Chilling in Waterford

Its been raining since early this morning and looks like it will continue to do so all day so we've decided to stay put and do some of those fix it things that always need doing. But first BREAKFAST, we've heard that a place called Don & Paul's is the place to go.



Seems the stories are true - the three of us ate (and I do mean ate) for $15. How about playing pool while your eating breakfast.

When we got back to the boat we ran the water dry in the tanks and filled up again with fresh. Then we emptied the dingy, even though it was full of water we got it on the dock and tipped it over. Then we phoned ahead to Catskill (Cats - kill) Creek to give them the heads up that we were coming and would be needing to step the mast, no problem they said. The weather is supposed to improve so we'll head south tomorrow. Past Troy Lock the river is tidal.

The schooner Lois McClure is a full-scale replica of an 1862-class sailing canal boat, constructed in Burlington, Vermont. She was nudged into the dock just behind us this afternoon. Here she is with her sails up:

Little less rain this afternoon but not a good day to be out and about. This picture would be the sunset picture for the day.



The Five Sisters

I was up at 6:40am so I could get a head start on showering etc. we actually got underway at 9:00am under a cloudy not so nice looking sky. At Lock 10 (15' drop) there are all three modes of transport - the river, the highway and railway. Clouds are gone and its shaping up to be another glorious day on the canal our last if we make it to Waterford.



Seen a lot of Common Mergansers, flocks of Redwing Blackbirds, Yellow Legs and Common Egrets.

Mergansers, Egret and Yellowlegs

Neat road bridge, I87 I think headed south then a few more twists in the river and we begin the run through the Five Sisters Locks 6-2.



Just before the Five Sisters there are two Control Gates the first is usually closed so you call ahead and they open it. The second is open most of the time.

What a pretty run all that yellow and blue and the weather as the day drew to a close was classic for a fall day. It only took an hour to drop 183.1'. Locks 6-3 dropped more than 33' each and Lock 2 just 14'. The locks drain water at a rate of 2200 gallons a minute - they drain faster than your average bathtub!



So literally just a feww hundred yards from Lock 2 gate we tied up at Waterford Harbor Visitors Center 42 47.2174N 73 40.7556W.

Under the bridge and turn to starboard and we're in the Hudson River. Just a short way down on the east side is Troy Lock after which the river is tidal.



Canajoharie - FlavourTown

Got up and had pancakes for breakfast, with strawberries. At 10:00am Ron and I walked to the Arkel Museum where there is an Art Gallery as well as the library. Wonderful place with wonderful paintings including some by Winslow Homer. Some of his watercolors are just stunning.

Canajoharie is the home of Beech Nut Packaging. The museum tells the complete story - the old factory downtown is vacant as is most of the downtown core which is sad. Beech Nut made everything from Gum to Peanut Butter, now they make Baby Food.

After the Museum visit we decided to head downstream to Amsterdam and Riverlink Park to get a pump out do laundry.

This stretch of the canal was devestated by Irene last year and signs of the damage were everywhere though they have done an amazing job of repair. The corner section of the building above was all but washed away so you can see how high the water was.
Just before Lock 11 we saw a Bald eagle you can understand why its the bird of the USA.



This is Kevins boat, he pulled into Riverlink just after we did. He's heading north - aint that the cutest little boat you ever did see. There are two bunk beds at the rear of the wheel house and he cooks out the back on a Coleman stove.

Did the pump out thing, Mary and Ron were gone for hours doing the laundry and I updated the blog. Our freinds Bob and Roger eventually arrived so we sat up late having cocktails so I missed the sunset again but this is us docked for the night at Riverlink Park in Amsterdam.

Position 42 56.0272N 74 11.474W



Without WiFi well you know

So we are now in Amsterdam at Riverlink Park cleaning up having showers and doing laundry. Tomorrow we'll head for Waterford not sure how far we'll get, thats nine(9) locks!

We left off at the entrance to Onedia Lake - wow that seems so long ago now. The crossing was uneventful, calm clear weather as you can see. Well it was by the time we reached the other side.

On the west side of Lake Onedia

Made it across, entering Sylvian Beach

We entered Sylvian Beach at 11:30am first lock this side is Lock 22(up 25') then shortly after Lock 21(up 25'). As we approached Lock 21 we could see a west bound boat above the Lock Gates, then it dissapeared until the gates opened again. Lock 20 at Utica is the first Lock to drop us down and we dropped 16'. So its all downhill from here to the Hudson.

Exiting at the bottom rather than the top

We docked at a free dock in Utica our position there was 43 06.7115N 75 12.9253W if you wan to back track.

Onward and Downward (downhill from here remember)

Beautiful sunrise on the canal this morning.

These kind of mornings make it all worth while

A few logs (aligators we call em) to avoid - they look small but are like icebergs there may be more under the water that you can't see.

Going down in a lock is easier than going up. I guess water leaving the lock causes less turbulence that coming in. And talking about going down - Lock 17 is the deepest lock on the canal a drop of 40.5 feet.

Because its such a drop they lift one gate at the east end

Viola!

We like the color scheme the canal has for everything barges tugs guard rails - everything. Yellow and Blue.

We docked at Canajoharie, there is an Art Gallery here which is according to Skipper Bob and I quote " one of the finest small art galleries in the US". We'll find out tomorrow!

