Well it was going to be a long day, so we once again started
early to beat the heat and make sure to arrive at our destination mid to late
afternoon. The closer we got to the Erie
Canal, the more debris we had to dodge in the channel. We locked through the Troy Lock (#1) with no
problems and by the time we reached the entrance to the Erie Canal, two more
looper boats had caught up with us. The
trouble was none of us could raise the lock master on the radio or telephone, so
we all kept going in circles while trying to get information on the status of
this lock.
At Waterford, NY there is a free wall and a visitors’ centre
for boaters and we approached some of the boaters tied up at the wall to try
and get some news. We learned that the
government had cut back on Erie Canal staff and this particular lock master had
to operate 3 locks in a row and then return to the first lock and repeat. If all went well the operation took 2 hours.
There was nothing to do but wait, so we continued to go in
circles for another hour. When we
finally began locking it was noon and the process went smoothly although we
were exhausted by the time we finished at lock #7.
We were greeted by a looper at Schenectady Yacht Club as he
helped us dock. He shook his head and
exclaimed, “Welcome to purgatory!” Each
day we woke and anxiously looked at the notices for mariners on the Erie Canal
Web site. Each day was the same - still
closed. Mark got on the phone and
finally got a person who was able to give a little more information but always
amounted to the same, “Will probably open within a week”.
And then the rains began and then the flooding! So close to Canada and yet so far! Then the announcement that the whole Erie
Canal was closed with some locks sustaining serious damage. Ah-h-h-h!!!
Stuck in Schenectady, NY! We
can’t go forward and now we can’t go back!
The rains had subsided a bit and we determined, thank goodness, Terrmar
was safe and secure, so we decided to rent a car and take a vacation from
boating while the weather and canal got its act together.
Seven hour car ride later, we rested back at home (sigh)!
Terri
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| Albany, NY |
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| Albany, NY Skyline |
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| Debris collected on the Hudson River |
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| Waterford,NY - Erie Canal visitor's centre @ free wall |
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| Old wood water tower |
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| Across Erie Canal Entrance - people waving Canadian flag |
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| Leaving Lock # 6 looking East |
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| Bridge on Erie Canal |
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| Tour Sailboat turning around - going east |
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| Schenectady Yacht Club - red buoy almost submerged. |
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| Bridge water level too high for clearance |
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| Smudge will not be left behind! |
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| Candice visiting @ cottage |
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| Ian helping?? |
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| Lauren helping with dishes! |
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