On the second half of our trip, we departed Charleston and headed up the intercoastal. From there, we took the Erie canal, which cut several hundred miles off the trip, but we had to take down the masts to do it. If we went the other route, it would have taken us all the way up to Canada and back down into Lake Erie.
I bought a new Video camera and also put pictures online as we went, thanks to my new wireless internet setup. The setup consists of a Compaq Presario 400 MHz Laptop, a Motorola Timeport Sprint PCS phone, and a HP digital camera. These items allow me to sign onto the net and post the pictures without a connection to land. Pretty cool !! You literally know the same day where we are and how things are going (Sprint PCS signal permitting). Pictures and info in log form were added daily.

Check out the First Week - 4/10 to 4/17

Check out the Second Week - 4/18 to 4/25

Check out the Third Week - 4/26 to 5/02

Current Weeks Adventures

(just a reminder – click on photos below to enlarge)

• May 3
  7:30 am – It is a great morning with no clouds and is warming up. We left the marina for the continuing trip westward. You know how they say that things always happen in threes ? Well, they’re right ! As we backed out of our slip, we then put the boat in forward and… NOTHING ! No forward gear ! So we dropped anchor and checked the transmiision. No fluid. Put fluid in and got back to the dock. After further examination, it seems that a bolt wore a hole through the transmission cooler and all the fluid leaked out. Got out the torch and soldered that problem.
  8:30 am - Back underway again.
  2:00 pm – Encountered an overheating problem. Cleaned the raw water strainer and problem fixed.
  6:00 pm – Reached Lock 14 where we will spend the evening. We came approximately 60 miles today. More good weather on the way for tomorrow too.

  
  Waterfall flowing into the Erie Canal.

  
  View from inside one of the many locks.

  
  Larry and I enjoy a snack.

• May 4
  7:00 am – Entered Lock 14 for the continuing trip West.
  12:00 pm – Went through Lock 17 (see pictures below). This is the worlds highest loift lock at 40.8 feet.
  7:00 pm – Made it to the town of Sylvan Beach on the East side of Oneida Lake. This is a really cool town that is based around boating and appears to be pretty lively in the summer. We are going to bed early tonight so we can get out of here by 6 am tomorrow for the trip across the lake and up the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario. We will be meeting up with Myron and Ken, who will be replacing me for the remainder of the trip. Myron has bought a digital camera and will be e-mailing me pictures, so we should be able to continue with the updates of our progress.

  
  Lock 17 before lift.

  
  Lock 17 after lift.

  Check out the New York Canal System information site.

• May 5
  6:15 am – Started 22 mile trip Westward across Oneida Lake. Lots of fog on the lake this morning, but a great sunrise !
  2:30 pm – Made it to Oswego, New York where we will meet Myron and Ken. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning. Later this coming week, I will be adding more pictures taken throughout the journey that weren’t originally included on the site.
  11:00 pm - Ken and Myron arrived and will continue the trip from here.

  
  Great sunrise on Oneida Lake !

  
  The last lock opens and we can see Lake Ontario

  
  The new crew for Camelot

• May 6
  9:00 am - Myron, Ken and Larry departed for Rochester, about 60 miles West.
  4:00 pm - Camelot arrived at Rochester and docked for the evening. Tomorrow will be approximately a 75 mile trip to the entrance of the Welland Canal.

  
  Lighthouse on Lake Ontario at the entrance to Oswego

  
  The crew heads out on Lake Ontario

  
  Myron figures out how to use the camera

• May 7
  7:00 am - Departed from Rochester, headed for the Welland Canal about 75 miles West.
  6:00 pm - Arrived at St. Catharines, Ontario at the entrance to the Welland Canal. Tomorrow will be the trip through the Welland and out into Lake Erie.

  
  A view of Lake Ontario

  
  The marina at St. Catharines, Ontario

• May 8
  Went through the Welland Canal to Lake Erie with no problems. The crew will spend the night at the South of the entrance to the canal. Tomorrow will be the trip to Erie, PA.

  
  A bridge in the Welland Canal

  
  Entering a lock on the Welland

  
  Good view from the bow of Camelot

  
  Myron. What else can you say !

• May 9
  7:00 am - Departed the Welland for Erie, Pennsylvania. At some point along the way, the dingy broke loose and had to be retreived. In the process, the rear rail was damaged on both sides. Arrived in Erie, PA in the afternoon.

  
  Lighthouse at Erie, PA

  
  The harbor at Erie, PA

  
  Sidewheel steamer in Erie, PA harbor

  
  We finally get some use out of that ! (the inflatable, not Myron)

• May 10
  9:30 am - Weather reports say 6 foot waves at max, so Camelot departed Erie, PA and headed for Astabula, Ohio.

  10:30 am to 4:00 pm - Weather reports were wrong ! Bad waves in excess of 10 feet ! Lost the Danforth anchor when it broke loose and could not be pulled back on deck. Also lost half the grill and things shook loose that Larry didn't think were able to be shook ! Finally arrived in Astabula, Ohio to a ghost town. No marinas are open, so the Camelot picks one and ties up for free. No phone service, so no pictures today.

  
  Bad weather !

  
  And more bad weather !

  A sad note for Larry and Ken - The Wild Turkey Bourbon Plant in Kentucky burnt to the ground today. Since that's their favorite drink, toast one to them today !

• May 11
  7:00 am - Departed Astabula, Ohio and headed for The Flats in Cleveland, Ohio. Hopefully we'll have some phone service so pictures can be sent to Nick for posting on the page.
  4:00 pm - Arrived in Cleveland with no problems along the way. Still no phone service, so pictures will be posted this weekend when we return home. Headed for Catawba tomorrow.

  
  Cleveland as viewed from Camelot

  
  Stadium in Cleveland

  
  The Flats in Cleveland

  
  Cleveland lighthouses

• May 12
  Camelot left The Flats (Cleveland) and arrived at Catawba Island around 6 pm !!! They had to hide up in a river for a couple hours today as storms passed, but they made good time with no problems. The crew will stay up at Catawba tonight and celebrate, then be home tomorrow. When Myron arrives with the pictures from this week, I will post them. They should be up by Sunday night at latest.

  
  Marblehead, OH lighthouse

  
  The crew can see Catawba Island and West Harbor now !

  Check out a virtual tour of the Camelot HERE.

  Check out a shot of the Navigation setup we are using on the Camelot HERE.

  

  

  Check out Leg 1 which was completed last fall.