Saturday – Day 71 – 10/11/08

Its 0650 am and Barb and I are now on our last leg of our train ride back to Illinois.

The train arrived in Chicago Union Station about 1000 am. We got something to eat at the station then walked to the Ogilvie Transportation Center to catch the local Metra train to Lombard. Sherri and Erika were waiting when the train arrived - then drove us home.

It’s been an adventure of a life time – one that we will never forget! We have done so much, met so many wonderful people, visited and seen places that we never expected to see! It’s hard for us to comprehend what we have accomplished during the last ten weeks – what a ride we have had! During the last five days we were always down a bit with the thought that the boat was coming out of the water and this portion of the adventure was coming to an end. Now were excited to see family and renew friendships that were left behind.

To those of you that have followed our adventure we truly have enjoyed sharing it with you, but it’s time to bring this chapter to a close. Next year we will continue on into Canada some time in June, at which time this Blog will be continued. Until next year this is Captain Skip and First Mate Barb signing off!

Friday – Day 70 – 10/10/08

Today we travel towards home on the via Amtrak train! Barb and I drove to Middlebury, VT a small New England college town to return the rental car. We located a small diner and had a great breakfast before returning the car. We were then treated to a color filled 45 minute drive through the country side to the train station in Port Henry, NY to wait and then wait some more for the train that was to leave at 1412 pm. Actually the wait was a lot of fun as the station is managed by a group of seniors that take care of the building and open it up for the passengers of the two trains that stop each day! They log the arrival times and number of passengers that get on and off. For their services the Canadian Pacific allows them the use of the building for all of their activities as well as meals on wheels is served there. It’s small and well run operation. The seniors take their job serious and it’s become their center piece of social life!

The train got there an hour and a half late but whose keeping track. The interesting part of the first leg of the train trip was when they announced that we had arrived in Schenectady, NY and we were to get off the train and transfer to a different train to Chicago the car we were in was locked! Not sure how everything got mixed up but we were locked in and we couldn’t get out! The passengers were pounding on the windows to get someone’s attention but to no avail! Once the train departed and I calmed Barb down by explaining that she would really enjoy New York City. A conductor showed up and apologized many times as it was he that messed up! Within an hour we were in a different city (Albany, NY) but on the correct train! When it was all over we actually came out on top of the whole debacle by not having to wait outside for two hours waiting for the train we were put on and had first choice for seating!

Thursday – Day 69 – 10/9/08

We arrived at the marina and the weather was less than perfect so had to wait a few hours until they were ready to pull the boat. I drove the boat into the cell with the slings in place to lift us out of the water. The boat was raised out of the water via the travel lift and moved to a work area to wash the bottom and finish the winterizing of the engines. I had a few other areas of the boat checked in preparation of the cruise next year and everything has checked out ok.

The boat is now winterized and hanging in the travel lift as we drove away. It was a bitter sweet moment but time to close the season out and return home. We had a few hours to relax so we drove into Burlington, VT to see some of the sights before having dinner with the Grimm’s then staying overnight with Debbie at the “farm”. This extra time was all that was needed to see the Ticonderoga, a steam powered side wheeler that has been moved to land to preserve her for all to see. What a grand old lady she is!

Wednesday – Day 68 – 10/8/08

We worked for a half a day and our part of winterizing the boat is complete and the boat is ready to be pulled out but the marinas travel lift wasn’t available until tomorrow. We departed the marina and spent the afternoon at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum then had dinner with Debbie and Dave Grimm. Debbie occasionally watches the home of her employer so we went there to dine. A great little place with an inside lap pool, barn with horses, small lake in the middle of the white fenced pasture and outside arena to practice on. The company, meal and surroundings were great!

Tuesday – Day 67 – 10/7/08

Today we did nothing but work on the boat. At the end of the day we stayed 10 miles away in a very upscale resort that Barb was able to arrange, the Basin Harbor Club! It was a fluke that there was space available due to the fall color tours which take over everything up here.

Monday – Day 66 – 10/6/08

Barb and I took our last ride in Moor $tuff today. The weather was less than perfect but the scenery was spectacular! What ever was troubling the boat, seamed to have disappeared while we were tied up in the marina? Once under way the problem disappeared. With that said - she still needs to be checked out, and that is scheduled for Thursday when she is hulled. If every thing goes as planed we could be home bound via train this coming Friday Afternoon.

We rented a car today from Enterprise Car Rental and they came to the marina to pick us up and take us to their office. I was under the impression that we were a few miles away, not a 45 minute ride through the country! It was all a pleasant experience, but I had no idea how far out in the boonies we are! I don’t think there’s a street light for fifty miles. This place is dark!

Barb and I are staying on the boat for a few more days and the marina which is as large as Spring Brook Marina doesn’t have a yard light! Tomorrow Barb and I will begin the task of packing boxes to ship home. If we have time we may take the car and see some of the local historical sights. Wednesday will be a full day as we begin the process of winterizing the boat. Once started we can’t live aboard anymore so are looking for a B&B close by!

