Craigslist doesn't mean Craig's Boat Is A-Listing

Capt. Craig Erickson showed up today here in Fairport, with the lovely Joyce. And Bear (of course). His boat, Flikka is looking fine and we're all just wondering where to go to eat. Dick says they've got 50-cent wings in Spencerport, but they're 90-cents here. Well, we're here. So, a buck a wing is the song and dance.

Talked to Kaitlynn McHenry, she's Captain of the Colonial Belle, and the first excursion is tomorrow, a free tour for the fourth graders here in upstate New York, just so, you know, they learn about the Canal. How cool is that?

Home Port, Fairport!

We made it to Fairport! Yeah, still waiting on that Starboard engine to be fixed, but it was such a nice day yesterday we decided to forge ahead and limp into port on one engine. Sunny day, light winds and it only took about an hour to make the eight miles between Midlakes' Macedon Landing and Fairport.

John Reesor and The Commodore (my wife) acted as able-bodied hands and we made the trip with no casualties. Or any adventures at all, really.

First thing we did after tying up was to bum-rush TK's Pizzeria and hit up Tony for a couple of slices to celebrate our successful landfall.

Anyway, now I just keep thinking of things I need from Wegmans, so I can jump in the car and run off and not have to scrub decks. We'll probably sit here for at least until we get the engine fixed, and then it'll be close to time for Canal Days, so, yeah, we're here for a while.

Now, where did I put those car keys?

Copperheaded Water Moccasin

Artist's rendition of a Copperheaded Water Moccasin

Every time we'd see a snake when I was fishing with my dad, he'd tell me it was a Copperheaded Water Moccasin. I really don't know if there is such a thing, but I do know my dad wouldn't let me join the Boy Scouts because he once got in an argument with a Scout Master about whether there were any Copperheads native to Kentucky, where I was born.

Of course, he played it off saying that I wouldn't want to be a Scout, because all they did was make coin purses and earn Merit Badges, but I knew the real story. He was just pissed about that stubborn Scout Master.

Doug Fry and his Border Collie, Emmie, found some Copperheads on a walk just outside the marina at Midlakes. Doug has 1968 Bristol sailboat that he's rehabing and plans on taking it down to the Florida Keys later this season.

We had to double check and see whether Copperheads really were native to New York State, and guess what? They are! Sure, they mostly tend to work out of Albany, but at least we won't have to argue with any Scout Masters.

So, anyway, watch out for snakes!

Camelot Launches

Camelot makes it's slow way to the water

Jean and Paul Miller's Holiday Mansion Camelot launched this Friday. You may have noticed Jean and Paul's boat moored in Fairport, they're regulars and in fact they were the first folks I got to know when I started boating on the Canal.

Their houseboat is one of the larger craft along the quay and they can usually be found sitting up on the rear deck. They're the boat with Canalligator sitting proudly on their swim platform, don'tcha know. It works as a pretty good scarecrow, and keeps the ducks from making a mess on the deck.

The original Canalligator was quite the attraction, especially for the younger kids walking along the quay with their parents after having gotten lucky with an Ice Cream cone. Alas, the first Canalligator disappeared one night, and we kinda suspect foul play. Or maybe the ducks ganged up and it was Fowl Play! Anyway, they've since replaced the old Canalligator with a new model, but we still miss the original.

Welcome back Jean and Paul!

She Floats

There you are, ready to get put in the water. Just waiting on the Travellift. You got your fenders all set up, your lines all laid out....

Anyway, yeah, you been there. And you wait. The guy said midmorning, late morning. At 1:30 you get a little peeved.

"He says he's only 1/2 an hour away!" says the nice dock lady. So you check your lines again. You kick a rock across the lot. You're still on the hard, and it seems like you might just stay there. Forever.

Hey! Travellift is here! Everything is going swimmingly. Back it up, back it up, careful, watch out for that houseboat perched precariously off to port! Ahh. Now, just slide those straps under the hull and, and, and look up and realize the crossbar has seriously scrunched your bimini.

No big deal! Shit happens! Hey, a little wood, a little muscle, and we'll straighten those tubes right out. After all, they're stainless steel.....

Boat in water, both engines fire up, and yay! We're.... hold up a sec... that gauge is showing a little hot. Hey, Starboard isn't sucking water. Shit.

Impeller? It's a nothing part, captain, but without it, ship don't move.

Ah well, maybe Friday. At least the hull is wet. And those new mooring lines? They worked like champions.

"And the boating adventure continues..." says Peter.

Yes, Yes it does. And she floats.

Cadaver Dog Finds Body in Erie Canal

"GATES, N.Y. -- Search and rescue teams say they believe they have found the body of a missing Greece man.

Kurt Freese was last seen Friday after police say he suffered an apparent anxiety attack. Freese walked out during his shift as a machine operator at Light Fab in Gates, leaving behind his car and personal belongings. Police say he was distressed.

Since Friday, law enforcement agencies used K-9, a helicopter and boat to look for Freese. Tuesday afternoon, a Massasaugua Search and Rescue cadaver dog out on a boat found Freese's body in the water about and hour into the search. The medical examiner's office will now make a positive identification and determine the exact cause of death.

Police say they might never had found Freese had it not been for the volunteer search teams who stepped in to help."

Read more....

Birdie James gets Wet

Don Cartwright on the stern of Birdie James as she launches

Don Cartwright's boat, Birdie James was dropped back into the drink this Saturday, all 13 tons of her. Don has done a boatload (heh) of work on Birdie over the winter, including replacing a considerable amount of deck and ceiling.

Birdie James is a relative newcomer to the canal as Don purchased her last year and brought her down from Connecticut. She's a Bluewater Yacht with an impressive amount of room on board. Her open deck plan really allows passengers to spread out and Don has lots of plans for more custom upgrades in the future.