Fine Time

 Today was a bit of a doozy. We wake up in Mentor and are ready to hightail it. There are a lot of bugs and nothing gets you moving like mosquitos.  Again a strangely calm day on Lake Erie. We are supposed to have some work calls but have apparently entered Canadian waters and have zero reception. We enter the Detroit River, and all looks well in D-Rock as we pass by. Up we go to Lake St Clair and roll by beautiful Gross Pointe.  William and I are up on the flybridge, enjoying the view. Mason texts a photo of the gas gauges (both side tanks full and main at 1/2, we're in good shape.) Yet another smooth lake crossing till we get about midway. The clouds in the distance quickly darken as we get closer. Just as I am pulling up the radar, a lady comes over the VHF announcing a squall warning. Ruhroh. Oh look, lightning! We continue crossing the lake (what else are we going to do) and pass a few sailboats, chugging along as fast as they can to get to safe harbor. Right before ...

 After a great road trip and Buffalo visit, we leave the docks to head into Lake Erie. We pull into a gas dock to fill up before the crossing. A boat from Mississippi is at the diesel station, looking like it spent the night there. The dockhand shows up as we are trying to figure out how to knock on the door of M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I...He asks us how long they've been there and we shrug, not really sure. In the commotion, two men emerge and say they need to gas up. Supes. They slowly fill three tanks, then say they need to do a pumpout. To be clear, these things can be done at the same time. They were not. So we're filling up the water tank, giving the children lots of chores (Mason's response: I'm listening...I'm hearing you....my ears are open..." Mr. Funny guy.) Thirty minutes later, they're still pumping out and announce the gas tanks did not fill. The dockhand says, "Oh, we have issues with this pump all the time." Whaaattt?? Load up kids, we out! W...

Mike arrives at 7:30 with his two crewmates. I am thankful they’re running behind since we have to put away everything, and I mean everything. The Welland Canal is supposed to be extremely rough, so I don’t want Mike to be dealing with Honey Bunches of Oats and TJ’s Takis flying about, followed by cheeky swimsuits and sunhats. Mike seems excited to drive the boat, and Wm gives him a quick tutorial on the joystick and helm buttons. We hop off with our overnight bags, bid Fine Time adieu, and cross our fingers that the random captain from an online directory delivers her safely on the other side. They pull away and oddly stop in the middle of the moored sailboats. Wm makes the wise decision to turn away and hop into Mike’s Chevy Volt. The boat is in Mike’s hands now, hope they’re capable ones. We drive up the hill into the middle of Youngstown, a classic Americana Main Street, flags lining the way, (can this place get any cuter?) and stop at a diner for breakfast. Next door, there’s a wi...

 We wake up to heavy rain so sleep in till about 8. Captain Mike lives in the area so comes by to meet us and see the boat. He’s delightful and has a cup of coffee with us while sharing some knowledge on boat electrical systems. The fishing tournament has been canceled due to the weather, and all the fisher folk are buttoned up tight in their boats. We aren't in a rush to leave since we don’t know much about Youngstown, our next stop. We knock out some laundry, and Wm follows up on his antifreeze tests. Looks like he fixed the issue, well done. We decide to continue looking for that damn fuse box, just for kicks. And we finally find it. It is behind the electric panel - not that surprising but it’s hard to get a look back there due to the copilot chair. Looks like I won’t have a chair much longer.  The children head off to Sportsmen’s Warehouse in an Uber. Meade now has the fishing bug too so we need another pole. They are also hoping to swing by a Trader Joe’s for more takis ...

 Last night, mom wanted to go dancing and turned into a  [redacted] when   Dad, Meade, and I skipped off to change for dinner, leaving her clinging to the side of the boat, filling up the water tank with a hose. She would not stop [redacted]. We finally made it to dinner. We woke up this morning and made it to Rochester in 3 hours. Everyone was cheery enough. When we got there, we lounged and fished in the marina around the docks. It wasn’t too long before I caught a baby bass whose size was pretty disappointing. About 15 min later, I caught a nice 6 lb blue catfish. That was a lot more exciting. A drunk charter captain saw my fish and came over to chat for a while. Then, we headed off to an Italian joint for dinner, where we played an impression game on Meade’s phone. I did an amazing Yoda impression, Mom got Kermit, Meade had R2D2, and Dad got Stewey Griffin but did Cartman because he doesn’t watch either show. 

