Well, eight days into the trip I almost sunk “Thistle”. We were on Lake Erie in heavy air and seven foot seas. I used the head (toilet) and didn’t completely close the seacock. By the time we went to bed that night, we had buckets of fresh water in the toilet and chain locker area. As my dad said when Eric proposed, you better be handy marrying her!

We spent a day in Buffalo and what a great vibe on the waterfront. Paths everywhere for walking or biking. They have a memorial park for veterans of every conflict. The museum had two battleships and submarine on display. Volunteer gardens lined the pathways. The marina facility was a great place to catch your breath. They had fine dining, casual dining, bar, and ice cream to choose from and no Lake Erie flies.

We had a wild ride down the Niagara River to the entrance of the Erie Canal going downstream with 30 knot headwinds. It was our first introduction to lift bridges, draw bridges, swing bridges, and a lock. Quite a day.

This begins the next phase of our trip transiting the Erie Canal. Thistle’s mast was unstepped at Wardell’s boat yard. It’s resting on custom made horses from the wood scrapped from previous mast supports. First time Thistle’s mast was handled by someone other than Tim Sarns. Very nervous moment and not the same love!

The Erie Canal is surprisingly more interesting than we expected. Locks 34 and 35 are tandem and lower the boat 50 feet. Why start small? Small towns dot the waterfront all along the canal. Lock 33, we picked up a hitchhiker. Eileen climbed an embankment to watch the lock. We were waiting for another boat and she was saying it was on her bucket list to go through a lock. She asked for a ride down (25 Feet) and the lock master said jump the fence and hop on. Nice lady!

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy and be safe. Eric and Sharon

Books Light of Paris. Eleanor Brown. 5 out of 5

By going through the locks we are descending the height of Niagara Falls without actually going over them.

Fish Flies or Flies

https://tradingupin2019.blog/?p=44
— Read on tradingupin2019.blog/

My friend Wendy sent a picture of fish flies in St. Clair Shores. I don’t miss the fish flies but Lake Erie has biting flies. They were perched on our life lines like the birds in Alfred Hitchcock movie the “Birds”. Fortunately for me, they like Eric!

We’ve been gone just over a week. Today was the first day of large waves (7 feet) and strong winds. We started early 5:30 am and the wind increased all day to about 30 knots. So much for the weather prediction of 15 knots. I was amazed how well I did – didn’t get seasick at all. We are currently in Erie, PA. and have two more sails before we take down the mast.

We spent Monday and Tuesday in Geneva on the Lake. We met the Professor and Maryanne (Sandy). They live aboard their boat all summer and recently sold their home. They invited us to dinner and a visit to the grocery store. YES! I was able to buy fruit and vegetables. We stopped by their favorite Dairy Queen and had homemade strawberry shortcake. I wanted more!

At Geneva on the Lake several Amish families were on vacation. One woman asked me where I was from and how I got there. I told her we had a sailboat and she was quite interested. I offered to show her the boat and along the way we collected her children, nieces, cousins, etc. Our boat looked like a clown car – never had that many people in it before. Nicest family! The children asked questions about the boat while I had many questions about being Amish. Her daughter graduated from school – 8th grade and you are done with your education. Children are allowed to go to public school for kindergarten. She said children are young for a short time, why would we do that?

Things we learned.

The Amish men and boys had 16 foot aluminum boats with outboard motors They use sonar fish finders. When they go on vacation they hire an Amish taxi. Some taxis are trucks.

Books for the week:

Miracle Cure. Harlan Coben. 3 out of 5

Marsh King’s Daughter Karen Dionne 3.5 took place in the U.P.

We finally departed Crescent Sail Yacht Club on Tuesday. Our second target date was 6-10-19 so we could celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday – my nieces planned a surprise party. Great job Alyse and Caitlin.

If it wasn’t for my sister Karen (who has helped it so many ways besides providing us a home), Chris (Eric’s brother) that has pitched it making boat items and cleaning out our home, and a friend Rich that provided electrical expertise we would still be at CSYC. BIG THANK YOU!

We started our sailing trip motoring (no wind) through the Detroit River and spent the first night at the Grosse Ile Yacht Club. I’ve never been past Belle Isle in a boat before. The island is beautiful! The state park tax has brought new life to the island. It’s clean and safe again. The conservatory has been updated and the aquarium reopened. The Warren Concert Band and other groups will be performing on the island this summer. Check it out! Amazing how things have changed with a competent mayor!

Grosse Ile Yacht Club was closed but the door of hospitality widely open, A couple of members helped us dock. A friend of Loretta R. came over to see if we needed anything and offer assistance. Others stopped to ask about our boat!

We spent Wednesday and Thursday in Put In Bay. It’s pirate weekend and fun is going to be off the meter. The water is very high. Miller Marina was as awesome spot – clean bathrooms and showers. We met a friend from Sarns Marina, Bob. We had dinner with him and his friend Tommy at the PIB Yacht Club. Perfect hamburger for $6 cooked by Dick.

Yesterday was a rain day so I finished a book on my trip, Ashes in the Snow by Rita Sepetys. 5 stars out of 5

Since I retired April 30th I’ve read the following:

Great Alone by Kristin Hannah 4

One Day in December by Josie Silver 4

The 18th Abduction by James Patterson 3

The Tatooist of Auschwitz 5

Yes, I finally feel like I’m retired. I had a nap on the boat on the way to PIB.

I miss everyone a lot but I’m enjoying this time in my life also.

The next chapter of our life begins. I am officially retired buy side equity trader heading off to a new adventure with my husband Eric.

Eric has talked about cruising since the day I met him. He saw his first schooner, When and If, in Marblehead, Ma. when he went to his aunt’s wedding at the age of four. Eric was a sales rep for a manufacturing firm for years but built boats in our garage for fun.

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Our new home is “Thistle”, a Bristol Channel Cutter. We will be leaving this week from Crescent Sail Yacht Club. It was sad to leave Sarns Marine where Thistle was built and stored for the winter. Our path will be Detroit River, Lake Erie, Erie Canal, Hudson River and then turn right.

I’ve never done a blog before but my goal is to have a central place so family and friends can track our location. Document the unusual and exciting things we see or people we meet. I love to read and knit – so I will rate the books I read along the way.

Please feel free to ask questions if you like or helpful comments

Fair Winds and Gentle Seas! Sharon

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton