Louisiana, MO to Brewerton/Cicero, NY, May 14 - 22, 2016

May 14 - 22, 2016

Hose testing

Prepping for a hose testing session

Let the adventure begin…or rather, resume! Renting a one-way rental car on Friday, the 13^th, Clay and I packed, loaded and departed LAMO mid-afternoon on Saturday, May 20^th eastbound toward Syracuse, NY. At the Monticello, IL exit, Clay announced he ‘needed to stretch his legs.’ Translation: ‘I want to stop  and see Dyke and Kathleen Piatt unannounced.’ After 37+ years of marriage, I’ve gotten pretty good at interpreting Clay’s communication (as Cindy says, he speaks in riddles!!!), but that was a curve ball.

Props had to be sent off to be re-manufactured.

An hour later, we were back on the road to an overnight stop in Champaign, IL. Plan B is already playing a big part in our trip, and we’ve only just begun. Not a room to be had in Champaign (graduation weekend you see), so we found ourselves in Danville, IL with (really very fashionably late) dinner at Red Lobster.

Crab trees were in full bloom.

Awakening Sunday morning to unseasonably cold temps and a migraine, I was glad I had the wherewithal to suit up and head out on my morning walk. My goal was a venue selling OTC migraine meds of which I had a choice of Walgreens, CVS, and Dollar General. I was living right! Once on the road again, Sunday’s drive took us to the outskirts of Columbus, OH and a dinner stop at nearby Texas Roadhouse. A favorite of sister Susan’s, TX Roadhouse was a welcomed opportunity where Clay chomped on in-shell peanuts, and I enjoyed having someone cook for me! Columbus, OH announced a record low temp Monday morning (31 or 32, can’t remember, but both are COLD for May 16^th) which had me hoping fervently for a quick warm-up! Boating is no fun in the cold!

Erie tug on Brewerton free wall.

One of Winter Harbors storage buildings

Another travel day Monday, we set sights on the outskirts of Buffalo, NY where we dined late at an all-you-can-eat Mongolian Buffet after a brief McDonald’s lunch stop earlier in the afternoon. Seems all we’re doing is eating, sleeping and driving. Yep, got that right! We had a Tuesday afternoon deadline in Brewerton, NY where SaSea Sally was to ‘splash’ that morning. ‘Splash’ is the term Clay referenced in launching the boat from its heated winter storage spot at Winter Harbor Marina.

Winter Harbor's storage buildings.

Winter Harbor storage building.

Once arriving at Winter Harbor, let the schlepping begin. Clay’s timing is awesome! He was on a bank conference call with me in wait mode until it concluded. Those of you who know me know I don’t sit well! Thus, I loaded the dock cart and began the first of many trips from rental car across the span of parking lot to the seawall along which SaSea WSally was docked.

Back row at Winter Harbor boat storage

A really unlucky boater hit a rock jetty in Lake Oneida, NY

Two destroyed props

Boat storage at Winter Harbor

                  
Welcome home! It’s time to get reacquainted! Thankful for a good memory and an organized approach to setting up initial housekeeping in 43’ of space, I found myself acclimated in record time; Clay, as well. At the same time of stowing our belongings from home, Clay and I made a comprehensive list (groceries, toiletries, paper goods, etc.) of what we needed to purchase and, in Clay’s case, what he could purge. Having no list at home from which to pack for his return, Clay found himself now over-clothed. That cost us a pretty penny a few days later in shipping a rather large box of Clay’s clothes home; John and Pat Pitney, does this sound familiar? I had a list which kept me focused and able to avoid adding anything to Clay’s box. (There were a few items I could have packed home, but I would never admit that to him!)

Serious snow here-No Street Parking!!!

Second free wall in Brewerton.

We spent much of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tending to a massive to-do list. For each item we accomplished, we seemed to add at least one more to the bottom of the list. Thus, we find ourselves on Sunday morning still tending to that to-do list. We have made countless trips to Wal-Mart (the first trip garnered us a walloping $395+ receipt for purchases made) and Wegman’s (a delightful local grocery store and deli where just the presentation is entertainment itself). Other destinations have been the Colonial Laundromat (no laundry facilities at either Winter Harbor or Ess-Kay where we are currently docked), Dollar General, Pascale Wine and Liquor Town (no wine or hard liquor sold at grocery stores here), and an occasional lunch at Panera where I can get my ‘fix’ before we hit the waterway.

Ess-Kay docks

Ess-Kay Yard and lift

Note: On Thursday following the installation of two new diesel truck batteries at Winter Harbor, we traveled the waterway 1/8 mile to relocate at Ess-Kay Yard which is highly regarded by numerous of our Looper friends! Kim and Ethan (and puppy Zemma) greeted us enthusiastically, gave us a quick orientation (Clay has been here previously), and made their services available for electrical, mechanical and Garmin issues often present in the boaters world. They also made available a courtesy car which is a huge perk once we returned our one-way (gulp!) rental car to the Syracuse Hancock International Airport Saturday afternoon.

We have been treated to good weather with low temperatures hovering between 45 and 50 degrees early a.m., to highs in the mid 60’s to low 70’s during the day. We have had sunshine until clouds set in yesterday afternoon and persist even now. We have quickly adapted to the role and responsibilities of boating, and we are adjusting to the confines of space and of too much togetherness already!

One of two single college professors living on their Endeavor Cat

History here goes way back!

On that note I will sign, seal and send; then I’m off to help the Captain who is now trying to remove the broken needle stump from the hand-held air pump. Much of my life remains the same (grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, cooking, making beds, computer work), but my environment is so very different and my duties will be as the Captain assigns. Sure hope my left shoulder holds up during the upcoming travels on the Erie Canal!