Diary for May, 2011

Apr. 30-May 1; Knoxville, TN:  We departed West Lafayette April 30 for Oswego, NY along an extended route.  The first stop was in Knoxville to visit granddaughter Samantha for two nights on the way to a "mini-looper rendezvous" at Bob and Liz Stagg's home on Emerald Isle.  We enjoyed Sunday church with Sam, who worked in its nursery.  We departed early Monday for the 500 mi. drive to Emerald Isle, NC.

May 2-8; Emerald Beach, NC:  Six looper couples spent a delightful week enjoying the Stagg's beautiful home , their beach, the area and being together again.

May 9-10; Raleigh, NC:  We celebrated Lola's birthday while staying with Wayne and Judy Skaggs in Raleigh, NC.

May 11-12; NC Outer Banks:  Leaving Skaggs on Wednesday, we meandered up the Outer Banks area, visiting lighthouses and reminiscing about many earlier great times in the area and with Skaggs' family.

May 13-17; Norfolk, VA:  We arrived in Norfolk a day before the start of a great 2011 Spring AGLCA Rendezvous.  We made two 90-min. presentations to the group: our experiences boating the eastern Erie Canal in 2007 and then last summer's "triangle loop" on Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence River and the Rideau Canal.

May 18-19; Driving to Oswego, NY:  Leaving Norfolk after the Rendezvous, we overnighted in York, PA.  We reached Ess-Kay Yards about 4 PM Friday.  The boat made it through their tough winter in great condition.  After a brief inspection we checked into the Comfort Inn & Suites in nearby Cicero, NY.

May 20-24; Oswego, NY: Saturday-Tuesday were spent preparing the Lola Marie for launch: painting her bottom, polishing, replacing zincs and inside cleaning.  Due to last winter's 180 in. of snow and April's rainfall (5" above normal), most of the NY Canal System had not yet opened because of high water.  Daughter Sandy and her husband Klaus planned to arrive May 27 for boating on the Canadian Trent-Severn Waterway to Penetanguishene, ON on the Georgian Bay; we were now very concerned about that schedule since the Canal Authority would give no projected opening date for the Oswego Canal.  We drove to Oswego, stopping to talk with each lockmaster about likely opening dates, but they had no real info or authority for such matters.

Wednesday, May 25; Launch Day: With all outside work finally completed and with an open slip (everything had been full due to continued canal closures constipating the waterway and marinas) it was time to launch!  It is also decision time for the Leitem's schedule; we decided prudence demanded a two-week delay.

May 26-31; Oswego, NY:  The remainder of the month was consumed by boat projects: long-delayed minor equipment repairs, inside cleaning, topside polishing, etc.  We had a contractor, Tom Reap Enterprises, do a wonderful steam cleaning of the carpets.  With no advance notice, the Oswego Canal System opened May 30 (a single week's delay for the children's arrival would have sufficed had we known).

Water miles traveled to date on this second loop: 6,568.

Questions or comments?  Just e-mail us.