Days Going North To Canada

Course:  Half Moon Bay, Croton to Rondout Marina, Kingston, NY
Distance: 50 miles (N) by GPS
               47 miles (N) by water (had the tide with us from 1000 on)
Wind and seas: its a river
Miles traveled: 469

We made another soft landing at the dock with a failure of the engine three times as I set up for docking and shifted into reverse to maneuver.  After a few discussions, a dive on the shaft to check for fishing line or something wrapping the wheel, and disconnecting the shaft from the transmission to confirm its not a transmissin issue, I discover it's the cutlass bearing(s) that needs replacement.  This involves a haul of VELOMER, which this marina can do, and some parts from somewhere, here we go again. Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix, will allow me to check the hull and zincs and our fuel consumption will improve dramatically perhaps.

So the plan changes daily as we venture north to Canada and cooler climates. The AC has been keeping us cool at night so we are in no hurry, and this is good as we may be here awhile.  Kingston is the small upstate town where Chelsey Clinton was married so we will see what else the area has to offer over the next few days at least.  Enterprise Rent a Car will come to the dock and we can restock groceries and play tourist while we wait for parts and the Erie Canal to reopen perhaps.  If it is still closed when we are back in the water, we will go to Lake Champlain and do the little loop in reverse.  It will give us a chance to see the Thousand Islands and avoid the July crazies on the Rideau Canal (Canadian holiday madness we are informed happens each July on the Rideau Canal). Oh and the refrigerator seems to be on the fritz but the freezer is working well.  After this summer and repairs as we discover things, we will have a well found craft ready for the big loop next year.

PM has crashed for the night so she will update you all on the interesting bits tomorrow.  We have met some phenomenal folks and some really clever crafts travelling this water route and will have lots more new friends by journey's end in September.  We need boat cards still and an address book to record all the contacts.

Tomorrow, the transmission is reattached and I am told by the mechanic the oil needs to be changed as well.  Its always something.