Sunday – Day 65 – 10/5/08

We have spent most of the day planning our return trip home. As it now looks we will probably take a train from Port Henry about 8 miles from here later in the week. With all of the problems of getting to the airport from here and other related baggage issues it’s easier and less expensive to just have the train “schedule a stop” in this little town around noon and show up in Chicago 20 hours later! The train follows the canal system for most of the day light hours so we’ll get to see the canal from another perspective. Renting a car one way is almost impossible and when available not very cost effective.

Another reason for putting the boat up here is that when we were traveling yesterday, I picked up something on the starboard prop. I thought it was a clump of weeds but after stopping the boat then reversing the engine something is still there! Not bad………..but not perfect! Tomorrow we are going to take one last slow cruise north up Lake Champlain about 15 miles then turn around and bring her back to this marina and have her pulled and winterized on Tuesday or Wednesday. The items that need to return to Illinois will be shipped via UPS. The dinghy will be rolled up and placed inside the boat. The out board will be stored in a heated building that is only used for that purpose. Batteries are removed from the boat and are maintained in a different facility where they are trickle charged during the winter months. I will replace two of the three when I return in the spring so only one will have winter service.

There are still a lot of things that Barb and I need to do before we can leave here. We will probably rent a car for a couple days to bring this canal show (not road show) to a close. Yes – we do intend to return to Illinois!

Saturday – Day 64 – 10/4/08

We did it! We actually moved the boat today! It was colder than hell when we got up and the steam was rising from the river. We went through our routine of disconnecting the water and coiling the hose – but the hose was so cold it wouldn’t coil up! Next came the two power cords that were so stiff that to coil those up I had to step on them to keep them flat. Once I had power cords tucked away and the engines were warmed up we got under way. Drex and Steve were there to help get us off the wall and Emily was on deck in her PJ’s taking pictures as we left. We were a little sad to leave them as their all great people and we wish they were located closer for we could enjoy their company.

The day was beautiful and we went through our last lock for this season #73! We slowly cruised to a marina located in Addison, Vermont about 30 miles from our intended destination. We are now at the Champlain Bridge Marina in Addison, VT. As the boat was being fueled up and we were making conversation, we found out they had room for inside storage. We are now considering leaving the boat here for the winter as I don’t want to leave it outside in Vermont with all of their snow! I asked the man in the office if there would be a problem if the boat sat in the corner of the storage building until we came back in the middle of June and he didn’t have a problem with it, so ---- I think there’s a good chance were going to leave it here.

Today Debbie and Dave Grimm Barbs cousin’s who live about an hour from here drove down to the boat and took us out to dinner. It’s probably been close to two years since the four of us have been together. We dined at the Black Sheep Bistro and had an exceptional meal. Good food, good wine and people make for a great evening! Dave has been very helpful in helping us connect to marinas in the area where we could store the boat for the winter. It’s always good to know someone on the inside when you are coming into town knowing no one!

Friday – Day 63 – 10/3/08

Today wasn’t very pleasant until early in the afternoon when it stopped raining and the sun came out. I have noticed that my bones rattle when it’s cold and damp! The fall season is definitely with us as the temperature continues to drop.

A bright spot in the day was when Tom and Doris Burdick dropped in for a visit. We had a great visit then went out to dinner some distance away from the boat. Other than our time in Ohio, that’s the first time in over a month that we’ve been in a car and away from water! Dinner was very good and during dinner we sat at a table next to a fireplace! Barb and I looked at each other and said - it’s time to break camp – put the boat in storage and get home to our own fireplace.

Tomorrow is looking good to get out of here and move north to where the lake widens, about 40 miles from here. Up to that point were protected from the wind which is now slowing down. Sunday should be a great day on the open water so we intend to slowly cruise north to Burlington and enjoy the colors prior to turning our boat over to the shipyard.

Thursday – Day 62 – 10/2/08

Well we didn’t get very far – in fact we’re still here in Whitehall, NY where we were yesterday! It looks like we’ll be here for a few more days due to bad weather 60 miles north of here. The winds are blowing at 35 mph out of the south and that’s not good for a boat moving north on a long body of water that runs north and south! When the weather gets better we will move on. When we do arrive in Burlington, VT there may be a slight delay in pulling the boat out and placing her on land. We’ll work through those details when we get there.

Last night we had a great dinner aboard SEA STRUCK and celebrated Steve’s birthday. We truly enjoyed their company and the evening.

At present it’s raining and were waiting for it to stop for we can walk to the library and log onto the internet. We are truly isolated here – our cell phones don’t work so we walked a mile to purchase a telephone card to make a few important calls! I didn’t read the fine print and the public phone ate most of the minutes on the card as a special charge regulated by the XYZ penal code of looking out the window or something like that! It’s very frustrating, when you can’t communicate with the ship yard, that’s scheduled to hall the boat. At some point, Barb and I need to start planning our return trip home.

Tomorrow Tom and Doris Burdick are going to stop for a visit on their way back to Wisconsin. Hopefully we shouldn’t be that hard to locate in the canal. Tom, if you’re reading this, we’re a quarter mile before lock number 12 and we are north bound. Below is a picture of the three boats tied up at the wall together – Moor $tuff is the smallest of the three.