 So here’s a quick rundown of the Canada issue: Americans can enter Lake Ontario via the Oswego Canal and can visit towns on the American side. BUT the only way to get out and into another major waterway (without turning around) is by going into Canadian waters. Canada has extended Covid restrictions and will not let Americans in unless they are essential workers. We are not. At one point, we considered going through the Trent Severn to the north (more locks, cute little towns, etc) but this is now completely off the table. The other option is to do the Welland Canal to Buffalo, but you have to have a professional captain take your boat through while you travel by land in the ole US of A.We have secured Cap’n Mike to take the helm in Youngstown, NY on Sunday, and he is kindly lending us his car to drive to Buffalo. We wake up in Oswego, and the kids immediately beeline across the bridge to the historic part for fresh bagels. Wm is addressing a potential antifreeze leak in the engin...

 Last day of locks! Buh-bye nervous Loopers, goodbye slimey lock lines! We'll miss you, Lockmasters, most of all... We toodle away from Rome, excited to be on some open waters soon. The locks have been beautiful and fascinating, but we're looking forward to a different routine.  Wm spends some time with Meade showing her how to operate the boat and how to call the Lockmasters. "Lock 20, this is the westbound vessel Fine Time requesting to lock through." She nails it. At this point, Mason is fairly adept at driving the boat, calling the Lockmaster, and making reservations at marinas. I hate to think of spending time on the boat without them. They both have really pitched in, especially on the daily chores: scrub down the boat, mop the floors, wipe counters, ice down cooler, hang window shades, set up beds, then take it all back down again in the morning. Most of these things happen when you are really ready to be done for the day so you have to dig deep. We cross Oneid...

 Today I woke up around 7:30 which was not an easy task. I have learned how to take a “navy shower” by Padre yelling at me to get out. Mason and I had an argument regarding Oreos which led to him eating my LAST Stroopwaffel. That was a MAJOR letdown. I began my summer reading book, Jayne Eyre, which was very confusing. It took me an hour to read 30 pages which resulted in a sunburn from sitting outside. Mom has started to scare me with the camp counselor attitude. I think we’ve all gone a little insane over the past 3 days. Now that we have run out of Trader Joe’s Takis, I don’t know how we’ll survive. Otherwise, the swimming has been delightful. Our capri sun stock is doing well and i finally get the big bed. Dad taught me how to drive the boat today and it was definitely easier than expected. I can’t wait to see what the Great Lakes have in store for us.

We wake up in Fort Plain/Lock 15 to our little slip shrouded in dense fog. It burns off into a beautiful blue sky as we sip our coffee. Off we go for some more locking. Lock 17 is the tallest lock and towers over us as we pull up. We are told on the VHF they have to do some sort of repair, so we have a bit of a wait. We tie up on the wall and settle in. A slightly inebriated fellow sitting on a park bench kindly tells us we should back up the boat because water gushes out, creating a whirlpool effect, when the gates open (taller lock = more water). Somehow in 5 minutes, he shares with Wm that he’s not from the area but ended up here after Sandy wiped him out and his wife left him. As Wm is comforting a stranger on the bank,  I have set up my home office to complete the paperwork for our Captain. What a relief that forms print and scan as expected.  Captain confirms his crew is in place, and we check another potential crisis off the list. Just one more example of “don’t panic”....

 The temperature has dropped! Rain is steady and we are bundled up and ready to go at 7am for a day full of locks. We manage to do 16 locks today (1 on the Hudson, 15 Erie Canal) , a monumental effort. All the lock masters are interesting individuals. You spend 10-15 min with them so you build a bond. I wish I could describe each one in detail but I don’t have it in me (ZZ Top, jovial linebacker, avid kayaker, flirty Central European looking to move to CHS). They work for the state but thinking they come from Army Corps of Engineers, heavy on the Army. All are delightful to talk to and seem to enjoy their spots but give the impression they could take out a dictator or two. On the flip side, they love to do the hang 10 sign, and one gives Meade a coloring book. Consider me intrigued. Day develops a pattern: beautiful run, approach lock, wait for entry, enter, hold lines, turn off engines, chat with lockmaster, crank up, do joystick wiggle test, exit, repeat. After 15 in the cold, we...

 The ride up the Hudson was gorgeous as promised: mansions on bluffs with rolling lawns dropping down to the waterside, picturesque small towns and cozy rivers shacks hugging the bank, craggy islands mid-river, perfect for a quick swim.  We decide to take a dip, Mason gently nudging his sister in (ha). It feels wonderfully refreshing. Wm, Meade, and I paddle around while Mason continues with his fishing endeavors. It really feels like we’re the only ones on the river. We wrap up our dip and continue on our way. I am starting lunch (smoked salmon in pita with creamy dill and fresh cucumbers, yum) when Mason casually mentions, The Coast Guard is pulling us over. Gulp. I am looking great in a bathing suit and towel with smoked salmon on my hands: Come on aboard, fine sirs! There are two young guys that inspect our boat while a middle-aged man drives their skiff alongside. The two nice fellows follow me around as I show off my disaster preparedness (newly anointed Jr PDC crown spa...

