Slow Hand 2023 To Lake Superior and back

[mbevins]

Looks like your decision to jump to the front of the Erie pack was wise. O1 bridge is now down for 3 weeks, unless you clear 10ft.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by mbevins

Looks like your decision to jump to the front of the Erie pack was wise. O1 bridge is now down for 3 weeks, unless you clear 10ft.

That's the bridge on the Oswego Canal... the spur that heads north at 3 rivers to get to Oswego on Lk Ontario. I'm sure that has created a bottle neck for loopers headed to Lk Ontario, the TSW & Georgian Bay

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by mbevins

Looks like your decision to jump to the front of the Erie pack was wise. O1 bridge is now down for 3 weeks, unless you clear 10ft.

That's the Oswego canal. Thankfully I went all the way across on the Erie canal. That's going to be ugly as a lot of the boats won't be able to clear 10' to get down to Lake Ontario.

Ted

Edit: somebody types faster than me.

[O C Diver]

So I was in Tonawanda last night. It's a very different place before boating season (this coming long weekend). Water at the power pedestals hadn't been turned on. Unfortunately, the park had some drug addicts hanging out. Not a comfortable experience. Apparently the local police have been reminding them that this weekend they need to start finding some places else to play. These aren't homeless people, just people hanging out and making others feel uncomfortable. I'm told Tonawanda likes and needs their tourism and the police will make sure the waterfront is family friendly.

Moved 13 miles today from Tonawanda, up the Niagara river, up the Black Rock canal, through the Black Rock lock (say that twice fast on the radio), to one of the long abandoned commercial ship basins on the Buffalo waterfront. The basins are protected by a breakwater and are ideal for an early morning departure down the south shore of Lake Erie. Weather looks good for the next few days. Only downside to the basin is width relative to depth. The basin looks to be about 300' across, but the depth is 30 to 35' in the center. Assuming you drop the anchor in the center, you need a very short scope. Wind has died down, so I should be fine.






Occasionally a small fishing boat would come in and fish for a while. And then there was this:


Ted

[Jeff F]

I can suggest a few stops on the north side of the lake, but assume you'll stay in the US. Weather looks great.

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by Jeff F

I can suggest a few stops on the north side of the lake, but assume you'll stay in the US. Weather looks great.

Appreciate the thought, but need to be in Port Huron by June 1st.

Ted

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by O C Diver

So I was in Tonawanda last night. It's a very different place before boating season (this coming long weekend). Water at the power pedestals hadn't been turned on. Unfortunately, the park had some drug addicts hanging out. Not a comfortable experience. Apparently the local police have been reminding them that this weekend they need to start finding some places else to play. These aren't homeless people, just people hanging out and making others feel uncomfortable. I'm told Tonawanda likes and needs their tourism and the police will make sure the waterfront is family friendly.

Moved 13 miles today from Tonawanda, up the Niagara river, up the Black Rock canal, through the Black Rock lock (say that twice fast on the radio), to one of the long abandoned commercial ship basins on the Buffalo waterfront. The basins are protected by a breakwater and are ideal for an early morning departure down the south shore of Lake Erie. Weather looks good for the next few days. Only downside to the basin is width relative to depth. The basin looks to be about 300' across, but the depth is 30 to 35' in the center. Assuming you drop the anchor in the center, you need a very short scope. Wind has died down, so I should be fine.

Attachment 139139

Attachment 139140


Occasionally a small fishing boat would come in and fish for a while. And then there was this:
Attachment 139141

Ted

Was that ultralight equipped with floats?

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by SteveK

Was that ultralight equipped with floats?

No, the body was sitting in the water. I would not have been comfortable sitting in it. From my vantage point, the seats appeared to be at about sea level. Couldn't imagine leaving the dock with the canopy open. One wave over the bow makes it a submarine.
I think they were testing some repairs as there was no cowling on the engine. Looked to be a 4 cylinder Rotax engine.

Ted

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by O C Diver

No, the body was sitting in the water. I would not have been comfortable sitting in it. From my vantage point, the seats appeared to be at about sea level. Couldn't imagine leaving the dock with the canopy open. One wave over the bow makes it a submarine.
I think they were testing some repairs as there was no cowling on the engine. Looked to be a 4 cylinder Rotax engine.

Ted

Maybe skies under, but I wonder if it was a soft landing. I cannot imagine being in the water on purpose without floats, would it even have power to lift off. When I flew those it may have made 50 MPH (guess) on land take off.
Quick search and all have float on water, that is a land craft in water.

