JULY 20-22,2013 - ESS-KAY YARDS, BREWERTON TO OSWEGO LOCK WALL, NY

We were awake and on our way by 0730. Terri and Smudge even had a good walk while I did my pre-trip checks. Only a few miles to go before we turn North on the Oswego River and leave the Erie Canal to history. There were only a few locks and 32 miles before we reached our last lock in NY State. The weather was iffy for crossing Lake Ontario tomorrow, but we wanted to be staged for the possibility of crossing the following day.

To the left Buffalo NY and to the right Oswego NY and Lake Ontario

The next few locks while routine had a few issues with their personnel. We were not the only ones who noticed this and the comments were less than flattering towards the people who operated these locks. But Terri and I promised ourselves to keep this blog positive and upbeat so we shall leave it at that.

Before we arrived at Oswego we had a few decisions to make, the first one being, where to stay tonight. Should we stay at the Marina that is on the North side of the Last lock and have shore power, water etc? Or stay on the wall on the South side of the last Lock and have no shore power or water. It all depended on how long we think we would be here. If we stayed at the Marina on the far side of the lock we could have all of the amenities but most important we could leave at first light to crow Lake Ontario. The down side was that this Marina was very exposed to the lake. A rock and roll night would be a definite. If we stayed on the lock wall we would be right out of the weather. The down side of the lock wall was we would have to lock through the last lock before we started across the lake. That meant an 8:00 am lock through if the lock master was on time and properly prepared. The lock was not the biggest lock either so if there was a crowd that 800 am might be 9:00 am. An easy 3 hours later than we would normally leave. It was 70 miles or so across the lake it should be no problem to cross in the daylight hours if we if we got a late start. So we opted for the wall and arrived at around 1:00 pm. I fired up the generator and cranked the A/C. Beautiful!

We weren’t the only boat with the idea of staying on the lock wall. By the evening there were up to 6 boats to join us along with the two that appear to have been camped here for quite a while. The rest of the afternoon we walked around the small down town that we could walk to and then spent a nice quiet time up on the bridge for Cold Beer and Wine Spritzers.

I don't know who this is, but he was flying the Canadian flag.

This boat was docked with no one around for quite a while.

Zoom in and read the words if you can.

Looking North to Lake Ontario from the Lock wall.

Terri and Terrmar on the Lock wall

Industrial Oswego

We turned in that evening listening to the weather forecast and decoding the Mafor. It didn’t look real promising for our crossing, but we shall see.

Cheers,

Mark

JULY 17-20,2013- RIVERLINK PARK, AMSTERDAM TO ILION MARINA TO BREWERTON, NY

The next few days were totally benign. Judging from the number of pictures we had taken (none) we were just on a mission to get out of the Erie Barge Canal. Ilion Marina was a safe stop but nothing special to do or see here. We stayed here a mere 14 hours and were gone by 0640 the next morning.

Ess-Kay Yards was on the West side of Oneida Lake and represented our last stay on the Erie Barge Canal System. Our self-imposed pressure, was off and we stayed an extra day, because our next stop was in Oswego NY on the Oswego River System. This was where we would stage for our crossing of Lake Ontario. We had been watching the weather systems quite closely and conditions were not quite good enough for the crossing. We had to change our decision making process and change from the "River" mindset and back into the "Lake" mindset. Flooding, closed locks and floating debris will no longer slow us down. It will be the wind and more importantly the wind direction that will decide whether we go or don’t go. Ess-Kay Yards was a beautiful old time marina. Adequate in every way but it certainly had that don’t hurry feel. We really the enjoyed river front view and the boat traffic that always seemed to be buzzing. We managed to find a pizza joint one day for lunch and although there we very few patrons. The local people were friendly and colourful.

Cheers,

Mark

JULY 15-17,2013- SCHENECTADY TO RIVERLINK PARK, AMSTERDAM, NY

Today was the day. Our life in Purgatory (Schenectady) NY was about to come to an end.  We had returned from Canada yesterday and while we still had the car we took advantage to re-supply. It was hot and humid and a lot of work but it had to be done and we shouldn't complain, right? We have confirmed that Lock 8 would open tomorrow. This would get us a little farther West in the Erie Canal system. We guessed that there would be a rush of boaters wanting to move as soon as possible so we wanted to try and beat the crowds. Even if we only moved one lock forward it would be a small moral victory.

