. When we got to Valero they would not sell any propane because there was only one employee. So we pedaled our way to Dave and Pam’s house and begged ride to the TI Bait Store. So, to make a short story long, Dave gave me a ride to get the propane. We got there, I filled the propane tank and Dave went inside the store to get a box of worms for fishing. When he came out I was putting the propane in the back of the truck and we left. I forgot to pay for the propane! I realized this after we got back to Dave’s house and I immediately called the bait shop and paid for the propane over the phone with my credit card. Whew! Everything got better after that because we met a bunch of friends at Top of the Bay in Alexandria Bay for my 55th birthday lunch and had a Tex-Mex lunch before we departed on our vacation trip.

After lunch we cruised uneventfully, thankfully, to Cape Vincent where we are now tied safely to the dock for the rains expected for tonight and tomorrow. We’re enjoying some live music and a snack at a local brewery. We are crossing Lake Ontario tomorrow and there are thunderstorms predicted. Waterspouts? Ummm…

We Got a Dinghy!

 At the end of last years boating season we had a great opportunity to get a West Marine dinghy. We jumped on the deal and took home a boat, motor, and trailer packed that was too good to pass on. It’s a little bigger than we originally planned on but we’ll make it work. It’s an 11 1/2’ LOA with a 5’ beam, and a double hulled fiberglass hull form with a 20 hp four stroke Tohatsu with power trim adjustment  

Girls NOT included!

New Wheels!

 We received our new folding bikes and folding bike trailer yesterday. These bike are going to extend our range for exploring, adventure, and shopping enormously. Bonus, we won’t have to carry our dirty laundry in a basket for all the world to see, nobody really wants to see my delicates anyway. 😊

Made by Zizzo, they look and feel to be a superior product. The frames are aluminum and the derailer, sprockets, and chain are stainless. This is all supposed to prevent rust and corrosion in a warm humid environment, and that is exactly where we plan to be on our Great Loop adventure. 

Today marks a time horizon milestone for us as we are now under the three year mark for the start of our trip. YAY!  July 7, 2024 is now only two years and 364 days away and can’t get here soon enough!

Boat Launched for 2021 Season!

April 26th and we’re finally in the water and ready to kick this summer season off! Unfortunately the water is low this year. We had to leave it in a slip at Horizon Marina for two weeks after they launched Providence due to low water. 

We did make the trip down river to meet up with our friends at Dingman Point. They joined us for an afternoon cruise around the islands and we enjoyed an afternoon of cruising and conversation. Great fun!