[mbevins]

Originally Posted by O C Diver

That's the Oswego canal. Thankfully I went all the way across on the Erie canal. That's going to be ugly as a lot of the boats won't be able to clear 10' to get down to Lake Ontario.

Ted

Edit: somebody types faster than me.

I agree with that, but it's going to back up the entire system from a docking perspective.

[O C Diver]

At 5AM the first hints of daybreak appear.

At 5:45 sunrise is starting in the East on a fairly calm Lake Erie.


At 13 miles behind me, the Buffalo skyline is silhouetted against the dawning of a new day.


Life is good!

Ted

[HeadedToTexas]

Do your plans include Sandusky this weekend? Not exactly on a short route through Erie, but not a bad stop.

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by HeadedToTexas

Do your plans include Sandusky this weekend? Not exactly on a short route through Erie, but not a bad stop.

I might be coerced to stop. Was thinking about grabbing a mooring at Put in Bay and taking a day off.

Ted

[HeadedToTexas]

Moorings at PIB will be hard to get this weekend unless you hit a worm hole and get there soon. Nice anchorage on the north side of Kelleys Island which gets very quiet each evening, but you’d want to stay well down on the east end even this light breeze. Quieter down at that end anyway.

[O C Diver]

I'm anchored tonight inside the Ashtabula breakwater after a looong day. Thought I'd leave you with pictures of the entrance to the breakwater.





Ted

[Wayfarer]

Ol' Ashtabeautiful. Getting into my stomping ground now! I just got off the ship, otherwise I'd be keeping an eye out for you. You'll probably make it to Duluth before I go back to work next month. Maybe I'll catch you on your way south.

Have a great cruise! Enjoy the lakes

[Seevee]

Originally Posted by O C Diver

So I was in Tonawanda last night. It's a very different place before boating season (this coming long weekend). Water at the power pedestals hadn't been turned on. Unfortunately, the park had some drug addicts hanging out. Not a comfortable experience. Apparently the local police have been reminding them that this weekend they need to start finding some places else to play. These aren't homeless people, just people hanging out and making others feel uncomfortable. I'm told Tonawanda likes and needs their tourism and the police will make sure the waterfront is family friendly.

Moved 13 miles today from Tonawanda, up the Niagara river, up the Black Rock canal, through the Black Rock lock (say that twice fast on the radio), to one of the long abandoned commercial ship basins on the Buffalo waterfront. The basins are protected by a breakwater and are ideal for an early morning departure down the south shore of Lake Erie. Weather looks good for the next few days. Only downside to the basin is width relative to depth. The basin looks to be about 300' across, but the depth is 30 to 35' in the center. Assuming you drop the anchor in the center, you need a very short scope. Wind has died down, so I should be fine.

Attachment 139139

Attachment 139140


Occasionally a small fishing boat would come in and fish for a while. And then there was this:
Attachment 139141

Ted

Looks like a Sea Ray amphibian. Came very close to getting one a few years ago because I could haul it up out of the water behind my house because of it's small size. But a bigger boat won out and put that on hold. Might rethink in a few years, but really want an Air Cam or Icon.


Love you posts!

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Ol' Ashtabeautiful. Getting into my stomping ground now! I just got off the ship, otherwise I'd be keeping an eye out for you. You'll probably make it to Duluth before I go back to work next month. Maybe I'll catch you on your way south.

Have a great cruise! Enjoy the lakes

Stopping in Port Huron for a couple of weeks.
Marquette for the 4th of July.
Isle Royale around the 10th to the 24th.
Then down to the Apostles.

I keep my eyes out for you ore boat drivers.

Crossed paths with the American Mariner late yesterday. So he hid in Conneaut last night waiting for me. I snuck out at dawn and who do you think is trying to sneak up behind me.





I'll have my eye out for you Dave.

Ted

[HeadedToTexas]

Looks like you’ll make Put In Bay. Hopefully the cool 63° weather (feels colder than that with 10+ knots of wind from the northeast) will mean your choice of mooring balls. The webcam shows plenty right now.

https://www.ozolio.com/explore/CISZ0000141B

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by HeadedToTexas

Looks like you’ll make Put In Bay. Hopefully the cool 63° weather (feels colder than that with 10+ knots of wind from the northeast) will mean your choice of mooring balls. The webcam shows plenty right now.

https://www.ozolio.com/explore/CISZ0000141B

Will probably anchor at Kelley's Island tonight. Have a gnat problem that needs to be remedied. 10+ miles offshore all day in light winds and they came looking for a host. The eviction process could get ugly.







Ted