recent pictures from our trip

more photos from the voyage of s/v Ihana --

leaving the Bay of Quinte at sunrise, to cross Lake Ontario to New York 

lock on the Trent-Severn Canal

Ihana in a lock

double lock, central gate - looking upstream from inside the lower lock

Prinyers Cove on the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Canaa

another sailboat headed for the Bahamas
they passed us on the Oswego Canal in New York

lock on the Oswego Canal

beautiful place to tie up for the night, on the Erie Canal

happy helmsman

Sunrise on the Bay of Quinte, headed out into Lake Ontario

Mohawk

1. Starting tomorrow, we will be following the Erie Canal through the Mohawk Valley.
2. I badly need a haircut.

DON'T EVEN THINK IT ...

It's all downhill from here ...

We crossed Oneida Lake today - the big 20 mile lake on the Erie Canal. Supposed to have up to 6 foot waves sometimes. But no problem - we left the west shore with an onshore wind, so figured that it would only get better as we crossed.  And we were right. No pounding this time; wind according to the weatherman was 3 knots.  But of course it was more like 10.  Was building as we approached the weather shore, but by then we were out of there.
After a few more locks, we are now at the high point of the Erie Canal.  We're tied up on a lock wall just a few miles east of Rome, NY.  All the rivers, canals and locks go down now, to the Hudson River at Albany - through the Mohawk River Valley.
Tomorrow - finally - we might take an easy day and stop early.  It's supposed to cool off, a little - no more 90s, some lower 80s and maybe rain.  Okay.
It's amazing that it is very difficult to buy groceries or do laundry along this "popular tourist route".
But it is beautiful - reminds me of canoeing through some of the rivers in upstate Wisconsin.

More beer, perchance to sleep.  Cooling off, a little, now at night.

Current update on Lake Ontario

When we crossed Lake Ontario a few days ago, we were of course subject to the current near the outflow of the lake into the Thousand Islands on the St. Lawrence River.  You might call this the St. Lawrence Leeway ...

Water Levels

Well, we guessed right that the Mississippi River would probably be too dry for us to do the loop in the normal direction, leaving Lake City in the next few weeks and heading south via the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tenn-Tom waterways to the gulf.  Good thing we went north instead and out via the Great Lakes.

But all is not well up here either.
See:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/08/24/where-the-water-went-georgian-bay-and-the-future-of-the-great-lakes/?utm_source=_BQN7uCB8tlmPN-&utm_content=ml24&utm_medium=email

We have had our problems with low water levels, getting hung up and towed off twice on the Trent-Severn waterway - and rushing through to get out of there before the water level dropped so low that our 4'9" draft boat would be stuck there forever.  Figure we are okay now that we are on the Erie Canal, although the ICW may also be if-fy in places.

It was great to get to the lower end of the T-S Waterway, and actually be cruising in 7 feet of water.  Can you imagine over 400-500 feet today across Lake Ontario?

We're off the Great Lakes

We made it across from the Bay of Quinte in Canada to Oswego, New York, today.  45 miles, but it was not pretty. for the 7 hour crossing, we had over 4 hours of heavy pounding - taking water over the bow. the mast supports (holding the mast down on the deck) held together, but just barely. I had to take the dock lines and tie the mast down tighter (in spite of haveing added additional lines several days ago) - and let me tell you, it ain't no fun on the foredeck in pounding seas. our harnesses, tethers and jacklines just paid for themselves (no, I didn't go overboard, but would not have gone forward without them). tomorrow, after some sleep and when it cools off, I'll inspect the rig and improve what needs it. should be good enough for the Erie Canal now, though.

got a slip in a marina; immediately hit the nearest bar for burgers and beer.  and now for some sleep. and more beer. Erie Canal starts tomorrow.  Calm water at last!

Crossing Lake Ontario - Today

It's forty miles to Os-Whee-Go,

Forget it I never shall.

What a wonderful time we'll have tonight

On the Ear-Eye-E Canal-al-al,

On the EAR_EYE_E CANAL !

Oh, the Ear-Eye-E was a-risen

And the gin is a get-in low

And I scarcely think we will get a drink

'Till we get to Os-Whee-Go Oh Oh,

'Till we get to Os-Whee-Go

[Headed out for the crossing this morning]