GL: Champlain Canal

[fred]

To all,

We just got home from a trip up to see my new place up the
Champlain Canal in NY.  Got a nice taste of winter too.... it's about 7
degrees up there right now!  Tomorrow night will be minus 2 degrees.

The
trip home was torture ... freezing sleet and snow most of the way back to
Jersey.  By actual count we spotted 18 (eighteen) cars that had simply lost
control and slid into the ditch, plus there were 4 multi-car pileups on the
way.

We signed the contract on the new house last night, so that's now a
done deal... YEAAHHHHH!  Closing is not til the first of June, but Tug 44 will
likely arrive before then.

I just now came home to find 50+ private emails
from all the folks sending us congratulations on getting the new house.  There
are so many I can't really reply to each one individually, but I'd like to
thank you all for the wonderful wishes!  It's really nice to see!!!

There
were several emails from folks who recognized that very house, and have
previously been at the bar in the basement with the owner .... turns out half
the NY Canal Corp employees are also regular drinkers there, from the director
down to the work boat crews.  I have been warned that I will be required to
continue that tradition whether I like it or not.   Sounds like a great idea
to me!

After July, I may be able to offer a place at the dock for passing
cruisers, not sure on that yet, but we shall see.  More on that later.

Best
wishes to all,

Fred & Kathy,
Tug 44