Wednesday, September 13, 2017

We left the boat and headed home to North Carolina on Monday, and the boat went into heated storage on Tuesday. Since we originally packed for a nine month trip, we had a lot of "Stuff" to squeeze into the car. It was packed so tightly that we could not see out of the rear window.

The price of gasoline changed significantly as we drove south:

NY: $2.71 per gal

PA:   2.85

VA:   2.60

NC:  2.59

SC:   2.51

We did not know what to expect when we arrived home. Heavy rain and wind from hurricane Irma were forecasted earlier in the week. We were pleasantly surprised with the condition of the yard and house. Our lawn service had been there the previous day and mowed and picked up any debree from surrounding trees. The only damage was the tattered flag that I left flying on the flagpole. I took that down and replaced it with a new flag, and there was no evidence of a storm.
On the way home we stayed at a Days Inn that was Pet friendly. However our room was very close to the ice machine. Every time it would drop ice, Lulu would start barking - this went on all night. I thought that we would be asked to leave, but apparently noone complained.

This will be our last posting until we begin our trip again next year. Hope that you all enjoyed the blog postings.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

We are packing up today and getting the boat ready for storage. Unfortunately, since we packed for a 9 month trip, we did not keep our tote bags on the boat. We loaded the boat in Little River, SC and I took all the bags home. So we are using boxes and plastic bags and the few totes we had on the boat. I don't know if I can get all this stuff in the car! We plan to leave tomorrow after draining the water from the boat and pumping out the holding tank. The boat will go into heated indoor storage at Horizon Marine in Alexandria Bay.
Here are a few pictures that I took today and yesterday:

I saw this nice looking Lyman cruise by our slip this afternoon. It turned out to be Karl Claus a member of our ROMEO breakfast group, i.e. Retired Old Men Eating Out. I wouldn't have known who it was, but he yelled "Hey Romeo".

Many of the boats on my dock have already come out of the water and gone into storage. You can see EASTNOR at the end of the dock in the middle of the picture

 

This is a brand new Back Cove that is Docked at the beginning of my dock.

Yesterday we were surprised by a Border Patrol boat checking out our marina.

On Friday Night what was left of the crew on my dock enjoyed dinner and drinks at the Thousand Islands Club Restaurant. They all party hearty!

 



Thursday, September 7, 2017

We were getting the boat ready to go into storage and planning to leave tomorrow. However the threat of the Hurricane Irma hitting the Carolinas changed out plans. We will sit it out on the boat for a few more days until the path of the Hurricane becomes clearer. If the Thousand Islands weather permits, I will be able to do a couple of boat maintenance jobs.

I took a ride this morning to Clayton for a haircut, and saw a view of what looked like a cruise ship near the Harbor Hotel in Clayton. I took a detour into town and took this picture of the Cruise Ship tied up to the town dock in Clayton:

 

 

We went to dinner tonight at the Clipper Restaurant in Clayton with a group of my TI Country Club golfing friends.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

As the boating season ends in the Thousand Islands, hundreds of boats are being prepared to come out of the water. The St Lawrence River will freeze, and the Seaway will close during the winter.

Here on Wellesley Island at the Thousand Islands Club Marina, Horizon Marine is beginning the process of taking boats out of the water and into their heated storage facility in Alexandria Bay.
Horizon Marine has set up an interesting process at the TI Club Marina. Here are a few pictures of the very clever oil changing set up:

This is the dock that they have designated for the oil change and storage preparation. Boats are removed from their slips, brought here for oil change. They are also set up to do pump outs, and other services if the owners have not done them themselves. They are then taken across the River, hauled, and placed in storage.

 

These tanks are set up at the end of the dock to receive the oil that is pumped out of the boats.

 

 

This is the start of the piping that caries the oil from the boat down the dock to the tanks.

 

 

Notice the hose connected to the arches that carries the oil down the dock.

 

This pump removes the oil from the boat

 

 

55 gal drums of fresh oil ready to be pumped into the boats after the old oil is pumped out.

 

We plan on leaving, and heading back to NC, on Friday. So "EASTNOR" will come out of the water sometime next week and move into the heated storage for the winter. We will return in the spring to consider continuing our Great Loop Cruise.

A Sunset from our slip

 

Sunday, September 3, 2017

It is a cold damp day on the St Lawrence. However Dr. George Mino took his boat out for a ride. As you can see by his daughter in Laws heavy coat, She is prepared. You know it is the change of seasons when she has her fur lined hood up, and is wearing Flip Flops and Sunglasses!

Saturday, September 2, 2017

We drove over to Cape Vincent, NY at the East end of Lake Ontario where the  St Lawrence River begins to attend a car show. The show was held in a town park on the St Lawrence. Here are a few cars that were in the show:

 

A 57 Ford Skyliner. The picture doesn't do it justice; the paint job was so good that there was a lot of reflection

 

 

Another 57 Ford

 

A Model A Roadster Hotrod

 

Three colorful Customs

 

A great looking 72 C-10 Chevy Truck

 

A 1952 Plymouth

 

An Old timer International Truck

 

This freighter was entering the St Lawrence River from Lake Ontario. I took this picture a short ways from the Car show. Notice the Pilot boat alongside unloading a Pilot. The Pilot climes up a rope ladder to board the vessel while the Freighter is still underway at low speed. Today was a nice calm day, but they do this in all kinds of weather.

 

 

 

Brenda beside a Model A and in front of a 1912 Ambulance used in WWI. The ambulance has been in a Museum in Albany for many years and was acquired and partially restored by the Cape Vincent American Legion.

 

Here are a couple of pictures I took when we returned to our Marina, The Thousand Island Club on Wellesley Island. I recommend this marina to loopers who want to stop and explore the Thousand Islands area.

 

 

Friday, September 1, 2017

I had the opportunity to attend a Syracuse University Football Game in a private box in the Carrier Dome on Friday Night. Richard Gambel, who crossed his wake on his 40 Nautic Tug "Rambler" a couple of years ago, attended with me. His boat is in Hilton Head, SC, but he has a home here on Wellesley Island in the St Lawrence River. Here are a few pictures that Richard took during the game:

Action in front of our Box

 

Enjoying a libation in the box before the game

 

The attendance was low; they announced 30,000 plus, but the dome will hold about 50,000

 

View of the field from our box.

Syracuse beat Central Connecticut 50 to 7