June 22nd, our 40th Anniversary, was a beautiful day. We took a long walk along the waterfront and into downtown Buffalo. Buffalo is the second largest city in New York. It is also the birth place of the now very popular Buffalo chicken wings. Sharon's Starbucks store finder said there was coffee shop in the downtown area. As we began to walk towards it, we asked a man for more specific directions and he informed us that on Sunday the downtown Starbucks closes at noon. Disappointed (at least Sharon was) we walked back to the Buffalo Yacht Club. We decided against wings for our anniversary dinner and chose instead Salvatore's Italian Gardens Restaurant. We had seen the commercials on the local television stations and it was recommended by both the cruising guide and the harbor report on the Great Lakes Cruising Club. After a ridiculously expensive cab ride, we arrived at Salvatore's. The food was delicious and the wait staff very attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. (Even though the cab rides were costly.) Monday morning we headed back onto Lake Erie, which was like glass. Our destination was the Dunkirk Yacht Club, approximately 30 miles west of Buffalo. Again the people at the yacht club were very friendly. The best perk of the yacht club was the dockage was free for the first night and if we stayed a second night it was only a dollar a foot. The Great Lakes Cruising Club is reciprocal with them as members of the Inter Lake Yachting Association. We decided to stretch our legs and walked into the small town of Dunkirk. They are trying to revitalize their waterfront and there were several new shops along the municipal docks. We found a Tim Horton's and had a beverage. Arriving back at the marina, Tony helped a group of men raising the mast of a sailboat. The next morning the sky was overcast and storms were forecast for late in the afternoon, but there was little wind so we left Dunkirk. As we made our way west the skies cleared. We crossed from New York into Pennsylvania around 11:15. Our first port in Pennsylvania was the city of Erie. Docking was a little tricky because the wind picked up and the entrance was narrow but Tony expertly guided the Summer Recess to the dock. The marina manager came to our boat and conveniently checked us in. The laundry, bathrooms, and shower facilities were among the best we have had on the trip. A major storm came through the area in the evening. The marina lost power for about two hours so we discovered the local PBS station. The rain continued off and on during the night and right into Wednesday morning. We decided to spend another day in Erie. Due to the weather we could not walk into town. Tony fixed the air conditioning and we took a cab to the closest mall for groceries. This time the cab was not that costly. There was a Panera Bread so Tony had a sandwich and Sharon her decafe mocha. We left Erie on Thursday, June 26th, with overcast skies. The lake was lumpy, but not uncomfortable. We had another small fly invasion. We crossed into Ohio around noon. Sharon had called the Ashtabula Yacht Club and another marina the day before. We were assured that the yacht club would have a slip available when we arrived. The plan was to dock at the Ashtabula Yacht Club. However, they had no available slips that Summer Recess could fit in comfortably. Tony is a now a little nervous about slips after Port Colborne. We went to plan B, which was to anchor in the well protected harbor. The industry in the harbor reminded us of Harbor Beach on Lake Huron. We shared the harbor with a freighter at dock. In the evening we were able to take advantage of the great TV reception using the inverter. We are amazed at how many stations we are able to pick up while anchored. Friday dawned with a spectacular blue sky and fishermen waking us as they raced out of the harbor to start fishing. The anchor came up easily with little mud and we were off. Today's destination is a yacht club in Mentor, Ohio that was recommended to us by two couples in Buffalo. During our trip we had another insect invasion. This time it was small gnats. They were everywhere including Tony's nose and ears. Mentor Yachting Club is right off Lake Erie in an oval harbor along with private homes. The staff was very helpful with fuel, a pumpout, and docking assistance. The club has a pool, restaurant and clean bathrooms and showers. We are staying two nights because reciprocal yacht club members pay for the first night and the second night is free. Tony really enjoys these reciprocal clubs. After sweeping out all the gnats, we watched several Benetau sailboats come in. They are having a regatta at the club this weekend. Saturday morning after Tony scrubbed off the insect remains, we took a walk in the neighborhood surrounding the yacht club. We spent a relaxing afternoon watching the parade of boats go in and out of the harbor. It reminded us of the Black Creek and Lake St Clair Metro Park. Next stop Cleveland.
40th Anniversary at Salvatore's
Mentor Harbor
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