Halcyon News

Hi El and Bill,

We are looking forward to being with you in Sept. The Nimble Nomad was our first cruising boat. It is very difficult to compare the two boats. If pure space is what you want then the Nomad would win hands down. However one of the things that drove us nuts was converting the table to a berth and back. Not that hard to do but just a pain in the butt.

The real difference is in the places you can safely take the C-Dory. Our experence is very limited but reading the posts of less than favorable conditions that Dorys have endured gives me a good idea of the Dorys ability. The Nomad is a flat bottom sharpie, couple this with the large open bow and you need to stay in protected waters. Trailering is very important to us and our C-Dory on the single axel bunk trailer flat out loads and unloads very nicely. The Nomad was on a very high bunk trailer and needed a lot of water to load and unload. I think we could unload the C-Dory in a deep mud puddle. Don.t forget the 7-9 knot speed of the Nimble and then only is flat water.

We are pleased with our Dory for the way we are use our boat. The Nimble would suit some folks to a T. Oh we sold the Nimble to get a Monk 36 Trawler-but that is another story.

Fred and Pat happy on C-Trek
 
Hi Sioux & Steve--Would you please give us an up date and the pros & cons after your week aboard the Nimble Nomad, we had thought of renting one ourselves. I assume you will be heading west on the canal, I'll look for you if I'm still in the area by Oct. ---Rich
 
Just posted up a few tales on the Erie Canal. One is on the importance of the canal to US history and might give a little background to those interested in the Erie or cruising it next month:

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/eriehist.htm

Then there is a tale about the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, that links the Finger Lakes with the Erie Canal and that many folks have and will use for access to the Erie:

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/eriewest.htm

I'm plugging along on one about the western half of the Erie and the Geology of that area of NY. Will let you know when they're done.
 
Hi El & Bill,

Your article on the Western Erie Canal is wonderful. You really captured the feelings I had when cruising there a few years ago. But, you guys make it clear that slowing down and experiencing the location, people, history, and spirit is what cruising is all about. Thanks. I can't wait to get back there with Carol (this time) this September.

Rick & Carol from Maine

P.S. You really ought to publish that article ( and a bunch of your other ones) so that a wider audience can learn from you, and you can get some $.
 
We've completed almost 600 miles of the "Triangle Cruise." Started in the Finger Lakes of New York, crossed Lake Ontario northerly, then across the Rideau Canal in Ontario to Ottawa, down the Ottawa River to Montreal (whew, what good food), down the St. Lawrence to Sorel, and south on the Chambly/St. Ours Canals in Quebec to Lake Champlain. Now on the Champlain Canal heading southerly to the Hudson River. Then, westerly on the Erie Canal and back to the Finger Lakes. Summer cruise in Canada, and now a bit wet and windy. Fall color coming on beautifully. Great cruise and heartily recommend it to all -- marvelous variety of rocks, people, culture, food, wine and water. We'll have the details, for those interested, posted on our Halcyon Days website in a few weeks.
 
Thanks for the kind comments -- every time we see your posts, we smile as we remember a smiling face and a blow torch!! And the delicious results.

According to a local newscast, there has been more rainfall in the northeast (mostly in NY, NJ, CT, MA, and NH) in the past few days than from both Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast -- and a much bigger area is affected. MA has been declared a federal disaster area, damage is so high. The other states are afraid to claim disaster status for fear that might mean another FEMA 'attack'. They briefly closed locks in the Champlain Canal due to flooding, but open again yesterday.

We're tied to a high wall in Ft Edward, NY hiding from 60 knot winds. We've locked through on the Columbia River (by mistake, I might add) with 70 mph winds and we don't want to do that again on these locks.

We had a great visit with zedecomo (Phil and Nancy) up in Burlington VT. Good folks and would like to have done some Lake Champlain cruising with them this weekend, but a bit lumpy up there. We saw this storm a'coming, so hotfooted it down lake to hide here in the Champlain Canal.

