Up a lock down a lock

Smoke on the Water
Friday September 19, 2008
We all got up at 6:30 am to a smoke on the water morning, and headed out directly. Ruth was dressed in her polar fleece pj's as the temperature had plummeted to a close frost. Decided to wear them until the temperature changed. Made our way threw the various locks from Lock 23 to Lock 17. Our first two locks were uphill as the mountains around here are grand. After that they started to go down again. Lock 17 is a forty foot drop that is a lock where the bridge gate opens overhead. Everyone who goes threw gets a soaking. Captain Bob our tour guide manual said the only other place there is a dock like this is in Ottawa Canada. Stopped briefly at Little Falls but the guys wanted to press threw for the marathon race and we cannot have to much enjoyment sight seeing. Knowing I was feeling a little frustrated Wayne brought me a brochure of Little Falls and mini pizza pocket when we tied up to show me what I was missing. Since we are docked beside Lock 16 we will only have to be awake by 7:00 am when the dock opens. There is no way I would want to navigate these canals at night. We must of passed several waterfalls and one dam. One mistake and it could be fatal.

Crusin' Down the River Resumes

Thursday Sept 18, 2008
Thursday afternoon the mechanic finished working on the transmission and we headed out about 3:57 pm. Rejoicing to be underway with our remaining companion Nice Butt. The bill managed to scrap in under the three grand figure so here is hoping the American Dollars stays close to par.
We motored across Lake Oneida , until we arrived at our destination for the night Sylvan Beach on the east side of the lake. The Crews were tired and the woman refused to cook so we headed out for Pizza. The pizzeria had a deal on two large for 21.99. When the bill came the guy had added 1.75 for every item on them. Apparently some people think pizza crust constitutes a pizza.
We sat down for the first time in our clean and organized salon and Dick flicked on the TV. One pbs station to watch. Relaxed on board to a Hip Hop Concert. The guys had planned an early morning so we headed to bed in good time. Hard to sleep with all the changes going on in my life.

Transmission ETC

Awoke this morning and made breakfast and waited for the truck to arrive with our transmission. The purolator truck came up to the backdoor and we ran up with glee to see if our transmission was there and the Propriator of the business was talking on the phone to the company and complaining that it had leaked in shipment. Oh no another day to wait. Woman went to town to do Laundry. When we returned the Mechanic had it undone and blocked ready to put in the new transmission. Apparently the company sent them with a bottle of their special fluid and the transmission had just crushed the new bottle. We were going a head. Next snag was the one motor mount was cracked and it got broken in the process. Called the company around 3:00 and asked for same day. It suppose to arrive tomorrow. Larry has moved on and Nice Butt is still with us. Wayne is awaiting a part for his ignition and while relaxing today he decided to take out his front hatch which had been leaking. If his part comes in by tomorrow and they get it all done we can head out again.
Weather today was gorgeous.

These shots were taken by Niki from Nice Butt, her joke is that Dick is literally at his last rope.

Verdicts IN

Our Transmission has been declared dead. Grace C will be having surgery in the next couple of days as soon as the new rebuilt one is here from Connecticut. In order to accomplish the appendectomy the whole transmission has to be extracted from the bowels of the boat. She will be raised on a hoist and the operation should take about 4 hours and about 4 hour to put back.
To pass the hours waiting the women went to get groceries with Larry in the Courtesy Car. FM and the Captain feel asleep sometime in the afternoon and did not wake up until 6:30 p.m.
Filled the water tanks and made dinner. Maxine invited us to the Addonroom to watch a movie.
Nice Butt ordered some parts so they may not get underway until after tomorrow.

Motor Trouble and Hurricane Ike

Crusising along in the morning after picking up load of Laundry I informed my husband that tomorrow I wanted to stop in the morning to find a church and he informed me that today is Sunday. Oops I lost a day somewhere. Passed through Lock B28 and before we made it to Lock A28 Dick mentioned an engine issue. Nice Butt had come up beside us and we realized we were only making 5 knots and reving at the same rpms we do when we do 7 kts. Stopped after Lock to
A28 and checked the Transmission Fluid. It was hot and thin and hard to tell what was going on. Only able to progress at 5 kts of speed our comrades hung in there with us and put up with the slow pace. Scenery changed to predomiately rural and lots of forest and duck ponds around. The greens area along the shore were inhabited by Amish families complete with horse and buggies enjoying picnics by the water. How pastoral is that. The Lock master at Lock 26 recommended we talk to Andy at Lock 25 and he could recommend us a Mechanic and Marina for support. Andy said we were in a remote area and needed to keep going until we made it to a Restaurant at Weedport called Delvaney's. It was near Interstate 90 and it would be open today for us to get the Transmission Fluid. Andy recommended a Mechanic at EssKay at Brewerton but at 5 knots we would not make it farther than the Restaurant. When we made it there the state dock was dominated by a Dredger and here was no where to tie up. OH no desperate to try to figure out what to do with all three boats Larry from Sinn Fein asked a fellow by the name of Kevin if we could use his private dock and raft off. He kindly agreed and even drove Dick to Interstate Service Centre. During all this day the heat was sweltering and the humidity was unbareable.
Captain remainded positive and kept taking things in stride, FM was singing hymms and reciting scripture in her brain. After a hugely frustrating day the crews went out for dinner. At dark we returned to our boats and the wind kept building. The tale end of Ike was upon us and no one got any sleep from 1-4 a.m. The wind strongest I have ever experience, evidence the next day it had blow a big top tent over and lifted a pontoon plane upside down, knock a tree over take hydro down. Anyway I learned something about anxiety it has nothing whatever to do with reality. When you are in the situation there is peace and commraderie and even a few jokes exchanged as you try to keep a vigial on all your earthy possessions. I know this is only a taste of what maybe ahead for us but I am confident of abiding Grace that gets us threw these things. I am also very grateful for our commrades who stood by and supported us threw a frustrating day.

181 Knots as the Crow Flies

September 13, 2008 -Remember the part about being in the Addonroom on Nice Butt, well the guys decided our etd would be 10:00 a.m. for leaving Brockport. Well by 9:00 am we were under the next lift bridge. No breakfast or anything put away. When you are motoring it is not really a problem. FM fried up some raisin toast and served with maple syrup. Our little caravan of sailboats lifted bridges at Adam's Basin, Spencerport, and Lock 33, Lock 32, (Fairport) Lock 30, Lock 29 and final resting place at Newark for the night. If you get to the town after 5:00p.m. you have to call the police to bring you the washroom key. The hydro dock is free, pump out is $1.00 and the washroom has a washer and dryer with no coin slots. :) How good is that. We are also on free wi fi and around the clock police servailance. Thank the Lord for downtown business associations.
Captain tells me his hand held GPS clocks us at 181 miles as the crow flies.