The less romantic side…
After a slow start to our morning we headed out from Erie Pensilvania with a nice south west wind and sailed wing and wing (wind at our back with our head sail to one side and main to the other. It was a beautiful day until we were besieged by black files!
Jeff says he imagines those files are just laying out there on the water living out their empty lives until a sailboat on a run comes along and they attack. On this tack we are running with the wind and have a virtually still cockpit so the flies hop on board and you can’t get rid of them. They immediately stared biting Jeff so he dressed in his battle gear and wielded his weapon (illustrated in the picture), a battery operated, hand held bug zapper. It looks somewhat Ike a tennis racket and you use it in a similar manner to “zap” files.
It didn’t take them too much longer to find me so I brought out a sheet to protect myself while I watched Jeff whacking files for hours. I also brought out a rechargeable bug zapper that was soon buzzing constantly and generating a burning smell that was apparent while we were sailing along. Wish I had gone below for the video camera, it was entertaining and hard to imagine unless you have experienced it. I am sure many of our sailing friends have been in exactly the same situation. We wonder if this is a Great Lakes phenomena or will we have similar experiences on the ocean?
I spent the afternoon sweeping up the carnage. Your cockpit layered with dead, squished files is not a pleasant place…
All of a sudden, files were the least of our worries. Although there was no significant weather change predicted, the wind shifted to the north and built to 20 to 25 knots. We were close to our destination, Dunkirk New York, now directly upwind, so we took the sails in and started the engine. It is a pretty well protected harbor unless there is a north wind so it was a bit of a challenge getting in. Also, it was after hours at the marina so no dock hands to help with the tie up. Jeff did a great job and I’m happy to report that we are safely tied up to a pier in town for the night. It will be pretty rolly tonight but happy to be here.
If the winds are in our favor tomorrow we plan to cross Lake Erie for Port Coburn, Ontario. This will be where we enter the Welland Canal the following day to move into Lake Ontario. There is a difference of about 300 feet in water level and we will pass through 9 locks to move down to Lake Ontario level, bypassing Niagara Falls. It is our plan to visit Toronto before heading up to Oswego, New York to enter the Erie Canal.
|
|
And, according the info posted on NPS page North American Black Flies are not known to transmit
diseases.
http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/insects.htm
Thanks for another great entry. Sounds like a challenging
day. I am again impressed by your good natured
humor and lightheartedness. Anyone who has experienced
these relentless biting flies would be impressed by your
heroic stand on the Lake Erie waters. Just like in 1812!!
Being that biting bugs of all types seem to really like me,
I took a minute to look these up. According to my sources,
these are commonly called Stable Flies. Here’s a link I found
to Ohio Sea Grant.org for more info.
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/discuss/index.php?topic=466.0
As Comodore Perry said, “Never Give Up the Ship.”
I wish I was a fly on the wall to see this, but not the fly that Jeff got with that weapon. I like Jeff’s outfit, but didn’t see yours Mary.
It looks like you were victorious, and well prepared (although I never thought of pj’s as battle gear before)! If there will be other forms of assault in the future then you’re going to need a battle cry. TER-MIN-AAATTEE! I think I see a basil plant; you even have an herb garden!
Nice pants stud!
Lake Erie black flies are the worst for sure. But there will be other forms of aerial assult in your future.
I’m addicted to this blog! I have people at work asking me what’s new on your trip. Happy you are safe and the pics are too funny
Sounds great except flyies. Enjoy and be safe.. love you
Wow, what a day. Hope you are able to get a good nights sleep. If you are stopping in Toronto, you could see a couple of cousins. I”ll get the info if you want. Those flies aren’t in the harbor too, are they?
Having made this same trip 6 years ago, I am enjoying reading your updates. I forgot all about the biting flies. The ocean doesn’t present too much of a problem with them, but there are parts of the ICW where you will encounter them.
Good luck doing the Welland. We managed to get through the whole thing in 12 hours. We hired a guy to help us through. He worked for the canal system. He went by the name of Dino. It was nice for me to have an extra set of hands.
Our first night past the Welland, we stayed in a marina in Port Dalhousie. The next day we made the trip to Toronto. Might I suggest one of the marinas in Toronto Island Park. Very nice and much quieter than right in town and a bit more secure. There are water taxis to and from the mainland.
Safe travels!
Good advice Roberta. Thanks.
I’m enjoying following along as you sail the Great Lakes. Stay safe.
Charlotte Parker
Well, now we all know what black fly battle wear and weaponry looks like – Go Jeff !! Serious, determined, no-nonsense look on his face – great photos!!