FROM COBOURG
ONT. TO PORT COLBORNE ONT.
On 7/25/17
Dutchess traveled from Cobourg Municipal Marina to Port Whitby Marina. We had a
nice ride in Lake Ontario, with the wind blowing off the land we had almost no
waves. This made Skipper very happy.
Toronto Skyline from Lake Ontario |
On 7/30/17
we sailed across Lake Ontario to St Catherines Marina. We had a good quiet crossing of 4.2 hours
traveling around 22 NM with the wind dropping to zero. This marina is very
tight to maneuver in for a 44’ boat and they put us all the way in. This is the
only marina near the Welland Canal. John found a long black hair in his Mexican
dish that we got at the small food shop in the marina! (other than that, the food was good – lol) We
walked the dogs and then went to bed early because of an early start the next
morning.
On7/31/17 we
got up at 0530, started the engine almost immediately, left at 0600 and proceeded
around the breakwater towards the Welland Canal. About a mile in there is a
free wall for recreational vessels to tie up and wait for clearance to enter
the canal. We arrived at the wall at 0645 and our helper, Bob Neff, drove up at
the same time. We had hired Bob to help us thru the canal because they require a
crew of at least three on each boat coming up the canal. The Canal goes from
Lake Ontario to Lake Erie basically to get around Niagara Falls. The canal cost
$200.00 CA if you book on-line and the guide costs $250.00CA or $200.00 US -- a
short cut that costs $450.00CA! Bob called the Canal control and was given no
time of transit. We hung out at the wall with a small racing sailboat until
2000 when we were given permission to enter lock number #1. These are huge
locks for ocean going ships and “Lakers” with about a 40’ rise.
Welland Canal Lock Doors |
Welland Canal Lock |
The next
morning at 0900 we were awakened by a shout and found a 200’ Canadian Coast
Guard Cutter next to us. We were informed that we were in his spot. We untied
immediately and got away from there – lol.
On 08/01/17 we took a short ride to Sugarloaf Marina in
Port Colborne. They gave us an easy long dock to tie to. Still tired we napped
most of the day. Then got some showers and dinner at the restaurant in the
Marina. We both had Lake Erie Perch and a nice cold beer.
On 08/02/17
Dutchess reentered the USA at Buffalo NY, an easy trip on Lake Erie. We first
pulled into the Erie Basin Marina to connect to US Immigration and report in.
We saw a green uniformed US Customs officer but he could not help and told us
to use the video phone on the wall. You guessed it – the phone did not
work! We left the marina and proceeded
on to the Buffalo Launch Club where we had reservations to dock. To avoid the
currents in the river, we took the Black Rock Canal and the Lock which
parallels the river. We had a speedy transit under 2 bridges that opened for us
and thru the Black Rock Lock (say that 3 times on the VHF!). At the BLC we tied
to C dock which is a short walk to their beautiful club house complete with dining
room, bar, pool, tennis courts, a dog walk area, and nice outdoor seating areas.
We reached Customs from here via cell phone – quick and easy.