Pointing the wrong way but it was easier docking this way!

It was a noisy evening but kind of neat listening to the traffic and trains going by - Mary cooked pasta and meatballs with salad on the side - yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Our exact position here was 42 54.5880N 74 34.1575W, well on the south side of the canal at the dock as you can see.
And now we're up to date as soon as I do todays post but that will be a new post - its difficult to explain. Sorry -no sunset picture.



All locked up

Late start this morning after all the activity yesterday we felt like a cooked breakfast. Topped up the engine coolant and made certain everything was as it should be before shoving off at 9:05am. There is no Lock 4, they designed it then decided they didn't need it and rather than re-number all the locks they just left it out! So............ next is Lock 3 which raises you 27' then Lock 2 18'.

Entering Lock 2 raising us 18'

We're starting to get the hang of locks but you're never absolutely sure what to expect so have to stay alert. I usually take the bow and Mary the stern with Ron at the helm. Its a case of grabbing a rope or line down the wall of the lock and hanging on while the water raises you up at the same time making sure you stay parallel with the wall - its a matter of hook work!

Lock 1 at Phoenix, thankfully they raise this road bridge!

This lock raised us 10'. The road bridge rises just enough for taller boats to get under on the left (port) side, we are about 15', the maximum you can be is 21' to be safe. The weather improved as we headed toward Brewerton just before Lake Onedia. Sorry Greg we didn't get to stop in Phoenix.

These bridges are just 23' which is lots of room - but you still duck.

Turning up the Onedia River at Three Rivers off the Oswego River. If we'd kept going we would enter the Seneca River - check the chart.

And this is lock 23 (don't ask) raising us just 7'.

Actually Lock 23 is on a short stretch of the Erie Canal that takes a short cut from the Onedia River and back again just before Brewerton. Let me explain (duh) where ever possible they used the natural waterway (river) and where needed they dug the Erie Canal to go the better route. Once across the Onedia Lake we'll enter the Erie Canal again which later becomes the Mohawk River on and off till Waterford at the Hudson River.

On a free dock at the entrance to Onedia Lake behind us

Where we came from and the sun setting.

Oswego or bust

I apologize for not keeping this thing updated, only being Captain and all and all the exciting stuff happening is hampering my ability to get at the computer. As it is Mary and Ron are as we speak cooking up a storm of culenary delights while I type!

So suffice to say we finally made it to Oswego and left Lake Ontario, a mile stone of itself! The only somewhat exciting thing that happened enroute was a visit from the Coast Guard and passing registration paperwork mid Lake Ontario - sorry no pictures.

You know who

Docked at Shumway Marina in Rochester

Historical Lighthouse Rochester

We discovered on entering Oswego that the Yacht Club was having a $5 pasta dinner evening so naturally thats where we decided to dock. The fact that it was a free reciprocal dock played just a small part in the decision making process. Members of the club went out of their way to help - they drove us to the grocery store and way out to find a place that topped up our propane tanks. At the grocery store another member took pity on us and drove us back to the boat - he recognised us from the pasta party the night before! Today we got our Cruising Permit and started down the Oswego Canal. At Lock 5 the engine overheated and failing to diagnose the problem we called a mechanic from Oswego who came and fixed for just $20. He was riding a scooter, which probably explains the oh so reasonable fee! Lock 5 is at Minetto which is where we are now enjoying chicken for dinner. Wow that was good but I missed the sunset so maybe I'll get a sunrise.

Oswego Power Plant & Lighthouse

Docked at Oswego Yacht Club

Yacht Club bar - great people great club

Traditions die hard

End of first day down the Oswego Canal

Reportedly the prettiest bridge on the canal - Minetto

This place is amazing - washrooms with showers, everything!

3 Knot Sailors (Cast off)

Twas cold and chilly at PCHM on the morning of 19^th September 2012, but conditions were favourable for our purpose. We are 3 in a boat – the boat being Solent Breeze a 36’ Canadian Sailboat, the captain Dave Jackson enlisted two crew from Humber Sailing Club who had just returned from a two week cruise around Vancouver Island, Ron Roe and Mary Hutcheon both experienced sailors (well someone has to be) oh arrrrrrrr!

Solent Breeze ready for the off

All was ready and so we cast off butterflies raging, actually it felt more like eagles. So this is us now 55” long on account of the mast strapped to the deck. It feels like we should be participating in a jousting contest, a knight in shining armour and all that!

Skipper Dave got rid of the butterflies (eagles) by launching into a bowl of cereal, food always seems to work wonders for skipper Dave! With the mast down progress to begin with was a little rolly polly to say the least but eventually things settled down. The weather mostly clear with waves less than half a meter.

 

Ron Roe & Mary Hutcheon (Crew)

 Underway the mast is as solid as a rock (thank goodness)!

So we checked into Wilson but not before touching bottom trying to put in at the Public Dock. Thankfully people had seen us arriving and hurried over to guide us to a better spot on a wall in Tuscarora Yacht Club. As we were only staying overnight and it was the end of season they said we could stay free of charge with full use of the facilities. Lovely showers and club room with TV. One guy even offered to drive us into town but after our first day we begged off and took to our beds.

Tuscarora Yacht Club

 

By way of tradition – sunset in TYC Wilson