While we were up early we were in no big hurry to be underway. It was about a 20 mile trip and there was no reason to get ram-my. We settle up with the dock master, and topped up our water tanks. Now we just had to get to the fuel dock for a pump out. There was still quite a current running and as we were docked perpendicular to the current, undocking and then docking at the fuel dock would require some planning and skill. The summer student who was working as a dock master and a neighboring boater were there to help us. Help us they did and we maneuvered in a three knot current like true boaters. No worries! A quick pump out and we were on our way by 10 AM. A big thank you to all of the people that we met in Schenectady, every one that we met was more than friendly and in spite of the Purgatory feeling we will always have fond memories of this place.

WE SAW THIS CROSS ON THE RIVER BANK SHORTLY AFTER OUR RELEASE FROM PURGATORY

SELFIE ON THE FLY-BRIDGE

There was still a fair amount of tree branches and debris coming down the river system so this would add to the experience today. As it turned out, travelling worked out fine. We traveled a little slower so if we did hit something there would be less damage to the boat. We weren't worried about our prop as it is very well protected by the full keel and skeg. As we rounded the last corner for the day we were greeted by another beautiful view that was becoming the norm in this part of NY State. River Link Park in Amsterdam NY would be our home until Lock 9 was open for business. 

Terrmar at River Link Park

Amsterdam Link Park was sort of a serve yourself facility. We did have reservations as suggested in the cruising guide. But there was little here other than a good safe dock. What else could we ask for? We arrived about 1:30 in the afternoon and still had some time to drop the dinghy and go ahead and scout the next lock. This we did and as we approached Lock 9 it was clear that there was still work being performed. But we did manage to get enough information from one of the local boaters that Lock 10 was a go tomorrow. Monitor the Erie Canal website was the advice. We have been doing that for a long time now and the updates were really, well not up to date. But like so many things in boating, you have to gleam information from many sources and sort of put them all together to get usable information.

We retired that evening with plans to head West the next morning.

Cheers,

Mark

THAT'S A WRAP

JUNE 25-JULY 15,2013- SCHENECTADY, NY

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 

Albany, NY

Albany, NY Skyline

Debris collected on the Hudson River

Waterford,NY - Erie Canal visitor's centre @ free wall

Old wood water tower

Across Erie Canal Entrance - people waving Canadian flag

Leaving Lock # 6 looking East

Bridge on Erie Canal

Tour Sailboat turning around - going east

Schenectady Yacht Club - red buoy almost submerged.

Bridge water level too high for clearance

Smudge will not be left behind!

Candice visiting @ cottage

Ian helping??

Lauren helping with dishes!

  

JUNE 21-25,2013- NEW BALTIMORE, NY

While Rondout Yacht Harbor was peaceful, it was a little light on amenities especially when staying an indefinite period of time.  As we chatted with another boater at this marina, he mentioned he had reservations just up the river at Shady Harbor, New Baltimore, NY.  It was worth a try and would get us closer to the Erie Canal.

Again we had a very pleasant trip travelling the Hudson River.   We arrived at Shady Harbor and managed a very tight squeeze into our spot against a swift current with the help of the harbor-master and dockhand.  Here we waited with many other boaters in anticipation for word that the Erie Canal was open and operational.  By now the local marinas were being filled up with loopers and other boats anxious to be moving north.

We very much enjoyed the amenities at Shady Harbor, including a great restaurant, courtesy car and well stocked ships’ store; however there always seems to be something!  On one of our hottest days thus far our power went off – that’s right – no air conditioning!  All the boats at our end of the long dock were experiencing the same.  After over an hour with no change and no sign of electricians that day, Mark took the bull by the horns and asked to be moved to a dock with working power.  We were settled in just before the sky opened up and it began pouring!  Perfect, we were now staged to make an easy getaway early next morning.

Now you know that Mark is a man of action, always with a plan.  He called ahead to the marina closest to the last lock on the Erie Canal that was open (#7) and got reservations for the following day.  So-o-o we were “in” with the last open spot at Schenectady Yacht Club, NY.

