And the question is "How much tile and mortar has to be removed from a late 60 constructed tub in order to install a modern shower."

In my last post, I noted the fixing up a 40-year-old, sturdily built condo could not be much worse than fixing up a 30 year old well-built sailboat. The result is the same an enjoyable home that you can trust to give you years of service. Well after three weeks of demolition, we are almost ready to begin rebuilding. I will be a welcome change from the hammering and dust.

I can say, I never thought of using a 3-pound hammer to help remodel the sailboat, but who knows, someday I might.

One thing for sure is when you are frustrated to see your Indians loose in Game 7 extra innings, you can sure take out the frustration on the deserving wall. So far demolition has filled 50 garbage bags, used up three rolls of duct tape, and filled a "College Hunks" hauling truck. That is a cool service, call them, welcome them in, show them what has to go, and they carry it away.

As it gets colder in Cleveland, I am continuing to enjoy Meghan and Jake's hospitality, and the wonderful weather for working down here. EJ is back north again, I am trying to get all the contractors and suppliers aligned so we can get the project of rebuilding started.

Best part is, the view has not changed, it is there even after a day of demolition.

Fair winds and following seas.

Ed and EJ

I bet from the title all of you thought this post might be about having our boat in an exotic location where it is warm. Well you are partially correct, I am warm, the boat and EJ are in Cleveland, where it will soon be cold.

After nearly two years of debating, we made the decision after our Lake Ontario trip to locate a place on land in Florida and plan to spend our winters in the south, the boat will come later.

Florida real estate is a unique situation, you either suffer sticker shock at a nice place ready to move in to, or you get a great deal on a place that need some work. After putting in offers on units that were move in ready and having others bid over asking price to get them, we got an e-mail from our agent with a single picture of the water view, had Meghan and Jake Skype us during a walk through, made an offer and had it accepted within 24 hours.

Then we came to look at it. We knew we were getting a very solidly constructed unit, with great views of the water, Sunrise and Sunset, and that it needed redecorating. Well it needs redoing, unless of course you are trapped in the 70's disco era and love shag carpeting and mirrors.

So I am down in Florida for the winter, putting my hands and head to work, designing, demolitioning and remodeling. Just like getting a 30 year old boat ready for the great loop.

Loving it, I will post updates once in a while. Oh and by the way there are common use deep water docks which I need to check into.

Fair winds and following seas.

Ed and EJ

Another late post, but I wanted to keep the chronology going.



We spent the 23rd and 24th of July enjoying the hospitality of Port Dalhousie.



The morning of the 25th, we started early and checked in as requested at 0700, we were given an assignment of about 10:30 AM. When we checked in we were alone, but as time went on two other vessels arrived, and as expected we would lock through as a group. This was an interesting locking group, the smallest vessel was a 23 foot sailboat, that had lost its inboard engine and was going to lock through using a borrowed outboard, he indicated that he could make 5 knots, but as we got started, we noted that 2.5 was about all he could do. That speed would make the last 14 miles very long.



Based on our downbound experience, we hired two crew. As our group collected at the beginning of the canal, the power vessel only had two onboard instead of the required 3, and the small sailboat had 3, none with any sailing experience, they had just purchased the boat and were transporting it by water to Port Dover, it was their first boat.



Our Upbound transit started at about 1100, our crew was onboard, and we entered lock 1 without incident. Bob and Don, our crew, were very experienced, and provided guidance in positioning the boat. Don was retired form the Canal System and had operated most of the locks, and knew many of the lock tenders. This was a great help in that the position of the boat in the lock determines the forces on it, and the amount of effort required to keep it safe. The amount of effort is substantial, and a deep keel sailboat experiences the full force of the water entry. We learned that the Canal system had recently increased the speed of the water entry as they prepared for conversion to automated locking for the freighters. The result is more violent forces which do not affect a freighter that is essentially attached to the walls via a hydraulic system, but do affect pleasure craft.



We were fortunate, while pressed very tightly against the lock wall, our trusty extra-large fenders kept us from any damage. Our crew still had to work very hard to keep us off the wall, but we were successful in our upbound transit.



The Canal is very interesting and an engineering masterpiece. It was so nice to transit in the daylight. However, being in a group with a slow vessel made the last 14 mile transit a 5-hour trip rather than 2. Traffic upbound was light, however, as we entered lock 8, the final lock, I could see a commercial vessel approaching from the stern on the AIS. I am sure that if the Seaway system had known the speed of our slowest vessel, they would have held the group for at least 6 more hours to allow the commercial traffic to clear. The slow transit and the abundance of weeds in the canal allowed the intake strainer to partially plug and restrict cooling. But clearing it would have to wait until we docked in Port Colborne.



