Lake Erie Aug 6-9

The Black Rock Lock will be our last lock. It is on the Niagara River. It raises us about 4-5 feet. 
You can ship the lock if your boat can over come the current on the Niagara River in this area of about 6-7 miles per hour or you will end up going towards the Niagara Falls instead of Lake Erie.
Maggie Jo and the boat we were traveling with (In-Vince-able)(28 ft Sea Ray) could handle the current but error-ed on the safe side.

Right after the lock there were two lift bridges that were opened without a request.
Nice as there wasn't a lot of room to sit there and wait.
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This is the Peace Bridge that crosses the Niagara River joining the US and Canada at Buffalo NY.

We traveled from Tonawanda NY to Erie PA. We actually crossed thru Canadian Water, which is allowed as long as you don't touch land or anchor.

Angie taking a pose.

Very nice memorial to the Police in Erie PA.

Leaving Erie PA at sunrise.

We were traveling to Mentor OH the next day. Condition were rougher that we would like with 3-4ft seas but we were plugging along. When we were passing Ashtabula OH I (or Otto (pilot)) drop over what we orginally thought was a cardboard box. It fouled the propeller and the drive system started vibrating. We cycled from Fwd to Rev a few times but the vibration did not clear. So we decided to idle into Ashtabula and dive Maggie Jo and see whats up (or down). At the same time we were traveling with Endeavor (Nordic Tug) and they stated they had fuel problems and were also pulling into Ashtabula to change filters. I donned my snorkel gear and didn't find any thing on the prop, but did clean up some barnacles left over from salt water. We took Maggie out for a test run and no vibration, but, when we were coming back in there was the sheet of plastic or nylon that we had driven over floating in the channel. That was our problem but it most have come off the prop right before we docked.
Endeavor and us decided to stay in Ashtabula at the yacht club for the night and let the waves settle down.

Maggie Jo and Endeavor at Ashtabula Yacht Club.

We traveled out to an island called Put-In-Bay north of Sandusky.
This is the Perry Victory and International Peace Memorial which was a significant naval battle win of the War of 1812 on Lake Erie.

Perry Tower.

The island only has a few cars but, hundreds of golf carts.
This was a great tourist stop.

Leaving Put-In-Bay at sunrise heading for the Detroit River.

 

The entrance to the Detroit River.
The crossing was 2-3-4ft partially on the stern beam, so we zigzagged across Erie for a better ride.