New York

July 8 - Erie, PA

Look out Sam and Susan. We beat you to the surfing waves that you find in Hawaii. Our trip from Ashtabula, Ohio, to Erie, PA, was one big surfing day with winds driving the waves from 13 to 16 knots (gusts up to 18). Those are high winds but still "safe". Can I tell you that I was happy to get into the marina?

As marinas go, this is the "Cadillac" of marinas we've been in. The bathrooms are fabulous, the washers and dryers are new and actually dried the clothes, and the common grills are the best we've ever cooked on. Since the winds are turning (in the wrong direction), we've decided to stay in Erie for the next few days. We'll get our bikes off the boat and go exploring or rent a car and go farther from the water.

July 10 - Buffalo, NY
We made the big push to Buffalo today (69.6 miles) in order to have time to set up the building of the cradle and unstepping the mast in the next few days. The winds were favorable at 6 am but died by 9 am. We motored almost all the way. It was a 12 hour day. We'll be carrying the mast on the boat through the Erie Canal and expect that it will stick over the bow by 10 feet and over the stern by the same amount. The man we need to arrange this with is on a 3 day vacation (imagine that!). So, here we are in a big city, no friends to meet us, and no car. Hummmmm.......