September 2013 Waterford to New York

As we head towards September we will share some of the things we've been up to.

As soon as we left Waterford (the end of the Erie Canal) we entered into the last lock, which is Federal. The Troy Lock.

Now we enter a new world of Tides and Currents.

 We have never experienced this type of movement in any of the water we've travelled in so far, we're paying attention.

The first thing on the agenda is to get the mast back up so we can look like a sail boat again.  We stopped in the Catskills to do this.

 Riverview Marina Mast Raising

 Mast Up Sails On

Ready to move on in the morning

The next place we stopped at was called Bear Mountain.  On our way there we passed West Point the Military College.

West Point Military College

West Point Military College

Bear Mountain Bridge

Crabs caught right from the dock

 Bear Mountain Lookout

Big swimming pool at Bear Mountain

They say this is a bottomless lake, no swimming allowed

Bear Mountain Lodge - Looked pretty nice.

Could this be the tunnel of Love?

Anchored at Big Bear Mountain

Dancer went for a dip in the bottomless lake

 Bear Mountain Bridge up close

 Trains run along both sides of the Hudson River

 

When we decided to leave Bear Mountain we carefully checked our charts for a nice place to stay.  We decided we would go to Havershaw Bay a few hours down the river.  We were very carefully following the charts to get into the bay when we ran aground.  We were on a falling tide so the water was getting shallower not deeper.  Gord stayed very calm and tried everything he knew to get us moving.  We even had a nice boater try to pull us out to deeper water, but to no avail.  So now's the time to call Boat Tow USA, I knew we signed up for a reason.   I called them and not to calmly asked them to send help, but they wanted my membership number, where the heck is that, and my zip code, like I could remember that.  I said just send help, we're on a falling tide and I don't want to tip over.  So she took our name and phone number and promised to send help.

The nice guy from Two Boat USA showed up about 40 minutes later.  He dipped the water all around us and was sure he could get us out.  So he pulled and pulled and pulled, snapped his line, and pulled and pulled and pulled.  As you know by this time I'm just praying and praying and praying.  Then it happened we started to move and we were free, Thank God.  And then as we were getting organized again the police(customs) guy shows up and asked to board the boat.  How could I say no.  The nice young officer was very good, he talked to Dancer and then asked to see our papers and Passports.  So I showed him everything I had and he took pictures of our stuff and said have a nice day. 

We were worn out by now and thought we would go across the bay and anchore, but the chart  said

it wasn't that deep.  The Officer said because of the full moon tide, all was not right with the charted depths.  So we braved on to Nyack and found a nice anchorage to rest for 3 days.  We are learning as we go and still praying as we go.  So far so good. 
Nyack was a great place to Anchor, they do have mooring balls but we decided to anchor out and save some money.  They have a town dock, so we tied up there and walked the town.  They had several good stores to pick up stuff we needed and the weather was great. Next stop New York.



We Anchored in Nyack for 3 Nights.

The journey continues

Leaving Home Again - "Life's A Dance" you learn as you go.

It seems our week home went by in a blink.  Staying with Gord's mom was really nice.  We had lots of time to look at pictures and reminisce with the family about all the good times they had with their Dad.  We are thankful to all our family and friends who supported us at the funeral.  It's was so hard to say goodbye to everyone again, but we loved being able to get one more visit in before returning to the boat.

 I must say with all the modern technology it seems we're still close to everyone even when we're far away.  If you have an Iphone or Ipad check in with us face to face using facetime.  I will show you the scenery as we pass by. The contact is Gord Hodgson for  facetime.  We have a magic jack phone on our computer and can call for free as long as we have an internet signal.  If you want the number just make a comment on the blog and I will contact you. As you may notice I will do most of the communicating on our blog, Gord will put his spin on things from time to time because as you all know he's always busy doing something. 

We're  reminded every day to enjoy the opportunity to enjoy each others company and health and pray our journey will be a long one.  Being a sailor we pray more than we ever did.  We pray for wind when our sails are up, we pray for no wind when our mast is down, we pray for sun and then for shade, we pray for calm water and to be safe when a storm is coming.  So if you see some scary storm on TV, think of us and pray too.  We'll be thinking of you too.

Gord manning the helm, notice the gray remote in his hand. 

 It's a tough job but somebody has to do it.

The New York State Waterways

And so the journey resumes, we arrived back in Brewerton NY at 3:00pm on Wednesday August 14th 2013.  We went right to the marina to check the boat and then we went to Walmart to get groceries, returned the rental car and prepared to shove off in the morning.