We arrived in Port Colborne as the sun was setting after the marina staff had gone home for the day. The winds were picking up, and we were glad to have docking help from our dockmates. Another long day on the Welland and the Admiral repeated her never again pledge.



Lake Ontario was wonderful, and I would love to visit it again for a longer period of time, but my back is telling me to reconsider and of course I have to convince the Admiral.



Fair winds and following seas.



Ed and EJ

Another late post, but I wanted to keep the chronology going.



Returning from the Admiralty Islands was a blast, Trenton was just as beautiful and inviting as the first trip. The Murray Canal was again picturesque and welcoming. Continued great weather on Lake Ontario enabled Sailing and/or Motor Sailing for most of the trip.



As we reached Toronto Island, on 20-July, we realized we were on the home stretch. Our plan was to be in Toronto for our Wedding Anniversary on the 22nd, and meet our friends from CYC aboard Kindred Spirit and Sundial as they were making their trip East and north via the Trent Severn. They arrived on the 21st, and in true adventurous spirit, we arranged to get together and after Docktails, we headed into China Town for dinner. Admiral EJ had simultaneously picked with Admiral Dianne from Trip Advisor, the highest rated Chinese restraint in Toronto. After jumping in Taxi's, we quickly found Swatow, a small, very small, family style restaurant, and boy was it worth it. Fantastic food and a waiter who had the common knowledge to note that our ordering the "Special Fried Rice" was not a good choice, apparently even though it is one of the most popular local dishes, it would not be for us, and after seeing it, we thanked him profusely.



EJ and I enjoyed a wonderful day in Toronto on the 22nd, with exquisite dining at the CN tower, and an afternoon of people watching and great beer at Steam Whistle Brewery. Just a relaxing do nothing Anniversary.



The 23rd took us across the lake, and into Port Dalhousie and preparations for the upbound Welland Canal trip.



Fair winds and following seas.



Ed and EJ

Wow, what a trip. Not the distance of the loop, but more stress. What was originally planned as a 6-8 week trip to explore the Thousands Islands was reduced to 4 weeks. We did get to do some exploring, but not as much as we would have liked.



The Thousand Islands proved to be a mixture of cottages and isolated areas, looking across the river on both sides to mansion sized homes. What a deviation from the North Channel of Lake Huron with it's quiet isolation and miles of unspoiled wilderness. The national park systems of Canada and the United states have made great efforts to protect the environment and make the area cruiser friendly. Parks Canada has created hundreds of small 5 dock free marina's that cruisers can use, there are hundreds of isolated anchorages, but on the weekends, they are crowded with boats of all kinds. We would like to explore more, but it is time to head back. We did find that the area has great sailing, and it is not unusual to see a Yacht Club that is 80% sailboats. On our trip back from Gananoque to Picton, we encountered multiple sail races and dozens of cruising sailboats plying the 16 knot winds in the sheltered Bay of Quinte.



Like the North Channel of Lake Huron, depths change rapidly from 180 feet to 6, in distances of 50 feet or less. Anchoring takes planning.



One thing we are sorry we missed is the Sunday "Service in the Sea". The multi denominational service is conducted in the water, with the boats being the pews. It is in an ancient sink hole with 30 feet of water less than 50 feet from shore.



The communities that neighbor the thousand islands are quaint and welcoming as the picture shows, there is an abundance of good food and treats to keep any cruiser happy. We started back to Cleveland, and will be searching out more small communities, we have decided if our old legs cannot get us around a town, it is too big.



Fair winds and following seas.



Ed and EJ

Lake Ontario continues to be a weather system destroyer. The weather that has been hitting Lake Erie continues to stop somewhere south of us. We have had several great days, visiting Cobourg, and crossing the Murray Canal, a short and beautiful waterway the connects Presqu'ile Bay with the Bay of Quinte.



I will post some Murray canal pictures in the Gallery at the end of this trip. There are two swing bridges on the canal, and it is a toll canal. They have the toll collection down to a science, with the bridge tender using a long handled basket, much like the old church collection ones to take the money.



Trenton as everyone knows is the start of the Trent Severn Waterway, which we would love to take some time, but our deep draft is too much for that journey. The new Trent Port Marine that opened in 2015, is a welcoming place with the most beautiful boater's showers and lounge we have ever seen. They also have Brass Valet Carts to carry finished laundry back to the boat, more like a 5 star hotel than a marina.



Tomorrow, we hope to meet up with another old friend who has a mooring ball in Prinyer Cove. Our plan is to go as far as Kingston and then start the trip home, it is amazing how time flies when you are having fun.



We miss the CYC Regatta festivities, but continue to monitor through facebook.



Fair winds and following seas.



Ed and EJ