September 7-8: We decided to break the last leg of the trip up with a two day stop in Block Island. It is a long 10 hour trip today so we left as soon as it was light. We are joining our friends, Joan and Reggie Patota, who arrived at Block a couple of days earlier. After rafting with their boat, we enjoyed drinks and a welcome dinner on board their boat, Patriot.
The next day, we went ashore and dragged the poor captain to several shops before rewarding him with a gelato. The wind picked up overnight so we all voted to stay aboard and enjoyed Joan's cooking again.
September 9: The end of the line: As we headed home down Narragansett Bay, we reflected on how much has happened since we left Rhode Island on June 4, 2011. From the loss of our beloved buddy, to a cancer scare and a break in the Loop. But we keep coming back to the same conclusion, it was an unique experience and best of all, we met some wonderful people.
Thanks for following this blog even though the last section was a repeat chronicle of the first leg of our journey. Best wishes to all!
Monday, September 23, 2013
SEPTEMBER 3-6: LOCK LESS!
September 3: We left Waterford at 7:00 a.m. on a dreary, overcast day and headed to the Troy Lock which is our last lock on this trip. YAY!
The sun eventually came out as we traveled down stream on the Hudson River. Except for encountering a few large barges, our journey to Kingston, NY was uneventful. We docked at the Kingston Town Marina which was our home for 10 days when the Erie Canal was closed. Thankfully, we will only be here for one night.
September 4: Down the Hudson today to Croton-on-the-Hudson. Previously, we have stopped at Halfmoon Bay Marina but chose this time to anchor out in the bay. After a choppy ride in to shore, we walked the short distance to one of our favorite restaurants-Ocean House-and had another great meal there. We were the first customers in the door-talk about an early bird special-but did not want to dinghy back to the boat in the dark.
September 5: We timed our departure today to arrive at the junction of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers at slack tide to avoid fighting the current at Hell Gate on the East River. The railway bridge at the entrance to the Harlem River only has a 4 ft clearance and usually opens on demand. However, when we called the bridge tender to request an opening, we were informed that the bridge was undergoing repairs and would only open at noon. That meant that we had to hold on station for 1.5 hours! Yikes! That also meant that our planned schedule to arrive at Hell Gate went to hell in a hand basket!!!
After the bridge finally opened, we battled the current on the Harlem River and reached Hell Gate and the East River at exactly the worst time. We were bucking a 5 knot current and making less that 3 knots of speed. Fortunately, it was for a relatively short period of time but we were thankful to arrive at Port Washington and spend a quiet night on their free moorings.
September 6: Today our last stop in Long Island Sound was Port Jefferson. We anchored here when we left on the Great Loop in June 2011.
The sun eventually came out as we traveled down stream on the Hudson River. Except for encountering a few large barges, our journey to Kingston, NY was uneventful. We docked at the Kingston Town Marina which was our home for 10 days when the Erie Canal was closed. Thankfully, we will only be here for one night.
September 4: Down the Hudson today to Croton-on-the-Hudson. Previously, we have stopped at Halfmoon Bay Marina but chose this time to anchor out in the bay. After a choppy ride in to shore, we walked the short distance to one of our favorite restaurants-Ocean House-and had another great meal there. We were the first customers in the door-talk about an early bird special-but did not want to dinghy back to the boat in the dark.
September 5: We timed our departure today to arrive at the junction of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers at slack tide to avoid fighting the current at Hell Gate on the East River. The railway bridge at the entrance to the Harlem River only has a 4 ft clearance and usually opens on demand. However, when we called the bridge tender to request an opening, we were informed that the bridge was undergoing repairs and would only open at noon. That meant that we had to hold on station for 1.5 hours! Yikes! That also meant that our planned schedule to arrive at Hell Gate went to hell in a hand basket!!!
After the bridge finally opened, we battled the current on the Harlem River and reached Hell Gate and the East River at exactly the worst time. We were bucking a 5 knot current and making less that 3 knots of speed. Fortunately, it was for a relatively short period of time but we were thankful to arrive at Port Washington and spend a quiet night on their free moorings.
September 6: Today our last stop in Long Island Sound was Port Jefferson. We anchored here when we left on the Great Loop in June 2011.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 2: LOCKS & MORE LOCKS
August 28: With our gear shift fixed, a relieved Duddon Pilot crew left Brewerton to continue our journey down the Erie Canal. The Captain is now a very happy camper as the gear shift on the bridge works as smooth as silk!
We traversed several locks to overnight at a free dock in Rome. No Coliseums or visits to the Vatican...just a bunch of rowdy teenagers whose presence kept us from leaving our boat. The Cops finally came around
9:00 p.m. and chased them off.
August 29: We were pleased to leave Rome and head for Little Falls. What a difference in location. The town has built a very nice marina with clean showers and friendly volunteers who are willing to drive boaters to local restaurants and shopping. We went back to the Canal Inn restaurant and enjoyed a five star meal. The restaurant has such a good reputation that it draws customers from a 30 mile radius. It has been in business for over 30 years so it must be doing something right.
August 30-31: A few more locks and a quiet night stop at a rural lock wall saw us up early to head for the Schenectady Yacht Club. We were fortunate to arrive just before a major thunderstorm which kept us boat bound for the rest of the day.
September 1-2: This is our last stretch on the Erie Canal. We only have 16 miles to go today but have to traverse 6 locks. All the locks since Rome have been bringing us down to sea level. The 6 locks today will drop us over 170 feet.
Even though we have been through over 200 locks, each one is a little different and several in one day are a lot of work. The ropes that boaters have to hang onto are also very slimy as are the lock walls. We will be pleased when we are done with locks. A very tired crew pulled into Waterford and were lucky to get the last slot on the mooring wall. We will stay here for two nights. Boat cleaning, laundry and food shopping will need a whole day.
We traversed several locks to overnight at a free dock in Rome. No Coliseums or visits to the Vatican...just a bunch of rowdy teenagers whose presence kept us from leaving our boat. The Cops finally came around
9:00 p.m. and chased them off.
August 29: We were pleased to leave Rome and head for Little Falls. What a difference in location. The town has built a very nice marina with clean showers and friendly volunteers who are willing to drive boaters to local restaurants and shopping. We went back to the Canal Inn restaurant and enjoyed a five star meal. The restaurant has such a good reputation that it draws customers from a 30 mile radius. It has been in business for over 30 years so it must be doing something right.
Little Falls is situated in a low valley surrounded by hills. A great stop!
There was a vintage car rally the night that we were in Little Falls. The Captain posed next to his choice of car-a 1957 Chevy. He regrets selling his red and white 1955 Chevy two door Coupe.
This guy was guarding the cars. He looks fierce but was an absolute cream puff.
August 30-31: A few more locks and a quiet night stop at a rural lock wall saw us up early to head for the Schenectady Yacht Club. We were fortunate to arrive just before a major thunderstorm which kept us boat bound for the rest of the day.
This stretch of the Erie Canal follows the Mohawk River and is more scenic with the Adirondack Mountains in the distance. I have purposely not blogged too much on this section of our journey as we covered this territory when we did the Great Loop. Hardly to bore the troops too much!
Even though we have been through over 200 locks, each one is a little different and several in one day are a lot of work. The ropes that boaters have to hang onto are also very slimy as are the lock walls. We will be pleased when we are done with locks. A very tired crew pulled into Waterford and were lucky to get the last slot on the mooring wall. We will stay here for two nights. Boat cleaning, laundry and food shopping will need a whole day.
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