The Erie Canal
Adventures of the
Sterling Lady
<------What an Erie canal seasonal permit looks like. they give you two, one for each side of your boat.
If you own a marine trader trawler, when it rains, this brown staining fluid will come down from the drain holes in the bridge, on you cabin.
The best way we found to remove them is soft and scrub, and elbow grease.
It was a rainy, wet run to Port of Newark.
I had a very interesting conversation with the owner of this boat. The 28 Carver has twin gas engines, both operable. He uses a 25 hp Yamaha 4 stroke outboard mounted on a special bracket, under his swim platform. He gets 6.5 mph at 2.4 miles per gallon. Pretty impressive. He says he used the twin gas motors to dock with.
The next day was sunny, a beautiful day on the Erie Canal, for our journey back to Lions.
We took the Lions Jail museum tour. It was great!
Built in 1876, it was designed to look like a house. but nay nay, on the inside..
24 jail cells, very small jail cells. The Jail was in use until 1964.
THis perfect days on the Erie are very spoiling. How will I ever be able to boat again where there are waves and wind exposure??
As we get closer to time to go home, and leave the boat up here in heated storage at Winter Harbor in Brewerton N.Y., The Magic of Cruising time is very evident.
We left May 1st, and today, 4 months later, if feel like we just left. Some of the trees are already starting to get their fall colors.
This just might be the ultimate pocket cruiser.
Cheap to buy , cheap to operate, and it has it all. AC and heat, a galley, a head, a bed, and weather protection. Even a sun deck and generator.
A rental boat.
lots of lillies on this part of the Erie.
8/14/2011
Approching Phenix, N.Y. on the Oswego Canal.
The Brats are a group of young kids who meet you at the dock, and offer their help , such as get you meals from restaurants, wash you boat, etc. all for free.
Phoenix, as a lot of the towns we visited, is a hurting town trying very hard to attract the boaters and cruisers business.
May of the businesses in town were closed.
The only thing opened in the whole town, besides the Nice and Easy gas station, was the VFW.
ON that note, the bottles at the bar all had the black rubbers on top of the open lids.
Apparently, fruit fly's LOVE alcohol!!
As our luck would have it, we missed the clam bake at the VFW, so we did Skirt Steaks and Foo Foo drinks on the aft deck in the rain.
Our last day of the Adventures of the Sterling Lady on the Erie Canal, started with some light rain.
"knot Busy" whom we met on our 2nd loop at bobby's fish camp, were bringing their new Welcraft cruiser home to the Carolina's. They bought the boat in Canada.
Some of the "Bridge House Brats" who volenteer their services to boaters, getting ice, dinners, etc.
Since we originally planned on bringing the Lady home this fall, and Since we are now storing her here in Winter Harbor, we have LOTS and LOTS of stuff to bring home.
On our last day we arrived at Winter Harbor about 9 am, took the loaner car to the Syracuse Airport for our $800 3 day one way rental car, and were back at Winter Harbor loading said car by 11 am.
By Two the boat was pulled , pressure washed and in the shed, next to that red tug.
They keep these building to a warm 50 degrees all winter, so we don't have to worry about winterizing.
BTW< as you can see, the car is filled to the brim, and on the room, with "stuff"
the 1500 mile drive home was a bit hilly compared to Florida.
We did stop at this very tack tourist trap, south of the Border. the good news, most everything was open.
Almost home, only 8 hours to go!
3 days and 1500 miles later, we are home at last!
Judy was in Pig heaven, with her daugher, her daughters dogs, and Judys two dogs.
So this ends our little Erie Canal Adventure. If you enjoyed out cruises, do a web search for "Sterling Lady iii" or click here to go to our home page which has all our trips on it.
and as always, if you get in our neck of the woods, look us up for happy hourz, local info, etc.
8/29/2011
Been home for about two weeks, Hurricane Irene gave us a scare but then stayed well off shore, and somehow, we "found" an Erie Canal sign.
Looks good, don't it.??
Pays to have drinks with the bridge tenders !!
Oh my God!
The Damage from Hurricane Irene is terrible! The Erie Canal , east of where I left the boat , is Closed!
You can see some of the DAmage in this picture courtesy of Fred, of Tug44, the boating community's Erie Canal Expert. To see more of this devistation go to Fred's page by clicking here<>
11-02-2011
After many happy hour discussions, we have decided, to keep the Sterling Lady 4, and make every effort to make her the "best she can be", which will , as you may know, be the first time this has ever happened.
In the past, I would buy a boat , fix it up, and sell it , usually at a loss. Those days are hopefully done, and we are gonna make this boat work for us.!
Afterall,it is very nearly the "perfect" boat!!@!!
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