Web cam at Waterfort Visitors center

For at least untill tomorrow you can see Irish Mist on the Waterfort Visitors center's webcam.

Go to there web page if this link does not work.

208.125.161.182:7110/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=16491

Bill

We have made it to The Hudson

Once again we had a great trip yesterday. Two days ago we had a minor mishap. One of the locks was so high our fenders and board did not protect the boat. We now have a scratch on the port side just above the waterline.

Here is our first picture of the Hudson River

Lets try the video of us entering the locks

I have decreased the size of the video and put it on Youtube I think it is called Irish Mist enters the Erie Canal.

Please wish me luck!

Irish Mist enters the Erie Canal

Amsterdam NY

Once again a perfect day. We got moving about 10 got a phone call from Margaret and at about 4:30 we arrived in Amsterdam. We have to pay $46 but do get power, wifi and a washroom.

We have come across a yacht being delivered to RCYC for a Mr. Richardson. It's name is Mara.

I believe I have to go to dinner. Tomorrow we hope to be in Waterfort.

Irish Mist

Mara

Our first commercial traffic

At about 1:00 today we passed our first barge. We waited for it to come out of lock 14.

It is a beautifull day and getting hot.

August 29, 2014 just leaving Little Falls

After a very peacefull night we are on our way. The first lock # 17 is just around the corner. It is the largest drop in the system at 40.5 feet. I have been told that the best views are ahead of us.

The tug boat named Urger is a mascot built in 1901. It's design is similar tour launches which where built in 1895 and 1912. 

We miss everyone, but are having a wonderful time.

We are actually off

To day August 24 th we left Toronto and went all the way to, well Toronto. We went 8 knautical miles to Cathedral ?Bluffs Yacht Club one of our favorite places. We were met by my three sisters who fully support our trip, but hate to see us leave.

Tomorrow with a little wind luck we will be in Rochester NY.

Good afternoon from the Erie Canal

It has been reported that our GPS tracking device was turned off. It is now back on.

The picture below is about what we have had all day. We are headed for Little Falls and lock 18. We will stay there tonight.

Syivan Beach August 27, 2014

When we left Phonix our trip took us to the junction on the Oswego and Erie Canals. We made a left turn and headed for Brewerton band less then expensive diesel. Winter Harbor are famous for their diesel price and yesterday was no exception. We paid 5 dollars a gallon at Shumway and $3.879 a gallon at Winter Harbor.

There was no place to stay at Brewerton and the wind was light and from the west, so we ventured out on to Lake Oneida. As we headed east the wind came up to about 13 knots and the shallow lake got a bit rough. Irish Mist held her ground and we barely rolled. By 6:00 we had done the 20 plus miles and tied up at the free dock in Syivan Beach. 

This morning we are headed out but have no idea how far we will get. I think we will do about 6 or 7 locks. Stay tuned for news tonight. By the way my Wind Mobile phone is working great and is the reason I can send so much to the blog.

Lake Oneida

Syivan Beach

Dinner at The Crazy Clam

By the Time I Get To Phoenix

We are slowing down. Just as we got through lock 1 we tied up in Phoenix. The next lock is 2.5 miles away and we hope together to Brewerton this afternoon. This means we do the lake tomowwor morning.

We have left Fulton

Today is Wednesday Aug 27 we have traveled about 155 knotical miles. While we have no schedule we are ahead of where I thought we would be. Last night and this morning I have been working on a video of the first lock. It has not worked so far.

Last night may have been the hottest of the summer. It was hot and we were in a river. We all survived especially Kelly who loves the warm weather. Talking about weather we had rain last night. As I post this we are headed for lock 1 lock 2 was about 300 meters from where we where docked.

My seat

We are in the Oswego Canal

When we got to Oswego it was 3:00 so we did go into the canal. The lock masters where great they got us with open doors all the way to Fulton. We are to hot and tired to look at the town, but in the morning we will go throug lock 2 tie up and explore.

I will now add some pictures. We will try for better pictures tomowwor.

It's lot of hard work to get a boat to The Bahamas

At 7:00 we left Rochester with the wind from the south at about 7 knots as promised. We used a lot of diesel getting to Rochester in 10 hours so today we are travelling at 6.5 knots rather then 7.7. I think we have almost cut our fuel usage in half.

The big news today is we are not stopping at Oswego but going directly into the canal. Even with cutting the speed and going 49 knotical miles we will arrive at 3:00.

Trish is showing the tension in the picture below.

Rochester Yacht Club

After about 77 knotical miles we are in Rochester. It took exactly 10 hours on a very flat sea.

First thing is we checked in with US Customs. The n we asked for and got a cruising permit from a very efficient and charming gentleman.

It was thankfully an un eventful day so we are off to the RYC snack bar.

85 miles and counting

When I said glass I meant glass

Just for the Grand Children

Nana at the helm

Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club

We are now really on our way. Last night we stopped at CBYC and had dinner with MMJ my sisters who are going to miss Trish, Kelly and me. We are hopping they get on a plane and catch up with us two or three times.

Last night with Bernie Lutmers help we did further securing of the mast. It did not really need it having travelled very well from Toronto in 1 to 2 foot waves.

To day we left at 6:30 with almost no Swindon and only a little chop left over from yesterday. It is currently 10:30 and the lake is like glass. Irish Mist is doing 7.7 knots having come out of the current which was giving us up to 8 knots. We are five and a half hours from Rochester.

By the way the phone is working well. We are currently roaming on ATT which is free.

Here we are at CBYC

Thank you too all

We are about to leave one of the most wonderful places on earth, The Royal Canadian  Yacht Club.

First let me tell you about Snug Island. We were moved out because they had a dock which would accommodate our new 67 foot Tartan. The group at Snug could not have been more welcoming. It is clearly one of the happiest and friendly spots in the whole club.

I cannot tell you the number of people who have come up to us wishing us well. Thank you all I hope you enjoy the trip.

Several members have made comments concerning our mast supports. I have taken no credit other then praising my self for picking really good friends. The supports were made by Jan and Gord. I do not know nor do I wish to think about what I would have done without them. Trish, Kelly and I thank you.

Finally let me thank all the staff at the club who not only have wished us well, but without the assistance of the marine yard we would not be leaving. The marine yard staff are not only the most competent marine workers in the world they are also patient, friendly and really care not only about the members they serve, but also their boats.

Thank you

In the background of the picture of our Island Club House you can see Toronto's CN Tower

Today is the day

Every journey has to start with a first step, well today is our first step. We will go to Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club about 3:30 have a quiet evening then tomorrow motor to Rochester Yacht Club.

This is of course weather dependent. The wind tomorrow for the whole lake is forecasted to be less then 5 knots, perfect.

Tuesday's wind is more like 8 knots, but from the South and thus we will be on flat water to Oswego NY.

Please follow the three of us as we proceed on our 5000 mile trip. I would like to post something every day. Not much but each post will include a picture of our location. Sometimes I may want to send more then one picture. If this happens I may not write anything with the second and third photo.

Thank you for following us I hope you enjoy the trip.

Ipad to Blog Test

Good morning Trish and I are back in Toronto doing the final prep for our great journey. While we are both getting a little nervous we are also very excited. After a year of talk the time is here to push off. I want to do the blog but would like to use my Ipad which is easier and more assessable then the computer.

Thus this is test of the Ipad.

I tried just going to the internet and blogger but it did not want to retrieve my pictures. My second try was the blogger app I downloaded a couple of hears ago. This I believe has worked. The above picture  is a Loon taken at Sugar Island about 10 days ago. I think this will be good, but I cannot put a caption on the picture.