Weedsport to Sackets Harbor

Day 2, August 11, 2017

We awoke at around 6:00, showered and headed to the Days Inn breakfast nook.  Their selection was fairly wanting but we were able to find enough palatable food stuffs to power us (as it turned out) until our 6:00pm evening meal, but that will come later.

Weedsport is about a 1 ½ hours’ drive from the town of Henderson NY and the Harbors End marina.  We arrived at the marina at about 9:00 and were happy to find a well-manicured all be it an old establishment that was owned by a friendly most accommodating gentleman.

Navy Point Marina from Main Street, Sacket Harbor NY

The actual setup of Second Wind was quite uneventful although, in our advancing age, it took a lot longer that it did when we were pups!  We dropped the boat in the water at around 2:00.  I fired up the motor in preparation to moving the boat away from the ramp when I realized that no water was flowing out of the weep hole that indicates that the water pump is not working.  This was frustrating.  We have had the boat for about 4 years and I have put new water pumps in the engine three times, the last time was just a week ago.  I discussed the problem with the mechanic at the marina and he suggested that we blow some compressed air

Highly Recommended Pizza shop in an old warehouse.

through the weep hole.  He had a long enough air hose to reach the boat from his shop and the shot of air was enough to get the system flowing.

I fired up the engine again, back the boat out into the middle of the harbor and was surprised that the boat would not move much at all and was difficult to steer.  A guy in a power boat that was passing me near the shore yelled out that the water was really shallow in the middle of the harbor.  I raised the centerboard and made it back to the dock.    

Old Union Hotel built in 1876

The owner of the marina told us were to find the deep water and so at 3:00 we left Harbors End Marina in route to Sacketts Harbor.  I contacted the Navy Point Marina in Sacketts Harbor looking for a slip for the night and they assured me that they could accommodate me.  The lady on the phone did tell me that they closed at 5:00 so for us to make it in time, we needed to hustle.  The distance by water is about 8 miles so we cranked up the motor and made it in about 1 ½ hours.
My landing in the slip rated about a 6 out of 10.  I miss judged the strength of the wind at my side and it took 2 more tries to get close enough to the finger dock that Janine could toss a line to the young lady waiting to assist us.  Navy Point Marina is a really nice marina with many amenities.  We decided to spend two nights there and the fee was only $91.00. 

As we walked back to the boat, we met several folks who recommended that we eat at the Tin Pan Galley.  We had also heard about this place while we were launching back in Harbors End Marina. We were told that the owner of the restaurant is a very skilled musician and singer and that he played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  We were, told that reservations were a must, so back at the boat we called for a table at 6:00.

Boy, were we not disappointed.  The food was beautifully prepared albeit somewhat

Tin Pan Galley.  we ate in the garden area to the left.

pricey.  Janine had a fancy roast duck and I had stuffed lamb chops.  I really don’t know how to describe how good it was.  And the guy doing the entertaining, the owner, was amazingly talented on a whole bunch of instruments.  His main go to instrument was an electric guitar, although he accompanied himself with a 5-string banjo, violin/fiddle, acoustic guitar, flute, harmonicas, valve trombone

Pathway back to a secluded group of tables on the patio.

and trumpets.  The trumpets, he played both at the same time.  It was amazing.  He also sang the various songs in the voice of the original vocalist.  He sang Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, Glen Campbell, Ella Fitzgerald, Neal Young, Frank Sinatra and others whose sound I recognized but whose name I couldn’t draw froth.  His guitar skills were truly amazing.  He also had electrified background accompaniment which made his performance a full well-rounded production. It was one of those experiences at which I wish I had brought my camera.

We walked back to the boat at about 8:00 and were in bed by 9:00.  We were both tired.