On the Erie!

Trip Day:	101	Latitude:	42°51.06 ' N	Locks Today:	6
Miles Today:	21	Longitude:	073°53.19' W	Locks Total:	15
Total Miles:	1,968	Location:	Schenectady, NY

Erie Canal here we come!  New Yorkers seem very proud of the historic canal which opened up trade between the Hudson, the Mississippi, the St Lawrence and the Great Lakes when it was built in 1825.  Of course the canal has been renovated through the years, re-routed, locks widened and many of the old mule trails have become hiking trails. Locks 2-6 are collectively known as the Waterford Flight.  This group of locks lift or lower vessels the greatest height in the shortest distance of any canal in the world. 

  The rise is 169 feet in elevation in less than two miles.  Locking through was quick and easy since there were just two boats instead of a full lock.  The only unpleasant part is that the holding lines are green with slime as are the lock walls so our white fenders are now green and slimy.  Note to self , need cotton gloves that can be thrown away after the trip.

This section of the Erie runs on the     Mohawk River which is wide and heavily treed on both banks. 

This home is not  representative of the typical neighborhoods along the river.

We heard horror stories in Waterford and now in Schenectady about the damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Irene.  The water rose to the top of door jams and the mud left behind was 6 inches thick.  Here at the Schenectady Yacht Club, where we are staying, all the floating docks are new and they are still recovering from the flooding. 

 

We miss seeing Osprey, but we are enjoying the ducks and geese which are plentiful. 

TUESDAY - JUNE 12, 2012  /  WATERFORD, NY

We were underway early to run with the current today.  We followed KatMan2 up river, which was an odd view with the mast down.  Throughout the day we saw several sailboats headed toward the Erie Canal. It is like an obstacle course on our deck with the boom, mainsail and multiple lines to step over to maneuver from one side to the other to handle lines or the anchor. 

The scenery changed as we neared Albany.

The clouds began to look threatening for several miles then the rain began just as we approached the town docks at Waterford.  We just squeezed in between two trawlers in a row of about 50 boats.  Ron bought our locking  pass for the Erie Canal and we walked around town for awhile until the rain got heavy. 

 

We hosted dinner for Betty and Mark and their friends Al and Kim. A good time was had by all !