Niagara Falls

Friday we drove to Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Hilton on the Canadian side. When we checked in they upgraded us to a 2 bedroom suite. What a start! The afternoon we spent touring on the public bus system that travels all along the river and into the village. We also went up to the top of the Skylon Tower. It has a revolving restaurant as well as on observation deck at the top. We had a drink in the restaurant lounge and then ventured up to see the sights. What an incredible view from up here. After dinner we went to the lounge on the top floor of the hotel and enjoyed more great views as well as a fireworks display later. We met some really nice people and shared a great evening. Saturday was off to Hornblower Cruises and a ride on the top deck of a catamaran to go up under the mist from both the American and Canadian falls. What a blast!!



Lunch in the hotel

Our suite

Skylon Tower

The American Falls

 

The Canadian Falls

View from Skylon Tower

Lounge at the top of the hotel with the American Falls

Getting ready

The wind kicks up as you get close

Hornblower Cruises boat

What a great time!!

Almost ready!

This week was busy spent crossing of items on the need to do list. We also took Charis out onto Lake Oneida to calibrate the autopilot compass and the autopilot computer. Finally we can use it to steer by a compass heading or by power steering. The goal is still to interface it with the chart plotter so that it can follow a programed course. The next day after while looking over the engine I noticed one of the fuel injectors leaking. After an hour or so calling John Deere, our engine manufacturer, and several other places I found a tractor service place in Syracuse that came up a few days later and replaced it.

Cooking dinner

Off to check the autopilot

These next few are along the river heading out to the lake

Green palm trees

and blue palm trees

Soup for lunch

Replacing the shore power plugs

 

Work, work, work!

Well it seems that the little odd jobs never end. Charis was so dirty after sitting inside all winter. Yesterday was a beautiful day and warm enough, 83, to wash her. Ann and I scrubbed her good. The rest of the day was spent doing those little odd jobs. After being off her for almost 8 months, exploring all the drawers and lockers to see what's there is a little exciting. It also allows cleaning out and discarding stuff that we have used for the past 3 years. Last night we ate out and watched the Belmont Stakes. Our favorite, California Chrome didn't win but we had a good time. Tomorrow we hope to head east into Lake Oneida to check out the autopilot. It didn't work properly last year and we don't want to attempt traveling all the way home this year without one. Then later in the week we are heading to Niagara Falls. I'll keep you posted.

Wash, wash, wash

All the fenders and lines too

Watching the Belmont Stakes

Back in the Water!

Charis went back in the water yesterday! Yeah! Fortunately it was a non eventful launch. After being put back in we motored up and down the river for a while so the Captain could get used to maneuvering again after almost 8 months away. also to exercise all controls and check for any leaks. Everything went well with no problems. Ann and I were both exhausted last night and after watching a dvd we had a great nights sleep. A little chilly here this morning at 53.

Coming out of the shed

The Captain is supervising

In she goes

At rest again

Ready for dinner

3rd day of work

We enjoyed seeing Steve & Gina from Island Time along with Ron and Jan from Adagio at dinner Monday night. Yesterday was another day of work consisting of the first coat of paint on the bootstripe along with many other small projects. Dinner again with Ron & Jan. Today the final sanding and then 2nd coat of paint on the bootstripe. We changed it from white to black because last year on the Hudson it got soo dirty. Also a few engine room projects, cleaning the boat, inflating the dinghy and mounting the outboards. Yes, outboards, we have 2 this year. The big 25hp Yamaha we'll use as our get home motor in case of problems with the main. The much lighter 6 hp Nissan will stay on the dinghy for playing around. Ron & Jan left today headed for the Rideau again before the Trent Severn. Tomorrow we will go back in the water. More to come!

Ron & Jan, Us, Gina & Steve

Buffing the hull

Touching up the bottom paint

Hoisting stuff up to the boat

Days end!

Back to Charis

We arrived back in Brewerton on June 1st. We had a great 3 days of travel getting here. Today we spent the day washing the hull and sanding the white boot stripe that was very dirty after last year on the Hudson. I'm having trouble uploading pictures using Picasa so they will have to wait until I figure something out. Ron & Jan on Adagio are here and getting ready to take off as soon as the weather permits. Today was gorgeous but rain is forecast for the next few days. We will be pushed back in the shed tonight and everything we need to do before launch can be done there. Tonight we will be having dinner with Ron & Jan and Steve & Gina of Island Time. More to come when I figure out the photo upload.
Yea, I figured out another way!

 

 

 

Statistics for 2013 Cruising season

We are finally settled in back in Florida for the winter. We'll be leaving again Sunday for Joe Wheeler and looking forward to seeing our friends from the loop. I finally sat down and gathered statistics for this past summer and want to share them.

Departed Solomons, MD. on May 27th and hauled the boat for winter storage in Brewerton, NY on 9 September. 105 nights.

1241 nm.
190.2 engine hours
402.0 gallons of diesel.
$1749.43 total fuel cost for an average of $4.25/gal.
76 nights in marinas (over 20 extra nights waiting for the Erie to open)
29 nights at lock walls. 25 were in Canada which paid for the season pass.
$5225.00 total for marinas not counting season pass.
Average cost of $68.75/night or $1.64/ft.      

Last day of the season for us

Today is our last day. The past days have been spent getting the boat prepped for the long winter layover. Yesterday we departed the slip and headed down for a pump out. Part of me really wanted to keep going. Wayne Carrol and his wife who own Brewerton Boatyard are some of the nicest people that you could ever meet. We have great confidence in them and feel like Charis is in good hands for the winter. The boat is prepped for up to 40 below zero which they said has happened a few times. Glad we'll be back in Florida for that. We will depart here early tomorrow for a 2 day trip to DeLand to spend a few days with son Jeff, wife Liz and grandson Chase. We'll see all the continuing loopers at Joe Wheeler for the fall rendezvous. Until then, good luck and smooth waters!

Sunrise

The rig.

Ready

Aim

We're there!!

We are really pulled out by a cable and winch (see above pictures). This trailer runs on both the railroad track (if you look close) and wheels. As soon as it's out in this position they hook up the fork lift to pull it the rest of the way.