Boating Adventures

We’re parked for a while.  Towboats are breaking ice in the channel behind us, but we’re not getting off the dock until there’s a thaw. 

I thought this would be a good place to get stuck, as a) downtown Ottawa has restaurants and supplies, and b) this is the mouth of the Fox River, and I’m hoping that the current will help clear local ice when it warms.  One of my concerns was getting stuck away from shore.  It’s a good place to be frozen in.

It’s been cold at -17C (0 F) this morning.  Tomorrow is forecast to be above freezing.  Fingers crossed.

Dean is enjoying the trip and isn’t fussed about delays.  I’m a little less sanguine, but trying to manage what we can and stay safe and comfortable.

We’ve been comfortable aboard.  Have the portable generator powering electric heat plus the charcoal heater in the main cabin, and the rest of the boat closed off.

Here are Dean’s pics from yesterday.

Dean and I are reviewing notable comments so far.

1. You’re probably not going to die – Bruce Rosenzweig
2. Whatever you need – Grant Crowley
3. You’re going to die! – towboat Captain Ralph
4. Not in 17 years have I seen a pleasure boat come through the ice – Marseilles Lock tender
5. You guys look like you came off the Arctic tundra – hostess at restaurant today

My prediction for better conditions hasn’t quite come true.  Today was spent almost entirely in ice.

I have to say that today was fun.  It’s sunny and cool. I think the high was around -10C and tonight is going to be cold, but the boat is comfortable and I’m dressed for the weather.

Today we got underway about 0700 shortly after a northbound tow went by, and met another tow coming out of the Marseilles Lock.  But below the lock it was mostly refrozen.  We chunked through it down to Ottawa where we are now tied up.

I think though that we’re nearing the limits of our ice breaking capabilities, and the forecast doesn’t look great.  The following warning showed up on my weather app

We were underway at dawn.  Cold, clear and crisp weather.  The Marseilles Lock is about an hour downstream.

Unfortunately the two mile diversion to the lock from the main channel was frozen up.  We  made it about half way in before it turned completely solid.  So we waited for a tow to come through.  And waited.  It’s now past dark and there hasn’t been any traffic.

I wasn’t keen on spending the night in an icy main channel, so we retreated back to the fuel dock mid-afternoon.  We’re now plugged in and settled in for the night, and the dogs have been out.  The plan is to get underway tomorrow when we see traffic.

All is good aboard.  Dean has been prepping great food, mostly on the small charcoal cabin heater.  When it warms up a bit we’ll get the big grill mounted outside.  The dogs seem content.  They are German short haired pointers, mother and daughter, and they’ve been Dean’s constant companions.  Very well trained, capable and smart dogs.

I was a bit bummed sitting around all day, but we’re not in a big rush, and have a plan.  Looking ahead I don’t see any insurmountable challenges.  The icing is (I think) local to this lock.  It’s staying cold for two more days, then above freezing for two days.

We got underway at 0800 in wet snow, and stopped at dusk at Spring Brook Marina, where we are tied to the fuel dock.   39 miles and 3 locks, with a 2 hour wait at Dresden Lock. 

It got above freezing long enough to clear the decks of snow, which is good because now the temperature is going down.  Tonight’s low is forecast to be -12C, with cold clear weather for the next couple of days.

We’re eating well, and are staying warm.  All good.  Hoping we don’t encounter ice in the coming days, but warmer weather is due later in the week.

All is good.  We’re tied to a rough wall just above Lockport Dam.  Generator is running on shore, and the boat is toasty warm and cozy.  Dogs have had a run.

Today was the usual last minute scramble.  We couldn’t find the engine key, and when we found it the engine wouldn’t run properly.  After adding fuel and conditioner and bleeding it started up, and has been running perfectly since. 

The next challenge was ice.  Coming out of the O’Brien lock we hit heavy ice, and spent a couple of hours crunching through it at about 2 knots.  A tug had been through earlier, so it was broken up, but still tough going.  Big chunks about 2″ thick. 

I checked the ice reports for the waterway, and that was the only area mentioned, so we pressed on.  The ice disappeared after a few miles, and it’s been clear since.  Phew!  Fingers crossed that we don’t hit more later this week, as it’s forecast to cool down.  But after tomorrow we’ll have a more relaxed schedule after getting through locks that are closing soon. 

Tomorrow we continue at first light.

Thanks to Rick Haislip for the photos.

We launched this afternoon.  The yard guys have been amused.  First launch of 2025.

Dean has been on a sprint to get some mods done like the big arch and swim platform.  Tonight will be his first night sleeping on the boat.  He has two dogs as well.   This is their new home.

For heat we have 3000w of electric powered by a 3500w gas generator, and a solid fuel Dickinson heater.  And two biggish dogs 🙂  Lots of fuel.  Things got up to temperature quite nicely today.

Tomorrow we leave. 

Happy New Year!

To ring in 2025 I’ve agreed to go on a river trip, taking the boat above from Chicago to Nashville with the owner.  We’re leaving this weekend.

Why now?  There is a lock closure starting next week, and the Illinois Waterway will be closed to through traffic for a couple of months.  The owner is keen to go south by water rather than trucking the boat. 

I think it’s doable but cold.  Having second thoughts just writing this post, but the prep list and plan seems OK.  Dean the owner does cold weather motorcycling and has a heated suit. 

More to come…

Escapade is in the shed in Chicago.  The sailboats are put to bed in Guelph. 

It’s a big shed, obviously.  You can see the pilothouse in the second picture.

I’ve been home since the end of October.  It’s nice to reconnect with family and friends, and I’ve been doing lots of choral singing and tackling some other small projects.

My next boating adventure is coming into view.  Susan and I have booked a narrowboat in England for a month starting mid-March.  This has been high on my list since my reconnaissance trip two years ago.  We’re both  looking forward to that trip. 

No other winter boating plans, but definitely some plotting and scheming about 2025 and beyond.  Watch this space!

I had a pleasant and uneventful trip back.  Four long days, with overnight stops at Mackinac Island, Frankfort and Muskegon and a lunch/fuel stop in Manistee.

Escapade is tied up at Crowley’s for the rest of the season, and I’ll be hauling the boat for the winter here in early November.