Leaving Winter Harbor, May 15-25, 2019

We rented a car in Towson, MD from Enterprise on Tuesday, May 14.  We packed it full even though we had made two earlier trips taking items to the boat.  On Wednesday, May 15 we drove to Winter Harbor Marina in Brewerton, NY.  Aisling Gheal had been launched on Monday, May 13. We slept aboard Wednesday night.  It was nice to be on the boat again.  We returned the rental car on Thursday and got a smaller rental car.  We still needed a car to travel to get groceries and other items we needed.

The Erie Canal was scheduled to open for the season on Friday, May 17.  We were planning to start our voyage west on the Canal on Saturday, May 18.  However, this part of New York had been experiencing a lot of rain and it was unclear if the canal would open on Saturday.  Jeff had many projects to keep him busy and Barbie was organizing and storing items.  Jeff finished the installation of more lights in the galley and the head (bathroom on a boat).  He also finished the installation of the underwater lights. 

Underwater lights on the stern

Another project was replacing  the 19 inch TV with a new 24 inch TV.   We use the TV to show the chart plotter display inside the cabin which is handy for checking the data at night. We also use the TV to watch YouTube episodes of various sailboat adventures.

We kept checking the email notices concerning the canal but most of the locks remained closed.  The canal did not open on Friday, May 17 as was scheduled.  We were hoping it would be open before Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-26). 

We enjoyed going to Empire Farm Brewing and other breweries around Syracuse.  The food at breweries is usually good, interesting and creative.  We especially enjoyed a "sellout" pizza at Empire Farm Brewery.  It had three kinds of cheese, chicken chunks and thin slices of spinach.  We enjoy sitting at the bar and talking with the bartenders.

"Sellout" Pizza and Beet Salad

The dogs have enjoyed walking in the grass in the pet area and just sitting and smelling the air.  Greta often walks the dock to the boat.  Hans has also done it a few times if it is either night or cloudy.  His cataracts make it so he doesn't see well.  When the sun is bright he does not want to walk on the bright dock. Hans turned 16 years old on Monday, May 20.

Hans and Greta enjoying the grass and air

Wednesday, May 22, we noticed that after Greta used the pee pad there was blood on the pad.  This was not good.  The marina called a local animal hospital and got us an emergency appointment with Dr. Smith for that afternoon.  Greta did still eat her breakfast so she didn't seem to be too distressed.  The urine sample that was taken at the vet was  inconclusive as to her problem.  It could be a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or a tumor.  Since we were not going to have her undergo surgery we did not pursue further testing for either the stones or a tumor.  We were given an antibiotic for the urinary tract infection.  She seemed to feel better after one dose of the antibiotic and we have not seen any more blood.  Barbie has become creative in getting Greta to take her pills.  She takes a tiny bit of canned food and hides a pill in it.  Then tells Greta that she gets an appetizer.  So far Greta eats the little ball of canned food and doesn't realize there is anything else in it.

While we waited for the locks to open on the canal we kept making lists and shopping at Walmart, Price Choppers (grocery store) and Wegman's.

We did ride our bikes one afternoon when it wasn't raining.  We went for about 7 miles on the towpath of the old original Erie Canal.  The old canal towpath between Syracuse and Rome is not used anymore since the canal was relocated.   This 35 mile towpath is a great trail for biking.

Biking the towpath at Dewitt, NY

We continued to have rain and the lock continued to be closed.  One lock was open and Jeff wanted to go through that lock and tie up on the wall.  Barbie didn't want to leave the marina where we had access to water, sewage pump out, electricity and car.

Winter Harbor told us they were expecting two large (75+ foot) boats.  Eventually on Friday the large boats did arrive.  Finally on Friday, May 25 all the locks we needed for the next several days were finally open.

Saturday, the forecast was for rain and thunderstorms starting around 1:00.  We planned to go about 20 miles to Baldwinsville.  Our cruising speed is  about 8 - 9 miles an hour so that would take us about 2 hours.  We left at  9:30 AM on Saturday, May 26 and after two locks and 20 miles arrived at Baldwinsville at 1:00 PM.

At the Baldwinsville NY town dock

We are finally cruising!