Here we go. 7:20 a.m. and ready to begin this Erie journey. Lock E2-E7. A day I don’t want to experience again. Six locks in 90+ degree heat. Anticipation of what’s to come is typically worse than the actual event being anticipated. I put myself through this every night. These locks are called the “flight”. One right after the other and a gain of 169’ in less than two miles. The locks get even hotter than the actual temperatures which were hovering in the mid-90s. Upper body strength is a must for keeping the boat pulled into the side of the locks. We tied up to the wall (pictures) at lock E4 because there wasn't a lock attendant at the time to operate it. The lock E6 attendant had to make time to come down to let us and The Dark Side (a smaller version of ourselves) lock through. After lock 7 exhaustion set in and we were done!
We didn’t have plans for overnight. Do we continue to a free wall? Grab a marina? Do another lock? Where are they? How does it work? Anxiety!! We ended up going into Donovan’s Mohawk Harbor Marina (another anxiety issue, lol) based on uncertainties of what’s ahead and the heat which wiped us out.
We had dinner onboard and then to bed by 9:00 p.m. It always works out, no matter the anxiety, we come through fine on the other side. There will always be a new one waiting for me tomorrow. All in all it was fun and a great learning experience.
We have little to say about Donovan's Mohawk Harbor, although new and beautiful it was shallow and lonely. Not even local boats from the hundreds of condos that stretched above us. Really weird vibes in there. We will not return. I didn't even have the energy to take photos of it.
We have had a few days of 90 degree weather in Petoskey as well. Crazy for May! Then it gets cold again. Glad you made it through all those locks!