August and Septerber 2015; Ess-Kay Yards in Brewerton NY

The Erie Canal and upstate NY are a great area that has many interesting things to see and people to get to know. We spent about 30 days at Ess-Kay Yards in Brewerton NY - just north of Syracuse and met the greatest folks! Kim, Ethan and Tammy who manage the place are very helpful and just great folks. Carolyn and Susan on Why Knot were great neighbors and who will ever forget the refreshing perspectives of George and Jane on Holdfast II. We enjoyed many great laughs and more than a few dock-tails. (Dock-tails are when everybody grabs a snack to share and their favorite beverage, and meets on the docks for great conversation.)

We used Ess-Kay as our base of operations to visit towns and points-of-interest we were not able to get to along the Erie canal when we had no car. Our Honda CRV was waiting for us here, as we had dropped it off in the spring before departing. It gave us the freedom to travel around the area as noted in some of the previous blog entries.

We also needed to get R Island ready for winter. We are storing her about 1/2 mile west and just across the river at Winter Harbor Marina in a large Metal building which they keep at 45 degrees or higher all winter long. Some great photos of her being put away follow. Some of the jobs we completed are: wash and wax the exterior, varnish the teak on the exterior - again, clean and oil the interior teak, clean the dingy and service the outboard motor, touch-up the non-skid surfaces on the deck, clean and re-caulk all exterior hatches, and service the sumps, plus other smaller items. In the spring, it should be as easy as washing her and loading supplies - ready for another season. 

We took a side trip in late September to visit our son Gary and his family in Annandale VA - great time! Judie caught  a flight to Chicago to spend time with our daughter Carrie and son Adam  and their families while Gerry returned to the boat, got her to Winter Harbor, and then drove to Chicago - stopping in South Bend to visit his sister and her husband. Judie decided to spend some additional time with the family, so after a weeks visit - Ger drove back to Sun City and Judie followed a couple weeks later.

See you in the Spring - about the end of May!

A cruise ship going down the canal.

R Island being transferred to a large red trailer after being lifted from the water.

Being moved into the storage building.

With her blue bottom, resting with the other boats.