#42 June 12 to June 19

June 12

We were away at 0805 after a hot breakfast.  22 miles to the famous Erie Canal and the Waterford visitors center.

Now here is the ultimate. No engine, tent, cooler, oar, lawn chair!

150 miles up the Hudson we are approaching Albany.  There is a tremendous amount of industrial and commercial sites along the waterway.

Seems every large town has a
Military ship of some kind.

Notice - there are 5 ramps merging to this bridge!!

Albany, Capital Building of New York State

There is my crew, the first of many locks Federal Lock at Troy, NY, It is Lock #1 of the New York Canal System.

We choose the Erie!

Entrance to Erie Canal

We were lucky, one spot left  --  the visitor Center long dock was full.   Notice far ahead are the gates to Lock #2, the first  in the "flight of 5" that we must traverse all in one go. No stopping in between.

June 13 

We get a good start with one other boat at 0830. The "Flight of Five"  150 ft in just 1.5 miles!

Conor and Aidan picked up on this Lock Thing immediately.  My lines were always prepared, fenders were always properly placed and tied securely. I am so proud of them and would write a letter of recommendation to anyone to hire them.

We couldn't help but contemplate and marvel at the engineering and human manpower it took to build and plan these canals. 

Guide book says be on the lookout for the Volkswagen. No reason was given as to why it is perched up there!

We stopped a little early today at Amsterdam Riverlink Park, a very nice park with pavilion, and facilities including power at a $1.00 a foot. We did 9 Locks today.
 Conor had been spiking a fever, with sore throat, headache and joint discomfort, since night before last on the 11th. We could break the fever then it would come back. This morn it was high again so conferring with his folks the decision was made to get to a clinic.  So we tied up at 1645, called a taxi and headed to what was touted to be a 4-star opinion facility.  5:30 pm we are in standing room only. Presented ourselves, told to sit - called in to take vitals - told to sit - called to do paperwork - told to sit - and, sit we did! Everyone was treated thesame way "told to sit". I have never seen such disorganization! Even in a crowded clinic.  10:05 in a room - 10:25 a Dr., who, I must say did an adequate exam and suggested "strep". test was done and proved negative. We had to wait again while the pharmacy concocted a "miracle" blend mouthwash to gargle for throat relief!  Bottom line?  We got out of there at 11:15! No supper, thank heaven we had it waiting in the crock pot(beef stew) when we got back. Showers all round and BED!

June 14

Getting a late start today due to checking is there was a prescription for Conor at the Pharmacy near by.  Nope!  Arrgghh!  So Dr Grandma went to work.  We were off the dock at 0930 and it is another beautiful day.  We have been very fortunate to not have to wait very long for any lock to be ready for us as we proceed. Accept, Lock #11. We waited for an hour as a Tug and Tow 663 ft had to break apart and back together for a double lock down. It was interesting to watch.  When he finally passed us I inquired what he did when he reached the "flight of five".  When they get closer to the Hudson and Locks that are back to back; they call up another tug to meet them and bring half the Tow down. Would cause quite a backup of cruisers otherwise. Well, it will anyway as it took us 2 hours to traverse the flight.

We experienced a tremendous amount of flotsam, trees, branches and debris in Lock 15. Trying to avoid most of it the current pushed our stern quarter into the lock wall. A good "bump" but no damage. We stopped, collected ourselves and proceeded on to a successful lockup.

We docked at another Park in Little Falls, NY. Very nicely landscaped, clean, quality facilities and Power. $1.00 a foot! Sweet. Today we did 7 locks.

#17, our last lock of the day, 40 feet!  This is the highest lock on the Erie and the only one that has a gate that raises 22 feet for vessels to pass. 

June 15

It is ABD! But we woke up to a great surprise.  Fish Flys!  all over the boat.  Aidan got the hose out to wash them off.
As we travel the canal we monitor channel 13 (Lock Channel). Listened to a conversation from the dredging crews working. We saw 3 dredging operations within 6 miles.  Seems there was a breach in the canal caused by some boaters not heeding the speed limit of 10 miles and hour and their wakes washed out the dike.  Sure enough we passed the outfit fixing the problem by filling and back filling and filling some more.

Hard at work!

Update on Horatio! He is one happy camper with the smooth going and a constant companion!

We traversed 5 Locks today, the last being #22. It is the last lock the boys will be doing.

We have arrived at Sylvan Beach, long free dock.  Our beautiful day turned overcast and it started to rain just as the boys got back from a walkabout town.  Very small, and quiet. They discovered the 1940's amusement park. It still operates on weekends and holidays.

