Hi All: We are just 12 days into our trip, and things are not exactly as we planned........ imagine that ! Highlights so far: Well, we are a week into our sailing trip to the Bahamas, and we have had a mixed bag of weather, sailing conditions, and places we have visited. The first two days we were in 25 to 30 knot winds, right on our nose, and getting pounded as we tacked back and forth for 6 or 7 hours, then, abruptly, the next few days were dead flat calm with no wind, so, we got quite a few hours of motoring under our belts during the first seven days. The perspective from the water is dramatically different than we see day to day on land. I have been in Cleveland a hundred times during the past year or so, yet never by water. Cleveland rose up out of the mist as we sailed in to it's harbor by Browns Stadium, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I marveled at the things I had never seen before. Even the bad side of town looked good from the water. Until we leave Lake Erie, then the Erie Canal, we will be at marinas or municipal tie ups each night. As we hit the Hudson River and into New York City, we will be anchored  out most nights. Picked up A TON of sea grass coming out of the Black Rock Canal Lock north of Buffalo in the Niagara River (the one with the falls at the end). Couldn't make any speed , and had a slight vibration. So while drifting at 2 knots in a fairly narrow channel, it was over the side with a diving knife to cut away the offending grass. The first dive was about 30 seconds, the second about 20 seconds, and by the time I had it all cut away after 7 or 8 dives, about all I had time to do was dive under the boat, say hello to the grass, and shoot back to the surface. I have the aerobic capacity of slug. Later that day ( Saturday, August 4) we arrived at Wardells in Tonawanda with confirmed reservations to take our masts down. However, Mr Wardell must have had a date that night, or a late night the prior night because he said he "was too busy to take any masts down today, but I can get to them on Monday". His definition of busy doesn't match mine, as he didn't take any masts down that day. It was a case of hurry up and wait, so we made the best of it tied to a wall across from Weird Wardells place and went to a free Three Dog Night Concert that night on the canal. Can't beat that with a stick. On Sunday we prayed for mast removal the next day, which occurred without too many glitches, and we spent our third night in Tonawanda under the first 2 canal bridges. Not a bad deal, actually. $20 got us dockage, free WiFi, laundry facilities, and showers. it was the last time we paid for dockage. There were free nights (2 nights in Lockport) , and Medina, and the other 2 nights we spent in Tonawanda were free as well. So, we just drank and ate our savings at the local establishments. Free nights were the norm on the way to the canal. We stayed at ILYA yacht Clubs free in Cleveland (Edgewater), Dunkirk (The Redneck Yacht Club), Erie, and Buffalo. Not bad........ 12 nights of traveling, and we paid for 3 nights of dockage. Ladylove lost her prop in the first lock on the canal (Lock 35 in Lockport) and Manatee had to back up into the lock and tow her out. That episode kept us in Lockport an extra day. But, if there is a way to make lemonade out of lemons, the people, lockmasters and bridgetenders know how to do that. Everyone was helpful, concerned, and active in the prop replacement process. The Lockmaster asked for Ed's name, number and address so that when they drain the canal for the winter, he can locate the prop and sent it to him at that time. A tour operator got Ed the name of a prop shop and a diver to complete the repair, and we were on our way with only a one day delay. Finally, in Medina, after the mayor came down to the Free docks to introduce himself and welcome us to his community, another boater in a rented canal boat while trying to dock (operative word " trying " ) hit Manatee twice in the stern area, then got too close to the shipped mast and bent the antenna, and, possibly, the wind instrument, and shifted the mast in it's cradle. Sandy let fly with words I was unaware that she knew, and I don't know if the other boater was more embarrassed or PO'd. R esolution on that issue will wait until I get the mast back up and test the equipment. The score so far is : Incidents......... 3 Fun................... 1 million Everyone should do this if possible. Pictures attached. Internet access is spotty, so will sent stuff as access permits Jeff and Sandy Manatee on the Canal More stories of the trip. Drifting Toward Niagra Falls   From the eyes of Blossom  Read the other side of the story  End of Week 4  The Mast is Up Again  The Erie Canal from Blossom  Week Six New York City  Sandy's Report from New Jersey