 Great Dock at the Brewerton Boatyard

 

Our rental Car Dodge Dart - 4 1/2 hours home to Port Perry from Brewerton NY.

 

 

One week  later leaving Brewerton Boatyard  Aug. 15 at about 8:30am

 

The next step of this journey is to cross Lake Oneida, about 20 miles of open and shallow water.  Great conditions today, there is little boat traffic and low winds for the crossing.

 



 

Lake Oneida

 

After crossing Oneida lake we enter into the Erie Canal Barge System at Lock # 23.  Today we traveled 5 locks. Lock 23-19.

We stopped for the night at 7pm at the top side of Lock 18 - Herkimer NY.  There is no one here and it seems a little eerie for some reason.  Listened to all the sounds around us during the night,  Gord even put the doors in the hatch and set the security just to be safe.  We had no problems but better safe than sorry.

 

Lock 23 - mile 308

 

 Leaving Lock 23

Entering Lock 22

 Leaving Lock 22 - mile 279

 

Canal side fire drill

Canal Boat

Entering Lock 21 - Mile 278

Leaving Lock 21 - Mile278

 

Leaving Lock 20 - mile 260

Just passing the Utica Marina - Kitty's on the canal  restaurant. (stayed here before) Mile 257

Lock 19 - Mile 250

Notice the calm waters

 

Looking into the hills

 

Sun down at Lock 18

Arrived top side of Lock 18 at 6pm - Herkimer NY. - Mile 237

 

Lock 18

Leaving Lock 18 Aug.16/13 at 8:30am

 

 Leaving Lock 18

 

Lock 18 - mile 237

Lock 17 - mile 233

 Lock 17 - Door goes up and down with heavy cement blocks, you get a shower on your way out

 

 Lock 16 - Mile 225

 



Leaving Lock 16

Lock 16 - Mile 225

Lock 15 - Mile 219

 Leaving Lock 15

 

Lock 15

Lock 15 - Mile 219

 Arriving at Lock 14

 

Leaving Lock 14 - mile 215

 

Lock 13 - mile 208

Lock 13

Leaving Lock 13-short drop as you can see

Lock 12 - mile 198 - working on the dam

 

Lock 11 - mile 193

Lock 11

 Leaving  Lock 11

 

Lock 11



Entrance to Lock 10 - mile 189

Leaving Lock 10 - notice the lock walls

Gord still manning the helm - remote (Ha Ha)

It's not always this easy, Honest.

Approaching Lock 9 - mile 183

 Leaving Lock 9

 

Departing Lock 9

Top side of Lock 8 - mile 178 - notice the dead trees from the storms

Bottom side of Lock 8 - Schenectady NY

Karen and Dancer out for a walk

Gord and Dancer enjoying the evening together

 Fishing right below the dam

 

Gord wishing he was fishing

Dam at Lock 8

 

Sunset at Lock 8

 

Karen and Dancer boarding for the night at Lock 8

 

 

August 17/13 Departing Lock 8 at 8:30am

 

This is a picture of a spectacular private residence reminiscent of a castle on the Rhine River sits about a mile east of the Schenectady Yacht Club, high above the shale cliffs on the north shore.  Called "Llenroc" (Cornell spelled backward), this magnificent five-floor structure has 30,000 square feet, 15 fireplaces, 10 bathrooms, an indoor pool and a bar with two port holes that look underwater into the pool.

 

Arriving at Lock 7

 

Departing Lock 7

Lock 7

Lock 7

Nice bridge between Lock 7 and Lock 6

 

 

This is the flood gate at the entrance to the flight locks 6-2 when going south.

This section is know as the Waterford Flight

Another flood gate before Lock 6

The top side of Lock 6

Departing Lock 6

Arriving at Lock 5

Notice how high the water is. This is the entrance to Lock 4

Departing Lock 4

Lock 4

Approaching Lock 3

Lock 3

Departing Lock 3

We had company in the Locks 6-2

Approaching Lock 2

 

 Departing Lock 2

 



 

 

Approaching Waterford Town Dock

Lock 2

Bottom side of Lock 2

 



 

Old sail boat on the town dock 

 

 

We arrived in Waterford on Saturday around 1:30pm, this is a nice place to stay for a couple days.  The people on the dock are very helpful.  The town holds a farmers market on Sunday's, we bought some fresh corn for dinner and it was wonderful.  Gord and myself we're lucky enough to get a massage from some nice therapists at the market.  We feel relaxed today.  Gord worked on the mast and we went for a walk.  That's enough for today.