6/22-6/27/2012

Friday - decided to stay another day in Waterford.  Walked to Don and Pauls for breakfast.  Afterward we toured the first lock on the Erie.  New York Canal Corporation requires boats to purchase a 2-day, 10-day or seasonal pass for any locks in the system which includes the Erie, Oswego, Cayuga-Senaca  and Champlain Canals.  We opted for the 10-day pass, $50 for boats over 39'.  The lock tender at the first lock sells the passes.  While we were there he shared with us some of the history of the lock system and showed the mechanisms that operate the locks.  Pretty cool.

An excerpt from the Skipper Bob Publication
The Erie Canal was started in 1817 and opened to traffic in 1825 .  Over 340 miles long, it is the most famous and best known of all the New York Canals.  The Erie Canal connects Troy, NY on the Hudson River with Buffalo, NY on Lake Erie.  The Erie has been enlarged and modified over the years but is still the mainstay of the New York Canal System.

Rode bikes to the grocery store, Hannafords, really nice store.  Loaded up the backpacks. 

This wooden sailboat was docked behind us on the wall.

 This is a replica of what is said to be the first ship built entirely in America (January to April, 1614), the Onrust.  The original ship built by Adriaen Block was 44.5 feet long and capable of carrying 16 tons.  Check out the interesting figurehead on the prow of the ship in the pic below.

From 2006 to 2009 New Netherland Routes, Inc., built a replica of the Onrust at the Schenectady County Historical Society's Mabee Farm HistCohoric Site. Construction used authentic 17th century Dutch ship building techniques rediscovered by the organization's master shipwright. The material is mostly white oak with pine decking. The replica is held together by more than 4,000 hand-made black locust pegs.

Jerry and I went to dinner at McGrievy's.  We had tried to catch up with Glenda and Carl on Goldleaf but weren't able to so invited them over for a drink later.  While we were visiting another couple, also loopers, came by.  We invited them up as well.  I think they are on What Knots.  Wonderful evening with friends.






Saturday - Did a bike ride this morning along the canaltrail.  Also looking for a hardware store.  Found one in Cohoes, the next town.  Rode back meeting these not so friendly geese.

These guys hissed as we passed and reluctantly gave up the trail.

A view of the Waterford wall.

Wind Song is just under the bridge.

Erie Lock #2, the first of the Waterford Flight of 5.  No stopping between Locks 2-6. 

Jerry managing the lines.  It was rainy so had to wear his raincoat.

Guard Gate #2 remains closed except for passing boats.  This Gate serves as a control of boats entering the Waterford Flight of Locks. Additionally, in the event of a break in a canal wall, the guard gates prevent water in long stretches of the canal from being released (to isolate the damaged section)  

Height restrictions on the Erie mean we have to lower our antennas to stay below 20 feet.  Some bridges provide only a 20' clearance between the bottom of the bridge and the water.  This can be controlled by locks releasing water allowing for more clearance.

Check out the rocks under this house

The dam at Lock 7.  We locked through 6 locks today, traveled 16.2 miles, total time 2 hours, 45 minutes.  We anchored barely off the channel today. 

 Sunday - Lounged this morning waiting for the Schnectady Yacht Club to open so we could get more fuel.  Our fuel gauges are less than accurate.  Added 147 gallons to starboard side only.  Now we list to one side.  Open the refrigerator door and it immediately closes. 

 Some views from the boat.

These are stone arches, remains of an early aqueduct which used to span the Mohawk River at this point.  The wooden portion of the aqueduct is long gone. 

 This sort of shows how close the bottom of some of these bridges are to the top of Wind Song.

Holding the lines

At Lock 10 the lock tender called on the radio.  One of the gates wouldn't open.  The opening is only 21ft, he wanted to make sure we could get through.  We have a 15ft beam so that was 3ft on either side.  Thank goodness no wind.  I got us through, no sweat. 

Canal boat cruising the Erie Canal.  Jerry and I had looked into renting one of these before we did the loop.  Looks like fun!  But we like our boat/home.

Did 8 locks today.  Tied to west wall after Lock 15.  Canal boat found a place close to us.  Traveled 48.3 miles today                                               

 Fixing dinner on the sundeck.  Glass of wine, paper plates.  Who could ask for more?

 Monday - Cool morning, low 60s. 

 Another Guard Gate, permanently up.

 Raining now.  We pulled over to this wall  waiting for lock tender to respond on the radio an open the gate. 

 Approaching Lock 17.  This is the highest lift  (40') on the Erie Canal and only one of two locks in North America that lifts the gate above the boater (guillotine type). 

 After lock 17 today, we stopped at Little Falls for lunch. Walked around town a little just to be off the boat. Little Falls has a free wall to tie to for day visits.

Guide book warned not to go past the bridge until the gate was open and you have a green light as there is no room to manuver once past the bridge. So we idled in the water just before the bridge.

Anchored on the west side of Lock 20 tied to the wall.  Nice canal trail close to wall.

Tuesday - Took advantage of the canal trail, got the bikes down and rode about 10 miles.  Great way to start the day.  And we only plan to travel 10 miles today to Rome, NY. 

 From the back of our boat, we watched as the tug pushed the barge into Lock 20.  We are tied to the wall on the right side of the picture

We rode our bikes across this bridge.  What a wonderful morning for a ride!

 YEAH!  No locks today.  Wind Song and me in Rome, NY.  Cool day.  Walked into town, had lunch at Savoy.  Rome has quite an Italian influence (surprise, right?).  Saw the restored Fort Stanwix, a reproduction of a Revolutionary War wooden fort.  Takes up an entire city block. 

Another boat joining us on the dock.  We spent the night here.  Had several town people come by just taking in the evening.  Jerry visited with some as they walked by the boat.

 Wednesday - Locked through 21 and 22, 25' drop each.  Both locks going down previous 20 locks lifted us up.   Lake Onieda is coming up.  After the locks, we pass many marinas and touristy type summer resorts.

Lake Onieda is rough this morning, 3 foot waves for most of the crossing, then dropping off to about 1 foot, Winds are WNW @ 17 knots.  Had to kick up the speed to around 9.5mph to stop the pitching.  Knocked 40 minutes off our crossing time.

 

 Our destination is Winter Haven Marina, cheap fuel, a courtesy car and overnight stay with power.  Arrived  about 1pm, fueled up 173 gallons @ $3.799.  Paid with check and got $0.10/gal discount.  Such a deal. 

Took the courtesy car into town, picked up a prescription, went to WalMart, and Target then back to the boat.