Hope to have lunch with the other half of Sensei ('Lisbeth) today and her Dad. She's back here visiting family, and we look forward to meeting her for a lunch in front of a big fire at the Anvil Restaurant (used to be a smithie's shop). More rain is due, but the wind should subside tomorrow.
 
El and Bill- I was thinking about you with all the rain the past week, and figured it was good that you were in a boat and mobile. Great stories, by the way! Stay warm and dry as possible! Joe.
 
Great stores, El and Bill. Wish we were with you. We have traveled the Ottawa River by car, and visited the spots you mention, but by boat, it must be special. The colors must be specacular, if a little late this year.

Where to next?

Dun (CTYankee)
 
Thanks, Joe and Dun. Yep, in heavy rains Noah proved that it's best to be in a boat.

Roger - we had a great dinner out at the Anvil Restaurant, here in Ft Edward, with 'Lizbeth, Linda, Bruce and Chester. What a nice crew you have as first mate and family. Special folks. We missed you for the B'Day celebration, but you were with us in spirit at the table.

On our way to the south'ard tomorrow am, with wind abating. Still chances for more rain back here. Soil is so saturated that every drop that falls runs off. Talk of snow (sorry, I know we're not supposed to use four-letter words on this site) this weekend. Er, what's snow? We know -- termination dust, but we aren't ready to terminate this cruise yet.
 
Back on the Erie Canal, and heading westerly. Windy and blustery today, so tied off early to kick back a little. Lat night, a C-Dory 16 stopped by, rafted and we had a great visit. He headed home in the approaching dark, and a half hour later there was a tap on the cockpit -- he had picked up a bottle of Brown's Pale Ale, a local beer, for us to celebrate NY -- like we've always said, "nice folks own C-Dorys." Beer, personally delivered, in the dark ... nice folk.
 
Pulled out at Seneca Lake State Park yesterday after completing La Grand Circuit Nautique (as they say in Quebec) or the Little Loop (as less imaginative folks say). Eight hundred nautical miles of some glorious fall cruising. Colors had not yet come out in Ontario, but couldn't tarry since they were closing the canal behind us. Same in Quebec, although the colors were starting there as we heard the door slam behind us. Champlain was marvelous, as was the C-Dory company (Zedecomo) in Burlington. The Champlain Canal and the eastern Erie were ablaze -- great colors. Somewhat cold and wet along that stretch, however, and there was frost on the deck this morning and snow forecast in the next few days.

Terry and his friend Bill met us at Seneca and helped us load the boat (and eat a great dinner at Ponderosa in Geneva). Now in Attica scrubbing boat and getting set for a drive to the Maine coast to visit a family member in hospital.

When there's a little time, we'll be posting up the rest of the stories and pictures from the cruise -- those of you thinking of this trip for next year, we would recommend September and early October -- not quite so close to the closing dates of canals, so more relaxed, and fall color is different every year so you might be lucky. It's a great cruise!!
 
We sure look forward to your posts and enjoy reading of your progress. You sure bring a place alive for those of us who are not cruising. Plus we learn a lot. I am only envious when you tell of the wonderful places you are eating and your special dinner companions, indeed special folks.

I am interested in your RPM problem. I know the Honda's should turn more than 3500 RPM. I would say props, but, they are the same so it must be something else. Please keep us posted.

Hope to see you soon again. Pat and I will be in Fla. Jan. or Feb. We hope to explore the north end of Lake Okeechobee and north on the Kissimmee River. Pat likes the totally flat water and she likes snakes so this trip should keep her happy.

Have a good winter.

Pat Fred and Mr. Black
 
An update on Halcyon -- the 2006 40 hp Honda engines required new tachometers (bulletin didn't come from Honda until this week to inform dealers). That took us up to 5600 rpm (the engines were running at 5600 before the new tachs, just that the old tachs showed 3200).

The speed was up to the old range when we changed the pitch on our variable pitch ProPulse props to 12 in. from 14 -- so all is fine with the 40hp Hondas.

We're on the road trailering from New York's Erie Canal down to Arizona and the sun.
 
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