Wed, Thurs June 14-15 Shady Harbor to Waterford

Wed, Thurs June 14-15  Shady Harbor to Waterford    After fueling all three boats, we finally pulled away from the dock and headed to Waterford.  Waterford is just past Albany NY and is where the boaters decide which route to take - west on the Erie Canal or north on the Champlain Canal.  Waterford has a free dock and most boaters stop there to reprovision before they start traveling thru the locks.  Tom and I got the bikes off the boat and explored the area.  We enjoyed docktails aboard a catamaran, Gypsies Palace, along with 20 other people.  The 6 of us shared dinner at the picnic table by the Welcome Center as well as a few bottles of wine. 

This morning Tom and I took off early on our bikes to ride up to Lock 3 and 4 and watch our friends lock thru.  We arrived at Lock 4 as they were riding the lock up.  We watched all 6 boats exit and pull into a waiting area to starboard as a barge exited Lock 5.  The pleasure craft then headed into Lock 5 and the barge into Lock 4.  It was interesting to watch the exchange.  Once back at the docks we rode to the t-shirt store and grocery store.  At the t-shirt shop we purchased black t-shirts for $1 each to cover our fenders while traveling thru the locks.  This is done in an attempt to keep the fenders clean as the locks are slimy, dirty and nasty.  Grabbed groceries, then back to the boat.  Ate dinner at a local bar - the Angry Pelican.  Small nice place.  A private poker game was going on and we were the only eating customers.  Strolled back to the boats and prepped for departure tomorrow.

 

Downtown Albany, NY

The lock master told us to tie up to this wall to wait for the
tow boat to exit the lock. Notice the wonderful state of repair
of the wall. We tied up very carefully

While you are in the lock in this case coming up you see the
dam that the lock gets you around.

We have locked up and are on our way 11 feet higher
then when we went in the lock

Here is the sign that greets you at Waterford. We took the road less
traveled and headed to the Champlain Canal. Most looper boats
choose the Erie Canal because it is shorter and gets them into
the Great Lakes quicker. We plan on storing the boat in
Brewerton, NY this winter so we are not in any hurry. We plan on
exploring Canada and the St. Lawrence Seaway this summer

Boats lined up on the free dock in Waterford. $10.00 for electricity
for as long as you stay. Showers and bathrooms such a deal.
Great people and a nice town

Out biking around the town



This is what a lock looks like from inside when they
drain the water out

This is the support we built to lower our radar arch to get under
the low bridges we would encounter on the Champlain Canal

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These are the Looper boats in Lock 4. The power cat
in the front is Gypsies Palace where we had docktails

Upon exiting Lock 4 the flotilla encountered this tow, so crafty
maneuvering was in order to get around him and into lock 5