JUNE 11-13: WATERFORD, JUNCTION OF THE ERIE CANAL

Today, we headed up the Hudson to Albany on a cloudy and rainy day-our first rainy day so far.

Albany State Capitol

 

At Troy, we experienced our first lock.  This lock is a federally operated lock.  All the other 30 or so locks  that we will go through are part of the NY State system.  There are 3 different types of locks.  A first one raised us about 15 feet and was quite an experience.  Fortunately, we acquitted ourselves without any screaming from the Captain to the first mate which is more than can be said from some or the other crews in the lock.  Fortunately, there were no major mishaps even though there is quite a lot of turbulence when the lock is flooded.

Just after the lock at Troy, we have our first decision:  the Erie Canal or the Champlain Canal.  Erie it is for us for the next 150 miles. 

Waterford, NY is just at the junction of the Erie Canal and will be our home for a few days.  All types of boats make this journey on the Great Loop.  Here are some examples:  One larger boat docked next to a small sail boat from Hamburg, Germany.  Those Germans are intrepid adventurers.   The owner is a journalist, he sailed solo from Hamburg.  His mast is down as there are some low bridge clearances ahead.

Sunday is Farmers' Market at Waterford.

A view of the "old" original cut that was part of the Erie Canal.

We took a walk to the first set of Locks in the Waterford Flight to see what will be in store for us when we venture to lock through. Here is a boat entering the first lock-Lock 2 at the start of the Erie Canal.  This lock will raise boats 34 feet.  Locks 2-6 are close together and will raise us about 169 feet.

Boats secured against the lock wall waiting for the gates to close and the lock to flood.

 

Same boat at the top of the lock wall after the lock has been flooded.  We will go through this on Tuesday.  Wish us luck!

Old Canal boats docked in Waterford.

Taking a break and a hike through Pebbles Island State Park.  We decided to spend a few days in Waterford to catch our breath and take a day off from boat duties.