Dragging our feet

Our first thoughts for our travels on Friday, 10/5,  were to go from Canajoharie to Lock 8, Scotia...the reality was the day was perfect for boating and when we got to Lock 8 we decided we would go all the way to Waterford and complete the Erie Canal. Waterford is known for the flight of locks, 5 locks that take approximately 2 hours and you can't stop in between once you start them. We had plenty of time but it was a long day,  9.5 hours, 60 miles and 12 locks. We were tired by the time we tied to the wall and happy there was still a spot left for us!

We are dragging our feet now that we have completed the Erie Canal as our daughter is out of town on business and we don't want to miss visiting with her when we go through NYC.
It was fun sitting in Waterford watching the boats head east (majority sailboats) or west (majority power boats) and meeting some of the boaters. The question we get often and the one that came up when we were talking to a couple from South Africa doing the Great Loop backwards (came up the rivers, through the great lakes and are heading down the east coast so they can maximize time sailing)...what is the western Erie Canal like? They have a huge catamaran and had to go through the Welland Canal because they are over the 15.5" height limit for the western section. We answered that there are a lot of cute towns but the beauty is really the section from three rivers to Waterford. Those comments had me thinking about the Erie Canal in general, although we look at it as an end to a means it is truly a marvel. We stop in these little canal towns and walk the streets and see signs that highlight the history of the Erie Canal, old homes that were once lively establishments and you can't help but feel the immense gratitude to our ancestors for having the foresight to develop such an amazing gateway to get products from the eastern seaboard to the Great Lakes and the heartland of America.

The next decision was when to leave Albany and head towards NYC which has us looking at the weather. We keep hearing scattered showers in the forecast, don't cancel your plans, not much rain...but it seems those scattered showers keep finding us as they did Saturday and Sunday. Our decision was to leave Tuesday (sunshine/high 70's) and travel through the Troy lock to New Baltimore where we will stay for 3 nights at Shady Harbor Marina. That plan keeps us in the marina for rain on Thursday from a cold front and possibly the remains of what should be tropical storm Michael by then. It's kind of like a logistical puzzle...looking at dates to be in NYC when Allison is there, weather (including hurricanes & tropical storms), how long to stay in each place before we move on so that we can maximize any benefits they might have (laundry, free days, grocery stores).

After New Baltimore it will be a couple of days at anchor and then on to NYC to meet up with Allison.

A beautiful sunrise as we leave Canajoharie

 

The beautiful Mohawk River

 

 

 

Entering the Waterford flight locks with 2 other boats

 

Lock 2 in Waterford, either the beginning

or the end of the Erie Canal depending on

which way you are traveling

 

Mark tending the lines in the Troy Locks

 

The beautiful Hudson River

 

A foggy morning as the river cruise ship passes by

 

Lots of boat traffic on the Hudson - ships, tugs, barges, along

with pleasure boats heading south