Pictures From the Trip October 3, 2001 Last Cruising Update - Summary October 1, 2001 Cruising Update - From Annapolis September 26, 2001 Home Strech September 19, 2001 Last Of The Erie Canal September 15, 2001 Back on the Eastern Erie Canal September 12, 2001 Finishing the Western Erie Canal September 10, 2001 Lockport to Fairport September 7, 2001 Western Frontier of the Erie Canal September 6, 2001 Back in the Canal System September 4, 2001 Leaving The Great Lakes September 1, 2001 In our 7th State August 29, 2001 Ohio Has Libraries August 27, 2001 Vermilion, Ohio August 26, 2001 Fox Haven Marina August 22, 2001 In Put-in-Bay August 17, 2001 The End Of Lake Huron August 15, 2001 Down Lake Huron August 13, 2001 North Channel and Lake Huron August 3, 2001 Gore Bay August 1, 2001 Keel-Haulings July 31, 2001 Rocks Everywhere July 28, 2001 On To The North Channel July 17, 2001 Wouldn't Change A Thing July 13, 2001 Speed Limit July 9, 2001 Thousands of Islands July 5, 2001 Out Of New York July 3, 2001 Typical Day July 2, 2001 Cold Mornings July 1, 2001 Phoenix NY And Beyond June 26, 2001 Through The First Lock June 25, 2001 Up Around Manhattan June 15, 2001 Daily Routine June 12, 2001 Strolling The Vineyards June 11, 2001 Sag Harbor June 9, 2001 Block Island & Beer Can Music June 5, 2001 Lessons Learned June 1, 2001 The Tides Increasing May 25, 2001 Up The Coast Of New Jersy May 21, 2001 Getting To Know The Cruisers May 17, 2001 And So It Begins!

 September 1, 2001 

Here we are in our 7th state in the past 3 1/2 months - - Pennsylvania (Erie). We are still trying to determine how we can see more of the 50 states ... !

We left Fairport on Thursday morning, intending to stop in Conneaut, OH for the night. But we heard on NOAA radio that thunderstorms and high winds were predicted for Friday and Saturday so we decided to continue on to Erie, PA (thinking that it would be a bigger port to "hole up in"). Besides that, it was perfect cruising on Thursday - - sunny, 80 degrees, less than 1' waves, SE winds. So after almost 10 hours, we anchored off of the state park on Presque Isle (By the way, this is also our 2nd Presque Isle). It is a beautiful, protected, quiet anchorage; so far it has only been us and several sailboats anchored in the bay.

Yesterday (Friday) we were on the boat all day, doing some maintenance and housekeeping chores (and a nap in the afternoon). We started the day watching 2 thunderstorms go through, sitting in the salon, drinking coffee ... and eating lemon cookies! Can you think of a better way to start a day?! It rained on and off all day (1.8" of rain total, John Z.). Oh, and Brian FINALLY asked for a hair cut. After 3 months, it was getting a little wild (ALMOST ponytail length if you can believe it!). Now he looks respectable again - - he even shaved! Maybe the librarians won't look at us so suspiciously from here on out ...

Friday evening we dinghied into the state park marina for a walk (it is only a 36' boat remember!). As we walked along the shore of the 2 x 3 mile Presque Isle Bay, we did not see one pleasure boat (we did see two of the town's tour boats). And it was a beautiful evening. It seems amazing after Thursday evening when there were boats all over the place. We still haven't figured it out - - maybe because of the storms all day (?).

Today, we dinghied into the town of Erie. You can tell that the city takes great pride in its town - - it is very neat, trying hard for beautification, and have these ~5' statues of fish on almost every corner, painted differently, most advertising the industry/store/theme of the building on that corner. They are really cool! We also stopped to watch a football game at Gannon University in their brand new "multi-purpose stadium". When we left in the middle of the 2nd quarter, it was 27 - 0, Gannon. Things didn't look pretty for the visiting team!

After sending this e-mail, we are going to visit the "Niagara" - - Commodore Perry's ship and then stop and get a beer before going back to the boat (a ~2 mile dinghy ride).

Winds today are up to 30 knots, waves 3 - 5 feet (yup, we are staying at anchorage for the day), but tomorrow it is supposed to be calm. We are still trying to decide whether to stop in Dunkirk, NY or to continue straight to Buffalo (for the wings!). We'll probably get on the water and see how we feel. Can you believe how flexible we have become!?!?!

Hey, did you know that you can microwave corn-on-the-cob? While visiting with Brian's family, I was trying to decide whether to cook a dozen ears of corn that Brian's mom brought for dinner one night on the grill or on the stove. In response to my thinking out loud, June asked why the microwave wasn't working. Just as I was trying to figure out how the two conversations related, she explained that all you have to do is put a little butter/margarine on a sheet of plastic wrap, wrap the shucked ear of corn in it, and microwave it for ~1 1/2 minutes per ear. It worked great! Thanks, June!

Brian is still conducting his nightly spider and bug kills. And leaving more and more green and black spots all over the boat (okay, okay, he does wash them off ...). But the little buggers really are a mess. We have heard from some of the locals that they are worse this year than in the past. But, hey, so far, this is the ONLY downside we have found to fresh water cruising. Boy, are we going to miss the fresh water - - not looking forward to the salty seas again.

Second bit of trivia: Did you know that Purple Martins migrate to Venezula each year? But they are in Erie, PA now! The past two night they have been congregating on the sailboat masts in the marinas. Talk about a mess. We'll opt for the spider marks over the bird "marks" any day!

I guess that's all for now. Brian's low beer light is going off. (I knew I shouldn't have promised him one ... !).

If we don't find a library in Buffalo, we'll e-mail again along the Erie Canal. We'll raise a Buffalo Wing or two to you all. Cruising on.

Jeri and Brian