Lyons to Albion Canal Park

Another cool morning but the winds finally died down.  Left Lyons at 7 am covered 72 miles and 7 locks arriving at Albion at 7:30 pm as the sun set.   

Experienced our first lift bridges and they kept coming.  Easy for us though, less work than locks!

This section included many 15.5 feet bridges that we cleared by more than a foot.  Too close for comfort though!

Passed through several nice port towns.... 

Locked with a couple of  kayaks.

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Sylvan Beach to Lyons

Left Sylvan Beach at 7 am to cross Lake Oneida just before the rain started.  We were treated to a full rainbow that was so big I couldn't get it in one picture.  

Once we crossed 28 mile Lake Oneida.  We entered the very curvy and tight Seneca River. We went through 4 locks and completed 92 miles.  

It was a very windy day, but could not tell how many knots it was blowing because our wind gauge is down so that we can fit under bridges.  We got to lock 25 to learn the lock master was running Lock 25 and 26 and was at lock 26.  Took advantage of the time and went for a walk to stretch our legs.  

Made it to Lyons just before Lock 28 and tied up to the village wall and had dinner at the Pour House.  Again, we were welcomed back to the boat by a special guest!

Tribes Hill to Sylvan Beach

Woke up this morning to a little brighter day than yesterday.  As we went through the day we had more sunshine, but still cool enough for sweatpants and sweatshirts.  Locks are getting easier or were just getting better now that we have a system down.   So far not too much to report.  Lock 17 in Little Falls NY is a 40 foot and is the tallest lift of it's kind.  The gate is like an overhead garage door.  

Ended the day after going through 9 locks (71 miles) and tied up in Sylvan Beach just after dark.  Just so happened that we docked behind another 48 Krogen heading east named Kopacsetic.  

We had dinner at the Crazy Clam and we had an unexpected guest waiting for us at the boat!

 

 

Rainy day in the Erie Canal - Waterford to Tribes Hill

Woke up this morning to a light rain.  We made the first west bound opening of lock E2 at 7:30 am and was the only boat in the lock.   There are 5 locks all in a row known as the "flight of 5" that takes you up 184 feet above Waterford.    

The doors closed and the water began to fill the lock from the bottom.  There is quite a bit of turbulence and the bumpers were taking a beating.  As the lock fills, the boat floats up until we come to the canal above and the doors on the other end of the lock open and we motor out. 

Most of the day was cold and rainy......is it fall already? 

Most of the locks are next to a dam or waterfall.  

Saw a lot of cool old buildings along the canal. 

We went through 11 locks which is about 53 miles in about 10 hours.  We tried to make lock 13 before it closed at 5 but we were 10 minutes late.  We tied up to the wall in from on the lock, had a great dinner (Bill fixed) and watched a move on Netflix.  

Love that we have internet!!

Upper Hudson to Waterford

Up at 6am and headed to Waterford at a cool temperature of 65 degrees with north winds gusting to 28 knots!  

Stopped in Albany to lower the mast, bimini top and antennas.  Taking down the mast is not so easy....took us about an hour to get everything down and put away securely just before the first fixed bridge that had 25 foot clearance.   

We made it through the Troy lock and on to Waterford where there you gotta make a choice....Erie canal left and Champlain canal on the right.  We stayed on the wall in Waterford and had a great evening.  

Form the dock we could see the next lock so we walked over to check it out. 

We also took advantage of being in town and had dinner at McGreivys then headed to bed.  We have a big day tomorrow....we plan on going through 10 locks.  

New York Harbor

After an uneventful overnight run off the shore of NJ we arrived to New York Harbor at 6am as the sun was rising.  Cargo traffic wasn't too bad but there were ferries everywhere!  Got a good look at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and downtown Manhattan.   

Heading north up the Hudson River was a beautiful.  Favorable current most of the day.  We passed Sing Sing Prison, West Point Academy and the Bannerman Castle.  Some of the areas reminded us of the North Channel!  

Tried to catch a dock and food at Ole Savannah Kingston up Rondout Creek but there were no docks available.  Stayed in the anchorage just outside Kingston.  In the dark Kingston reminded me of St. Thomas with the houses built on the side of the mountains.   

After a long 37 hours, we were ready for bed!

Delaware Bay and New Jersey

After a restful night anchored at Ford Landing we were underway before dawn to go through the C&D canal into Delaware Bay.   We arrived in Cape May an hour early thanks to favorable current in Delaware Bay.  We were into the Atlantic at 4 pm for our overnight run to New York Harbor.  We passed Atlantic City at sunset and was treated to a visit by a momma and baby humpback whales.  They were coming out of the water catching something.....internet search says it's krill or small fish.  It was so cool.  Sorry no pic's though....