Wednesday – Day 61 – 10/1/08

It rained all night and stopped in time to walk the 100 yards to the museum entrance! What a treat the museum turned out to be. Carol Greenough the director opened up the museum and introduced us to the local history which I’m very interested in. She’s been very involved in preserving the local history of the canal in this region. Without people like her most of our heritage would be lost forever. Steve and Emily Struck from Hampton, Virginia and Drex and Joyce from Norfolk, Virginia joined us for the museum visit. Tonight we will join them for dinner on their 47 ft Trawler, SEA STRUCK!

After the museum, Barb and I walked to the local library and sat on their front steps to connect to wireless. The library isn’t open during the day and we were grateful for the fair weather. Tomorrow we hope to move north toward our winter home for the boat. We will probably get there Friday and begin the process of winterizing her during the following week! I don’t think either one of us want to see this 2008 season come to an end!

Tuesday – Day 60 – 9/30/08

After carefully following the channel markers as well as the advice of those who know the river we made our way back to the canal and entered lock number 7. We slowly cruised north enjoying every colorful mile we traveled. The fall colors are getting better with every mile we move north. We did four locks two lifting us and the last two dropping us. Tonight we are staying on the wall in Whitehall, NY.

There is a lot to see so we will stay an extra day here and move north Thursday and pass through our last lock as we enter Lake Champlain. There is a museum here that I truly wanted to visit that is closed during the week after Labor Day, except for special occasions. We are one of three boats here that have requested that the Museum open up and they have agreed to open it at 10 am tomorrow. The two boats we are now traveling with, not by design but by circumstance are heading to the same region in Vermont then turning around and heading south. They have been out for four months today and have one more month to go. We all went to dinner together tonight and had a very nice time. It’s amazing how many friendly people we have met since leaving home eight and a half weeks ago. Barb will take the computer to the local library tomorrow and play catch up with our blog. I think we are both feeling a little down as we know our boating adventure for this year is coming to a close.

Monday – Day 59 – 9/29/08

A little rain, a little sunshine a few clouds all added up to a great day on the canal! We are tied up on the wall in Fort Edward, NY. We went through six locks and covered 38 miles --- that’s a full day of cruising! The part of the Champlain Canal we cruised today is actually part on the Hudson River and follows its natural path for most of the 38 miles.

Tomorrow we will enter the portion that was hand dug to connect New York City to Lake Champlain. This stretch of water is also connected to Montreal, Canada via the Richelieu Canal. The lakes and canals that we are now on is where a major portion of the Revolutionary War was fought. This is also the area where the English continually tried to regain a foot hold in this country during the War of 1812. If there is something to see around here we will see it before moving on tomorrow. From what we have seen so far, I think we will be leaving fairly early! The place we are now located at is tricky at best to get into with a boat. We had the good fortune to get directions from a lock master and a couple of boaters that stayed here last year.

At present were about a mile out of the main channel in a beautiful location that’s part of the local park! I’m not sure about some of the strange people checking out our boat - so far we haven’t had any trouble. There are a few trees turning color but most have not! The one that I saw I had Barb take a picture of. I’ve been assured that things will change when we get closer to the mountains that flank the east and west sides of Lake Champlain. (Stay tuned for my unbiased color report)

Sunday – Day 58 – 9/28/08

Today was a low key day with the exception of Dan and Jori coming to the boat for a short visit. It was fun to see them again since we haven’t seen them for nine months. It was the first time they have seen our boat and it’s always fun to watch people’s reactions for the first time. I guess living on a boat is a little unusual unless you have the good fortune to experience it for yourself! After they checked out the boat we walked into town and had brunch at a local restaurant.

There was a farmers market at the harbor with tents and booths set up at the water front. This is considered a big event around here! It was a pleasant change to see the towns people socialize and shop for their locally grown produce. A local baker and vineyard also had their goods on sale. We purchased a little bit of this and that, which will be enjoyed later.

Tomorrow we plan to start moving north up the Champlain Canal on our way to Lake Champlain. We’ve been told that the fall colors fifty miles north are changing color and our timing is going to be perfect. (Stay tuned for a full report)

Saturday – Day 57 – 9/27/08

We awoke to rain and a dismal looking sky! It didn’t take long for the bad weather to blow out and we ended up having a beautiful day. The weather man missed his prediction by a country mile.

We took advantage of our layover and did chores most of the day. Barb loaded up a shopping cart that is furnished by the harbor and pushed it to the town laundry, three blocks away. I stayed on the boat and scrubbed the slime and debris from the hull, which was picked up from the lock walls. What ever grows on the walls of the lock chamber has a tendency to stain and scratch the surface of the boats hull. Barb and I wear rubber work gloves when handling lines in the locks. If the lock slime gets on our clothing, it’s there forever. I changed the oil for the second time as we have cruised over two hundred hours on this trip. The boat continues to run well and shows no signs of surprising us with a problem!

Barb and I walked the towns’ main street tonight in both directions in less than a half hour. There’s very little going on in this part of the world. Tomorrow there’s going to be a farmers market at the waterfront with live entertainment, this could be entertaining.