Days 85-89 Back on the boat!

Monday-Friday July 14-18, 2025

MONDAY

After a wonderful visit home, we returned to the boat refreshed and ready to roll. To our delight, every item on our repair list had been taken care of while we were away—what a welcome surprise! We reunited with our friends from Too Nasty and managed to squeeze in a meal together before they shoved off. (They were sweet enough to delay their departure just to see us—🥰).

The boat, however, was looking a little worse for wear. We rolled up our sleeves and got to scrubbing under the sweltering sun—it was hot and humid, the kind of sticky heat that makes even your eyebrows sweat. One major project we’d hoped to knock out while we were gone was the replacement of all our upper deck cushions. But the estimate we got was astronomical, so… DIY it is! I ordered a heavy-duty sewing machine, marine-grade foam, vinyl, a foam saw, and all the tools of the trade. By the time we arrived, our haul had taken over the marina office—we may have unofficially won the award for most boxes delivered 😄

TUESDAY

Errand day! We grabbed one of the courtesy cars to stock up on supplies and knock out some chores around town. Of course, neither of the cars had air conditioning, so we got a nostalgic blast from the past—windows down, sweat dripping, and trying to remember how we ever survived like this. We get back to the boat to find one of our air conditioners is not working well. It is always something🙄 That night, we were invited aboard Renown II for post-dinner drinks with John and Vicki. Steve from River Girl joined us too—it was a perfect, low-key evening.

WEDNESDAY

Back to boat life means back to the never-ending list of chores. Jeff tackled another round of errands while I worked on finding somewhere to stash all the foam and materials that have taken over the boat. Even compressed, that stuff takes up a shocking amount of space. I swear I’m playing a 3D game of Tetris trying to make everything fit. After I finished that task, I started taking apart the cushion that was in the worst shape. Quite a dirty job but I was able to tear apart and get new foam cut as well.

THURSDAY

We’re off again! Today was a big push—roughly six hours navigating through eight locks. First, we cleared the final Erie Canal lock before making our turn north, and then we tackled seven more on the Oswego Canal. The last couple of locks toyed with us weather-wise. We’d just escape one shower, think we were in the clear—and then BAM! The skies opened up right as we entered the lock. Picture me with one hand on the lock rope, the other flailing to slam hatches shut—definitely earned a few style points on that one! 😅

Fortunately, the rain brought a refreshing break in humidity. We landed on the wall in Oswego, where we’ll hang tight for a couple of days while we wait for a good weather window to cross Lake Ontario. As a fun surprise, there was a live concert stage right across the canal. Every Thursday night, they host free live music, and tonight’s band brought the house down with southern rock and blues—think Allman Brothers and Charlie Daniels with some original songs mixed in. The best seats in the house? Our back deck!

Oh—and I broke in the new air fryer with homemade chicken fingers. Total win.

FRIDAY

Sleep was elusive last night thanks to a rolling storm and strong north winds that had us rocking and swaying until sunrise. But today made up for it in every way: clear blue skies, no humidity, and perfect temps in the low 70s. We explored Fort Ontario for a couple of hours, soaking in the history and sunshine, then grabbed lunch at a charming old train station turned pub. The patio was the place to be—finally, weather we could breathe in. Jeff then walked down to the maritime museum as I spent time getting acquainted with my new machine. I cut our material for the first cushion and got a bit of sewing done!

We’re still waiting on better wind conditions for the Lake Ontario crossing, but tomorrow’s forecast looks promising. We shared drinks aboard Inception II with Jon and Claire, who—along with a couple other Loopers—are also planning to cross in the morning. One last walk to the market for a few essentials, and we capped the night with good ol’ BLTs. Simple, delicious, and just right for a perfect summer evening.