We've Cast Off

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Friday night (June 29th), we got to the boat late, after cleaning and packing up the house. Our new home until next May is considerably smaller than our house, so loading the boat was quite a challenge. We planned to take "a couple of hours" Saturday morning to finish stowing stuff away, then leave. Well, we had several friends pay us a visit on Saturday, and we didn't get stuffed stowed, so at about 3:30 we left anyway from Bronte Oakville for Oswego NY where we enter the Erie Canal.

The weather didn't co-operate and we ended up spending Canada Day in Coburg, where they had a great Canada Day Celebration.

On Monday , we crossed the lake to Oswego, and started the trip down the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal connects Lake Ontario to the Hudson River, and is the first leg to get to the Ocean. It was built in the early 1800's and was built to move freight from New York to Buffalo, and then though the Great Lakes. There are 31 locks that take you up through the mountains, then down to the Hudson River. The last 5 locks alone drop 165 feet. And they are all within 5 miles. Going through the Erie Barge canal is an interesting trip through the industrial history of the United States. There were many very large factorys built along the canal, and most are abandoned, as industry moved to the south, then offshore. The scenery along the canal is beautiful, especially on the river parts that wind through the mountains.

It really took us 3 and a half days to go through the Erie Canal. Most of our days involve getting up early, and travelling about 12 hours!We entered the Hudson River at Troy New York, and are spending Friday night at Castleton on the Hudson. Now we have tides to think about, as you don't really want to travel when the tide is against you. Tomorrow we'll go to Hop O Nose in Catskill where we will have our mast put back up. (Going down the Erie Canal the mast has to be down.) We don't have to get up so early tomorrow, and that will be great!

Our first week of retirement just seems like the beginning of a holiday. We are happy to be underway, and look forward to our adventures ahead.

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Comments

[Haley's]

:0
The working slugs in Guelph miss you lots already and u aren't too fair away yet! Luv Donna xoxo

[Jane Bondy]

Ahoy About Time
Bedlam Here! Great to get your blog, and know you are on your way! I didn't realize that you actually sail through mountains. That must have been amazing! We have been missing you already, but talk of you often. We moved into our house this weekend, and we are missing the hot weather outside while we unpack the hundreds (seems like hundreds) of boxes. Hope to keep in touch and hear more about your adventures. Keep safe, keep moving, keep happy, enjoying your retirement. Love, Jane (and Mike)

[Russell]

Hello
Hi Doug/Sharon, I am sorry I did not write earlier, been a little busy. I am in Barbados now, but I am glad to hear everything is going well. Enjoy reading your blog and look forward to hearing more stories. Take care( I promised to call you when I am back in Canada). So far NO DF's to report. lol

[Fred]

Greeting from Sao Paulo
Currently working in Sao Paulo, BR. When flying over Caribe and Atlantic, we will be thinking of your voyage!