Great Lakes Cruise: Welland Canal

by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 10, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

All,

This is our last day aboard. We’re heading for Toronto through the Welland Canal, which is pretty amazing. It’s what humans built to avoid having to go over Niagara Falls (or carry their canoes) up from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.

As we mentioned at the start, this cruise goes from Duluth, Minnesota, the western end of the Great Lakes, to Lake Ontario, as 20% of the world’s freshwater makes its way from the interior of the US, out the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the way French fur trappers first navigated this land, as did the Native Americans before them. The waterways have been the key to human exploration for millennia. It’s crazy to me that these lakes were all formed “only” 12,000 or so years ago with the end of the last ice age as the glaciers retreated and dug out these giant “ditches.”  But that’s all for another blog by someone way more knowledgeable than I 😉

The Welland Canal has eight locks to lower the ship “step by step” the 250′ or so from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The locks are 80′ wide and the ship is 78′ wide. So, do the math. Only 1 foot on each side. It’s a tight squeeze. But how clever!

This will be the last of my blogs on this trip. It’s been a neat experience. I hope you enjoyed them. Back in the office next week. Can’t wait to see the gang.

Onward! -JB

They use bodies of water like this, alongside the canal, for the water needed to raise/lower the ships. Pretty cool!

The crew LOVED my LP Hawaiian shirt 😉

Great Lakes Cruise: Niagra Falls

by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 9, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

All,

I’m thinking that the Erie folks (and maybe others?) are getting bored by my reporting from places so close to home. Amish country yesterday.  Today, Niagara Falls.

Now, to be fair, even though many of us have been there dozens/hundreds of times, it is very cool. It is truly one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

We docked in Port Colborne, just across the lake from Buffalo. We then took a 45-minute bus ride to the falls.  The time on the bus reminded me of when I used to take my kids there when they were little, and I guess my Dad joke every time was telling the kids: “Did you know that more water goes over Niagara Falls every day than it takes for a family of four to take ten baths a day?”  Dumb joke, I know.

Funnier, I think though, was that when Melissa and Derek were young kids, as we crossed the Peace Bridge over the Niagara River, I’d do my best Chevy Chase imitation and exclaim, “Look kids, the NILE!!!”  And (though I’m sure they’ll deny it) they’d go, “WOW, REALLY?  THE NILE!!!” Dumbasses! 🤪

Here are some pics. Pretty spectacular place.

This is the whirlpool. It is where the Niagara River, having gone over the falls, hits a wall and spins counterclockwise from the force before heading down to Lake Ontario. These are Class 6 rapids. Not navigable (though there is a very cool Jetboat ride that takes you right up to them).

And this is a bit more of memory lane for me. This is the Lewiston Bridge that I used to drive trucks across from Buffalo to Canada after clearing them at Customs. A long time ago, but in retrospect, the start of my career in logistics. What a long, strange trip it’s been 😊

Onward!

Great Lakes Cruise: Ohio Amish Country

by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 8, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

All,

I’ve got to say that even though this is kind of our own backyard, this tour was far more interesting and enjoyable than I expected. Probably should not have been so surprised by that, I guess.

It was about an hour and a half ride from the Port of Cleveland to New Hope and Berlin, Ohio.  Much like Pennsylvania (and even New York, believe it or not), Ohio is largely a very rural state, with most of the land being forests and farms and fields, with a few cities. Pennsylvania (Penn’s Woods) was a place that welcomed all people/all religions. That freedom is what drew the Amish (Pennsylvania Dutch) from Europe. From there, the land just kind of extended into Ohio, so these states have the two largest Amish/Mennonite communities in America.

But while seeming very familiar to areas south of Erie, I must say that the economy here is much more thriving and seemingly wealthier than in Western PA. Not sure why, but there is a vibrancy and more beautiful homes that you don’t generally find in the Amish communities in our neck of the woods.

One thing too, is while there are still lots of horses and buggies as a way to get around, there are a lot more e-bikes here. Amish men, and Amish women scooting along the roads at a pretty fast clip. That may also be happening in PA, but I have not seen that much of it.

Anyway, it was a nice visit to a beautiful part of the country. We had lunch at the Dutch Village which was delicious. Family-style with huge portions of chicken and gravy, ham, roast beef, (real) mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, rolls, and an incredible assortment of homemade pies.  Just what we all needed after having stuffed ourselves on the ship for the past 10 days hahahahaha.

On to Niagara Falls next. Another great place (right in our own backyard).

Pretty cool that while we won’t be able to see it, our Viking ship will pass right by our house sometime tonight 🤪

As you can see (for those of you who know Erie) the land looks very familiar

The Amish still use horses and buggies, and all the businesses, shops, and restaurants around here have hitching posts.

But lots of them now ride e-bikes to get around, and some even drive golf carts like this one

Can you tell why I felt at home here 😉

Kids on break at school. Amish children go to private school in one room school houses. From 1st grade to 8th grade, and that’s enough learning. Time to go to work full-time after that. Kids were clearly enjoying this summer weather that is lasting into October.

Passed this exit heading back to the boat. SO close to home. Enjoying this trip but also looking forward to be back in Erie in a week.

Onward!

Getting Closer to Home

by Ryan Markiewicz | Oct 7, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

All,

Yesterday, we visited Detroit, Michigan. Motor City. Motown. (And the home of Scott Frederick’s beloved Lions 😉).

Went to the Henry Ford museum. Lots of amazing stuff — the innovations of the past and possibly the future. It was a nice day and (though not a museum guy) a cool museum.

You know how I’ve said this trip has been interesting, though very “familiar.”  Well, now it gets even more so. Today we are in Cleveland, which is just an hour and a half from Erie. We come here fairly often.

We’re going to take a tour of Amish country. 1. Because although Hallie is not Amish, she is “Amishish,” having grown up  on a dirt road in rural Union City, PA named after her family with the few houses on the road all family members, and 2. Believe it or not, the Amish community they are taking us to is called Berlin, Ohio. So…had to do this. Tour had our name on it 😉 Will let you know.

Also, they gave these out yesterday, which is a cool momento to have, but it seems a bit premature to me since we have not gotten to Lake Ontario (Toronto) quite yet. I bet there must be some old sailor quote similar to “don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”  I just hope it doesn’t jinx the cruise to celebrate this feat too soon 🤪.

Onward! -JB