So a lot less to report today! Beautiful ride up the coast, dolphins leaping at our bow, colorful umbrellas on the beaches in the distance. Picked up two cellophane balloons out of the water (c’mon peeps). One was a gold star and the other was #1 Dad, both right on point. Everyone gets a gold star for their good spirits and the 2nd balloon landed in very deserving hands on Father's Day. The boat is running perfectly. The children are excited for an NYC visit, and I am busy putting our new batteries in doggy sweaters and feeding them treats. Not exactly, but I might baby talk them a little during the morning connection check. Who’s a good boy... We get a slip in the city at 79th Street Basin, and the dockhand is from Charleston no less. Wm has asked Mason and Meade to plan our activities so off we go to the LEGO store and Zara (no judgement please). Of course, we split up with the girls heading to Soho and the guys heading to Union Square. Apparently, rats have taken over Union Squa...

 Hoooweeee, sorry for the long, late post, but it has been a ride... Let me start at the beginning. Getting out of town for a month takes some doing. There’s a flurry of work prep: Home office complete, stored in the dinette cubbies with portable printer, mobile WiFi, extra paper/ink, etc. and best of all, everything works....so far. Then, there’s a flurry of  house prep: loads upon loads of laundry, fridge cleanout, putting everything away (not exactly in our skills column) so Carrie and Co can enjoy without tripping over our stuff as they kindly keep the pups. As I wrap up this process, the delightful little woman in Poltergeist warbles in my mind, “This house is CLEAN.” Off to DC, we fly. Abe picks us up. Abe assisted us through the unaccompanied minor travel phase of Mason’s Episcopal first years and will be helping us through Meade’s upcoming departure. Love Abe. And it’s a good thing because we are in his car for hours...Everyone is headed to Ocean City. We’re not but ha...

 Got a later start on Day 3. Belhaven too darn cute and has the best hardware store ever. And obviously, we’ll be in Yorktown by mid-afternoon. Rose colored glasses are firmly in place, croakies and all. Scenery was beautiful on the Pungo Canal, although I did not see a bear fishing as promised and would like to speak to the manager. Albemarle Sound was a bit rough but not a problem. Weather’s cool and cloudy so we enjoyed some games. (Operation surprisingly a good boat game.) We reach Great Bridge (just S of Norfolk) and run into our first hiccup. The bridge arm won’t open. Not the bridge itself, mind you, but the traffic arm. We are now in full communication on the VHF and Bridge Master says Bridge Technician is on the way. Mason asks if he can Uber to the tackle shop super quick (teens...) but we are sure this will be resolved in no time. Cut to an hour later when we are doing jumping jacks on the bow. If you know us at all, this is slightly out of character but a must after bei...

 Day 2 in the books! Wrightsville word of the day: COMMUNICATION. Again with the switches. A first mate who will remain nameless (aka, me) forgot to turn VHF on. We were under the impression bridge opened on the hour. When I suddenly remembered to turn on switch, bridge master was calling out to Fine Time, oh dear. Actually, he was great and just letting us know it was by request and would be an hour. Fine by us, not so much the cruiser behind us. Let me paint the picture: We are redocked and up strolls said cruiser’s capitan. Headset on, armpit holes cut out, this guy means bizness. He was pretty friendly but wanted to make sure we knew he knew bridge protocol. “I thought you called or I would have called.” We made a joke, “But we thought you called?”. Humorless laugh followed. We parted ways and did some map studying. It actually made more sense to backtrack and cut out at Masonboro Inlet so we headed south, leaving bridge behind. As we’re cruising away, we hear on the VHF, “brid...

 Never in all my Trekkie fantasies did I think I would one day say, with all sincerity, “Ship’s Log..” But more importantly, we survived our first day! Lessons learned: 1) William is an optimistic time gauger 2) doesn’t matter because you’ll stumble into a fun dinner party anyway 3) understanding electrical systems on a boat takes 3 reads of the manual by Mumsy and 1 read by cocky teen 4) I love gadgets and gear.  We got off without a hitch! Sweet Anne Blessing picked us up at Gibbes St and drove us to CYC. At this point, the boat was as ready as she was going to get. So we iced down the cooler and off we went.  Weather was great so we decided to run outside. Swells were slightly big -Meade and I decided to try out our new wrist bands. Lo and behold, they had not charged. This opened up the issue that the outlets were not working. Thus the manual reading. It’s all about systems piggybacking off one another and damn switches. (Don’t tell Dustin at the Hinckley yard I said ...