By the Way, Conor is feeling much better, no headache, no fever and no joint pain!  Whew!

A wild? ride!

June 16

Today is the crossing of Lake Oneida. 0830 we head out just after another Looper, in an American Tug. The winds are to be SE5-10 meaning it will be behind us off our Port Quarter giving a bit of a push.  Was nice an quiet as we started and then the wind picked up a little. As we approached the middle of the crossing the seas built to two feet but still in the SE direction so we experienced a little bigger push and a very comfortable ride. A short one also, we arrived at Brewerton free dock at 1030.

Something to be said for a good Crew! They knew the boat had to be washed down and cleaned. So we got right to it using the washdown fitting on the boat. There was no water or power at this dock.When we get to the dock at Winter Harbor Marina just 30 minutes up the river tomorrow we will finish cleaning.  The outside above the rub rail is sparkling and all the fenders are cleaned from the grimy Lock walls. 

A little walk looking for a garbage across the bridge, several blocks - inquired of a gentleman"Where is Main street?"  "This is it!"  "Looking for a garbage can." "Here, let me take that and put it in my dumpster"  Town wasn't much but the people are pleasant and helpful.

We did discover the "best Ice Cream in Town" at the ONLY ice cream shop in town!

I love these guys! I have never ask them. They just say  "I got this, Grandma!"

June 17

This was a really big travel.day. All of 0ne mile to the Marina we will stay for 2 days.  We along  got right busy cleaning the hull below the rub rail. Conor  and Aidan got in the dinghy and I moved them along to clean the waterline and the "mustache" from the brown murky canal water. All bright and shiny top to bottom. Then we tackled the inside. Tidy, Dust, Vacuum, Ready for my next crew.

We finished all our hard work too late to borrow the courtesy car to go to supper; so,
we took our own.!

 We returned to more excitement!

A big 50 footer ran aground in Lake Oneida in the afternoon. This yard is the place to come for repair.  You can they maneuvered the boat into the fairway, passed the lines on either side to boats crews to pull them gently through to the travel lift. Police and Coast Guard had put a BIG pump on board to keep up with the intruding water.

This is just after the boys handed the lines off to the boat in front of us as it slipped into the travel lift. Don't know where this guy was, but he went hard aground. both props ruined, shafts bent and a waterfall of water exited out the Port aft stern for many minutes as well as the shafts.  Everyone thinking all kinds of things!

June 18

Today the boys are heading home to Michigan. I take them to the airport in Syracuse at 3pm.  It has been a wonderful, interesting trip. I am so proud of them. They are really not boys anymore but kind, intelligent, thoughtful, inquisitive, capable young men.

The unfortunate circumstance today was that their 6pm flight did not leave till 8 pm. So. . . . .

This is what we did to pass the time!

Another unfortunate circumstance for my new Crew, Jo and Howard Cone was to pick me up at 6:15 pm.  In the end, the storms passed, the boys were off and I connected with Howard and Jo.  We acclimated to the boat, settled in, had a bottle of wine, reveled in old times and hit the sack for our trip to Oswego in the morning.

 June 19

New Crew, New experiences, new anticipation and a bit of nervousness on their part. We departed 8 am for fuel and pump out and were on our way 8:30 am.  Yes, of course, it was raining, hard at times; and I told Jo and Howard to not bring gear. Not to worry, I had plenty. The rain ceased around 9:30 am and continued to clear as the day wore on.  We traversed all locks(8) and arrived around 3pm at Oswego Marina.

But before docking we went out into Lake Ontario. The seas were flat and calm with a panorama of the city before us.  I'm hoping for such conditions on Wednesday when I want to cross Lake Ontario to Trenton, Ontario.

Boats rinsed off, lines and fenders secure; another segment complete. Now for a long overdue gab session with two of the most wonderful friends we have had. I'm sure Bill is delighted to have Howard aboard. He loved this guy!  We met Jo and Howard when we lived across the street from them in Santo Amaro, Brazil. Our Wendi and Sandra were the same ages as their Jessica and Heidi. Oh, the stories! And Brazil being absolutely fascinating and interesting; it was difficult. I was pregnant with Kelly and all the American families on the street would meet at 4 o'clock for commiserating!! Almost every Day!
 Me and my Rum!  Sorry Kelly, I think that's your trouble with Math!! Those were times before we knew that "commiserating" might be detrimental to the unborn!!!:(
You never know the bonds that are formed by circumstance, chance meeting or random introduction. I embrace each new encounter and hope all who venture: enjoy, relish, and cherish each new acquaintance. Jo and Howard have remained dear friends since 1976.