Long overdue update....

After Ilion our next stop was St Johnsville.  Plugged in for the a/c, went below to cool off and when we popped our heads outside about an hour later, the grounds were littered with puptents, kayaks and kayakers!  Their arrival and setup sure was quick and quiet.  Alot of the marinas are combo marina and campgrounds.  The defnition of marina means there is a wall and probably power, water and showers.

On to Amsterdam to Riverlink Park.  Riverlink is like its own 'island' almost totally fenced in.  (but Chester found the one opening)  Access only by a walkway over the railroad tracks.  We had heard good things abour the Riverlink Cafe but unfortunately it was closed until the day we left.

Schenectady Yacht Club (a wall, power, water, showers, laundry, pool) had docks for smaller boats.  Glen, the dockmaster, is full of information and a real treat.  The YC uses one of the original Erie Canal Locks as their haulout which is quite narrow but interesting.

Original Lock

We shove off to Waterford for a few days since they have the amenities we need including a nearby grocery store.  We encounter Guard Gate #2 which is the only Guard Gate that you must call to have opened.  A Guard Gate is like an opening dam which is used to control water flow.  Once opened you pass through slowly and get a pleasant surprise shower!  We approach the Flight of Five Locks (#6 thru #2) which are a series of 5 locks, one right after the other.  As we position ourselves in #6 we are told there is a steamboat show in Waterford and no room at the floating dock....there goes that plan!  We would have to stop at the top of Lock #3 which we did.  Here we encounter new friends, Hugh & Penny on their Dehler CWS 37, Mous'le.   Unfortunately the wall has no amenities - no water, no power, etc.    A phone call to Waterford assures us there is room at the high wall w/o power.  Journey and Mous'le head to Waterford and tie up.  The little steamboats are a treasure with their various whistles and styles.

 Steam power

 A craft show appears with baked goods (mmmm, cookies), beautiful fireworks and we had a prime location, Farmer's Market the next morning and we move to the floating docks with power!  Ah, air conditioning once again.    Remember Chester, the dog?  Well now, on the  high wall Mark had to lift 90# Chester up and down the wall of oh 5-6' above the boat deck.  Heave!  Ho!  Chester cannot do a runged ladder.  Mark made a comment he wouldn't miss that too much.

Guard Gate

Locking thru

After transitting 35 locks and seeing them from the inside, I finally walked back to Lock #2 to tour. The lockmaster was awesome, showed me every inch of the lock that we could get to. Even had me help him lock thru another boat.The power of the water is incredible.

 Lock #2

 Contact Box

 Door, gate and light control panel

Whirlpool on filling lock

Waterford ends the Erie Canal and we turn right to enter the Hudson River.  High Five!  On our way to Catskill and arrive at Hop O Nose Marina to have the masts stepped.  Mous'le had left two days ahead of us for Hop O Nose and as we were docking we see them.  It was a treat to see them again and have dinner together!

 Tug

Hudson-Athens Lighthouse

Mast stepping done without any problems, stabilizing, connections to radar, and lights done.  Journey's decks shine again after soap and elbow grease.  Journey is again a sailboat.