Sorry no post yesterday. We got in pretty late and didn't have cell service or internet connection. We did make it through the Welland Canal on Monday without issue. It was a long day, as it normally is. We started off at 6:30 and got tossed around as we made the 3 mile run from the marina to the entrance to the canal. After getting to the first lock at 7:00, we had to wait until 10:00 to start our passage through. We traveled all day with the 140-foot Canadian Coast Guard Research Vessel "Limnos".
The passage through the canal was fine, but it was long. We got to the final lock and thought we were home free, but we ended up having to wait 4 hours to let other commercial vessels heading onto Lake Ontario go by. We finish the last lock around 6:00pm and headed to the marina. The wind was blowing pretty hard and there were no dockhands around since the marina was closed. We made the best of it and got her tied up. The restaurant on site was closed and we didn't feel like trying to walk into town, so we ordered some pizza and had it delivered to the boat. By 9:30 my head was on the pillow and the lights were out.
After a good nights rest we left out of Port Colborne this morning at 7:00. What a beautiful morning it was. Bright sunshine, 15kts of winds out of the west and the seas running 2 to 3 feet on the stern. We set the throttles at 950 rpm and cruised the 22 miles from Sugarloaf Marina to the Erie Basin Marina in downtown Buffalo, NY. We pulled up to the fuel dock at 9:15 and spent the next 2 hours topping off the 4 fuel tanks. She was very thirsty!!
What an exceptional trip! We covered 821 miles since leaving Annapolis, MD last Sunday. We averaged 10.5mph and used 2,231 gallons of fuel. We had no weather delays and no mechanical issues during the entire trip. The big Detroit Diesels purred right along the entire voyage. I know Geoff & Celeste Smith got a great boat that will provide them with many years of enjoyment. Thanks to everyone who has followed along and provided encouragement along the way. It is appreciated!
A few final pictures from the last two days:
Entering lock 1 on the Welland Canal on Monday.
We locked through the Welland all day with the 140-foot Canadian Coast Guard Research Vessel named Limnos
Entering lock 4; note the large cargo vessel rising up ahead in lock 6 and one coming down on the other side.
Double lock wall. It makes our boat look like a rubber ducky in a bath tub.
M/V Limnos got tossed around in Lock 7. It actually hit the opposite wall pretty hard.
A large ship coming through the Welland Canal. We had to pull off to the side to let him get by.
The skyline of Buffalo coming across Lake Erie.
All tied up at Erie Basin.
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