Spoke with mom on Sunday, they were in Atlantic Highlands waiting for the weather to clear enough to head to Atlantic City.  Sounds like mom is getting lots of exercise, she was on a walk and estimated she had gone 5km before heading back to the boat.  Go mom!  Next she will be running a marathon…

Diane

to me

3:52 PM (0 minutes ago)

“will try to chat online tomorrow. in nyc today and yesterday. leaving in the morning for atlantic highlands”

Hmm…funny – when our family went on the same trip years ago we BEGGED mom and dad to stop in NYC…we never did.  Apparently they have now.  Note: I have never been to NYC.   Through it, but never on land.  *sniff*

I spoke with my mother briefly last week, they were stuck between locks.  At the end of the Erie Barge Canal, there are 5 locks (E2-E6) that most people travel through all in the same day.  The end of these locks is the end of the canal.  There is a visitors centre for boaters at the bottom of the last lock that is quite popular, as most people stay there a night or two to re-charge after travelling the canal.  I say most people travel through these locks all in the same day, well apparently mom and dad are the exception to the rule.  The visitors centre was full, and it was suggested that they stay up in between locks because there really isn’t anywhere else to stay at the end of the canal.  While I am sure this was riveting for them (there was nothing to do), the next day they were hoping some boats had left the visitors centre so that they could grab a spot on the free dock.

I am going to assume they made it to the visitors centre, but when we tried talking that night mom’s connection was horrible and she kept getting disconnected.  Eventually we both gave up.

I am sure I would have more to write about if I had been at home Friday night, but unfortunately I wasn’t.  Mom vocalized her opinion of that on Facebook: “Diane is finally connected to wifi, trying to connect with her wretched children, who appear to be not at home.”  Love you too, mom!

Well, I’ve talked to mom and dad a few times in the last week through MSN video messaging.  I wish I had something fabulous to post, but unfortunately our conversations centred around boring last minute loose ends….

One of those things was to call Holland Marine to order dad some nipples and prickers…mom and I had a great laugh over this, but interesting as they sound – they are merely stove parts…great name though!

Previously I posted that they were crossing to Ashtabula, Ohio the first day of their trip.  According to mom, they stayed there three days.  This is really no surprise, as they always have a great time with their friends at the Ashtabula Yacht Club.   From there they headed over to Buffalo to get their mast taken down (I don’t remember the exact town, but it is some little place near the beginning the Erie Barge Canal) and headed on through the canal.  The mast is going to be trucked to the end of the canal, where they will have to put it back up.  Here is a map of the first leg of the canal.  When I talked to them, they were in Brockport and stayed there for about 3 days.  Wednesday September 10th they headed on…I haven’t spoken to them since, but I’m sure the next time they can access wireless internet I will hear from them (and hopefully they will have some pictures!).

Saturday morning dawned beautiful and clear and Vertigo 1 and Whipporwill finally left the dock.  Making the 7:30 bridge, they headed off.  Ashtabula, here they come!

At the dock

Tony & Diane

Ab & Karen

Waiting for Bridge

Leaving the dock

The Bridge

Waving Goodbye

Bye-bye!

Whipporwill

What a beautiful day!

I have a bunch of pictures on my computer somewhere of the boat that I will be posting to give this blog a bit of interest until their trip pictures start coming in, but I haven’t had time to post them…stay tuned!

Well, I just said goodnight to mom and dad for the final time in a few weeks at least.  We (My husband Andrew and I) hope to go and visit them in Annapolis for Thanksgiving which isn’t too far away, but I still feel like that will be too long! 

Tomorrow morning they hope to leave at the crack of dawn.  Usually much too early for me, but I will definitely be getting up to wave them off.  First stop, Ashtabula! 

Unfortunately, with all of the rushing around in the past couple of days they seem to have misplaced their handheld VHF radio.  What a bugger!  We’ve looked all over the house and boat and can’t find it…it couldn’t have gone too far.  I’m sure it will turn up but Murphy’s Law says that will happen after they purchase a replacement.

If anyone happens to see a seemingly ownerless VHF radio hanging out around Port, let me know.

Bon voyage….

Not that I actually want them to go…but are they gone yet?

My parents have spent the past two weeks “leaving” on their year long voyage to the Bahamas and back.  (Once they leave) This will be their journey. 

Have fun mom and dad!