Terri 

chimney ruins along the Hudson

Light house

Terrmar @ end of long dock

Marina restaurant

Looking south over Hudson River

More rain!

Mark with courtesy car

Industry on the Hudson

     

JUNE 19-21,2013- KINGSTON, NY

We departed Liberty Landing Marina, NJ shortly after 0600.  The weather forecast was for North winds around 15 knots.  While it wasn’t ideal for open water, when heading directly into the wind and the tidal current it was no problem, as it was only for a few hours and then the Hudson River would narrow and twist and the wind would certainly be diminished.  I was looking forward to today and eager to get to the Erie Canal and see what all of the fuss was about.  Actually the fuss was an extreme amount of rain over the last few weeks that left the Canal dealing with high current and water levels.  So much so, that the locks had to be closed for periods of time.   On our way up the Hudson this morning we received confirmation that the Canal was indeed closed from lock 8 to 15.  This meant that after three more days of travelling we will meet a dead end.  Of course there is no official word as to when the locks might reopen but the best guess is this weekend some time.  We might have an extra day in Kingston or Albany, NY.   We are hoping for good luck with our timing and the locks opening soon.

The scenery as we motor up the Hudson River was beautiful.   It was three years ago this month that I last travelled this waterway.   Terrmar had been delivered to NJ from China on a container ship and then two Captains and I delivered it to Toronto, Ontario for commissioning. (See June 2010 in this blog).

After a long day travelling the Hudson River, we arrived at our destination, Rondout Yacht Harbor, Kingston, NY.

Cheers - Mark

Leaving NY/NJ north on the Hudson River

Cliffs along the Hudson River

West Point US Naval Academy

Cargo Ship on the Hudson

Bannerman Castle - Hudson Highlands State Park, NY

1871 Lighthouse

Lighthouse along the Hudson

Deer grazing along the Hudson

Mark @ Rondout Maritime Museum

Exploring Rondout Creek

Terrmar Docked @ Rondout Yacht Harbor

JUNE 16-19,2013- STATUE OF LIBERTY STATE PARK, NJ

What an awesome feeling, approaching the New York Harbor!  Even on a Sunday it was busy and congested with all types and sizes of boats and ships traversing its waters.  We elected to stay at a marina right across from NY at Liberty Landing Marina, NJ.  The water taxi left every half hour and would deliver us right to lower Manhattan, NY.  Although we paid $4.00 per foot for docking, the marina had floating docks with relatively calm seas.  Other Marinas, we had learned from advice and guide-books were not so quiet.  We would only be here for a few days and we have had enough rocking and rolling so we felt it well worth the money.

For the short time we had to spend in NY, we were able to grasp the flavor of the city with the help of the people who lived and worked there.  We were like two fish out of water, but we had a fabulous whirlwind of a day starting with a visit to Ground Zero, the 911 Memorial where we spent a quiet moment paying our respects to the victims of senseless terrorist acts.  We hailed a taxi driver who drove us to, of course, Times Square.  The cabbie was wonderful and acted as our tour guide, pointing out the various sights and landmarks with his obvious love of the city shining through.  A random person pointed us to the Galaxy Diner in Hell’s Kitchen and then another person pointed us to the waterfront where the aircraft carrier museum, the Intrepid was stationed.  From there it was easy to hail another cab back down to the water taxi terminal and across to Liberty Landing Marina.

Liberty Landing Marina is located at the Statue of Liberty State Park and it was amazing to stroll along the park’s waterfront and then enjoy cocktails on Terrmar’s fly-bridge while inhaling the magnificent Manhattan skyline!

Mark & Terri

Cargo ship in NY harbor

Passed an old fort south of NY

Approaching NY

First glimpse of Statue of Liberty

Close up - Liberty Lady

Day-sailors with NJ skyline

Glad to be @ Liberty Landing Marina

Thinking of Mike - Do the Math!

Manhattan @ dusk

New Wold Trade Center

9/11 Memorial Pool

Mark @ Times Square

Times Square

Terri @ Times Square

Church in Theater District dedicated to actors

Brownstones

Mark @ Galaxy Diner

Mark @ Intrepid

Largest Solar Powered Boat in the World

Turanor Planet Solar

Manhattan, NY

Sunset @ Liberty Landing Marina