Day's 43

Erie PA - Ashtabula OH

Start 7:15 am
End 12:00 pm
Underway 5 Hours
Distance 41 miles
Av Speed 8.5 knots

Today we headed out to Ashtabula Ohio. When I looked at the forecast, I was debating staying in Erie one more day. We really should have. There were two different forecast, one calling for 1 to 2 foot seas, and one calling for 1 -3 foot seas. 1-2 is not to bad 1-3 starts to get a little snotty.

Last night at docktails, we made plans to go to Ashtabula Yacht Club with Kay Dee, Sabbatical and Sweet Journey.

All three of them are slower than us and they normally leave about an hour before we do. Before we decided to go or not I reached out to Kay Dee and asked how the conditions were. There reply was around 2' right on the bow. While not the best conditions that did not sound bad.

By the time we got out in the lake the seas were building and switched around to hitting us on the side instead of on the bow. It was very sporty to say the least. By the time we got to Ashtabula, we were riding in 3 -4 waves, with a couple bigger ones thrown in just for fun. It was not a fun day at all. Other than stuff getting tossed around in the cabin we did not have any problems and the boat handled it great.

When we reached the break wall at Ashtabula, we were both very hungry, tired and happy. Normally while we are underway Angel makes something for breakfast and we eat as we travel. There was no way to do that today.

Lake Erie reminded us a couple of things. First when your gut says don't go - DON'T!!! Second and most importantly don't ever have a schedule. The first rule of this trip was we were not going to have a schedule.

Ashtabula has a very cute main street with several restaurants. Once everyone made it to the dock, we all went to Briquettes Smokehouse for lunch.

Ashtabula Yacht club was awesome. The members were there to help us dock and get settled in. Payment was on the honor system. There was a box in the club house, just put the money in it. Several members offered to either take us to any store we needed and some offered to let us use their cars.

On Friday Nights the yacht club has a potluck dinner which they invited us to. It was a great way to spend Friday night.

Tomorrow off to Cleveland, but only if the forecast is good!