Mid July - a much quicker than anticipated end to our cruising season!

July 18, 2023

We got as far as Lock #7 of 11 on the Champlain Canal. That canal would take us to Lake Champlain and into Canada and the exploring we’ve been wanting and planning to do for 3 years! The first 2 years, of course, we were stopped by the Covid pandemic – Canada closed her borders. This year, we were really going to do it!! Our decision, though, was pretty easy. Dan was hurting bad.

So, we spent the night after Lock 7, and turned right to head back down to the start of the Erie Canal. We had already arranged for Kittiwake to spend the winter in heated storage at Winter Harbor Marina in Brewerton, NY, which is about half way across the Canal, near Lock 20. It took us several days, but we eventually arrived at Winter Harbor Marina. Our plan, at that point, was to get Dan home and come back later in the season to clean the boat, empty the refrigerator, and get it ready to be out of the water for the winter.

A friend, Gary, on Perfect Seas, was docked near us. Watching Dan struggle to walk, he said he knew exactly where the problem was – lower back, at #3 and 4 vertebrae. He knew, because he had been through that himself, and actually had surgery. We tried to get Dan into a local chiropractor, but all the offices said they were booked. Our chiropractor at home, Dr. David Senawi, did some checking, and then got us an appointment that day at a local chiropractor. We were so grateful, and Dan felt marginally better.

We packed pretty quickly, and got on the road for home. By the time we got home, Dr.Senawi had arranged for an appointment at an orthopedic surgeon the following day! Wow. He had an x-ray that day, and was set up for physical therapy three times a week starting right away.

Bottom line, we never went back to the boat that summer! We paid someone at the marina to defrost and clean out the refrigerator – ugh. We still had a car in Virginia where we started our cruising, so I flew to Richmond. A friend at the marina came to pick me up and take me to the marina and our car (about 60 miles one way). I was so grateful! I said hello and goodbye at the marina, and started on the trip home.

We were disappointed to miss out on the cruising we had planned, but, as I said earlier, the choice was easy. We have to get Dan back to enjoying life again.

Meanwhile, I have to say, I did enjoy having much of the summer at home for a change! I enjoyed the flowers I haven’t seen for the past 5 years! I did some yard work. I spent time with all three of my grandchildren, got to attend most of Isaac’s soccer gamer, had time with my neighbors and friends. Attended my church, got to know our new minister.

Now, as I’m writing this, it is just past Thanksgiving, and Dan is much better. He still has pain in his shoulders, but he is working out at the gym2 or 3 times a week and continues to improve. We plan to do our usual trip with our 5^th wheel RV to Key West, leaving January 11. With his back issues, we may have to stop more often than usual, but we’ll get there to our #2 happy place (Number 1 is the boat!).

The following shots are all from the Winter Harbor Marina grounds - so beautiful!  We will be back there in late May to retrieve Kittiwake and restart our boat travels!