Wednesday morning we woke early to get to the waiting dock for the Welland canal. There is a credit card machine at the waiting dock to pay the canal fee and a phone to talk to the canal operator. The operator gave us instructions and expected time to enter the system, which would not be earlier than 1100 hrs. He told us we would be waiting for 3 ships before us (commercial traffic gets priority).
The Welland Canal is an amazing engineering feat, consider the first transit through the canal took place in November 1829! It is a safe and interesting route around Niagara Falls. More than 4,000 "lakers" and ocean-going ships from around the world make their way each year through this 23 mile long canal. The average lift or drop, depending on which way you are going, of each lock is 46 feet. We would be going through 8 locks.
We sat at the waiting dock for hours. Soon other boats joined us, 4 other sailboats, two are from Michigan, one from Saugatuck and the other from Muskegon. S/V "Eastbound n Down" has a crew of 5 fresh out of college, heading to the Caribbean - having the time of their lives.
This late a start through the canal meant we would be locking at night, and we would be rafting with the other boats. As the hours ticked by things became more complicated. We were required to monitor the marine radio on channel 14 and as the day went on we learned of "problems" with Lock gate 2 and Lock 7. At 1300 hrs Terry was radioed by "Jamie" the lock operator with bad news. One of the big ships lost control in Lock 7 and took out the arresting cable that protects the lock gate. The repair time was unknown for today, a crane was needed to be brought in to repair the cable. Terry reported the news to the other cruisers waiting. We did not want to lock down through the night, so the decision was easy. With the permission of the lock operator we will spend the night at the waiting dock in hopes to move tomorrow (Thursday). Jamie said this happens about twice a year.
A walk through town across the street, Terry made friends with with "Canalside Pub" owner Greg. He welcomed us to hang out in the pub as long as we like, for WiFi, etc. All of the other stranded sailors also joined us at the Pub. (English Style) This is the only reason we are able to publish this post, no phone, no Internet sitting outside the canal entrance. And now..... thunderstorms and hail are approaching.
Standby..........
"Trouble creates a capacity to handle it."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Ships, ships and more ships pass us by....one of these guys took out Lock 7 and so we wait. Interesting the western half of the Erie Canal is closed now as well.
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| Crew from S/V "Eastbound n Down" |
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