Let the locking begin! Erie Canal here we come.

We entered our 1st lock on the Erie Lock#2 at 7:40 this morning it was a 34' lift,  This series of locks are called the "Waterford Flight " the flight features five locks where vessels are lifted or lowered the greatest height in the shortest distance of any canal in the world.  The flight lifted us a total of 169' in elevation in less than 2 miles and it took just under 2 hours.

Entering lock#2 our first lock on the Erie Canal.  This is Inconceivable up ahead of us, Loopers from Richmond,VA they are the Fallon family, homeschooling their children along the way ages 101/2 and 91/2.  What a great adventure for them!  They should ace US History.

This is part of the Waterford Flight Lock #3 I believe.

This is the view looking back after being lifted.

Lock #7 This is one of the many reasons your boat needs to fit certain height requirements to do the Great American Loop.  Ok you go first,Yup! they fit, and they are a bit taller than us.

The scenery is very beautiful.

Coming up to the next Lock, 8 (I think)....... Wall of water.

Today we traveled 9 locks with a total lift of 240'.  We decided to call it a day when we hit Amsterdam NY.  Tomorrow we hope to get to Little Falls NY.

Farmers market Waterford/Erie Locks open again

Just passing time waiting on the locks to open back up and they have as of this morning.  We hope to leave here tomorrow morning. 
Today was the farmers market on the riverfront with some very good entertainment just 40' away,  I picked up some veggies and of course fudge for Capt. Sweet Tooth.

 Sunday's farmers Market on the Riverfront,  small but nice.

 This was the entertainment he was really good.

I have been posting pictures of Boat dogs but some have boat kitty's yes..on a leash

The locks are open again we will be leaving here in the morning.

Still on the Waterford FREE dock Locks 11-14 closed!

We were originally planning to leave here yesterday but we decided to stay as it was suppose to be the worst of the next 2 days ie gusty winds and rain but of course it was actually pretty nice.  All the other loop boats left so Jim decided to disconnect the black water tanks (2) and cap them off so they can''t be discharged overboard now.  Not that we have ever done that, but in order to enter Canada this needs to be done or face a $500 fine per head.  Jim got one of them done but the hardware store was sold out of the proper fittings that he needed,  must of been the rush the store got when 5 other looper boats discovered this issue and capped theirs.  We had thought this only had to be done on Lake Champlain but we were wrong so the rush was on for everyone at the hardware store.  It will be a week or more before we enter Canada so he still has time to do the other one. 

Here's NautiNell entering the Lock #2 along with Seamoore and the others

Notice how much wall is along side of them (how low they sit)

Here is NautiNell fully lifted in the lock you can see them over the top its a 34' lift

this is the lock filled, the first picture is the lock lowered

This is taken from the lock looking down at the visitors center with SweetPea in the center

This is the other side of the lock when you come out.

Downtown Waterford

Another picture of the riverfront at Waterford.

Again we were planning on leaving Waterford and start locking through the Erie BUT we got an e-mail from NautiNell minutes before leaving that they were at lock number 8 and the lockmaster there told them all, that the next locks were being shut down due to flooding up stream.  It is not known how long they will be closed, its a day to day thing right now.  When we heard this Jim decided to go and talk to the lockmaster at lock 2 and see what he had to say, funny Jim was telling him something he had not heard but made calls to indeed confirm that locks 11-14 were closed for passage.  He suggested we stay where we are as we have all the services water, electric, wifi, showers and easy access to the towns restaurants and shopping.  And just in case I haven't mentioned its FREE!  So here we sit.

The boats up ahead of us will keep us informed of the situation ahead and any new developments. 

As I was writing this a boat came out of the lock and they said the current and the amount of debris in the locks today was unbelievable.  And to stay put till it settles down some.  Exactly what we plan to do.

Kingston NY to Waterford NY

June 21st and 22nd

We are now in Waterford which means we are now on the entryway to the Erie Canal.  We did our first lock in Troy and then landed on our first FREE dock at the visitors center.  We knew when we left this morning that NautiNell would be here along with several other loop boats.  We will now get ready to start our locking loop adventure on the Erie canal system..  When we arrived there was no room for us on the dock so we are now rafted up with NautiNell.

This is the lighthouse at the entry of Catskill

And this one is in the town of Hudson, I love the Lights on the Hudson River

This beautiful boat is having their masts stepped (taking them down) so they can travel the canal system as there is many low bridges.  Some of the sail boats will lay their mast down across the boat and travel with them, some will ship them to somewhere else to be put back up after they clear the bridges.

This is the first of ALOT of locks we will be going through, this one is in Troy NY it has a 14' lift. You pull into the lock and wrap your line around the pipe  that is built into the wall (mid ship) and hold on to it as the water rushes into the chamber it creates a wave, you can swing a fair amount. as it raises you up.  Be sure you have plenty of fenders on the wall,  we had 2 set at water level and 2 set at the rub rail.

Jim holding the line in the lock as it is lifting us.

Right out of the lock 2 miles on the left is Waterford Welcome Center FREE dock there is 1000' of floating dock and 600' of wall.  Take a right at this sign for the FREE <---(I love this word) dock.

This is SweetPea right in front of the 1st Erie Canal Lock which is actually Lock 2

We will remain here for a couple of days as it is FREE and water and electric included.  Once we head out we will enter the Erie canal, in the next week or so we will travel though 22 locks which will lift us a total of 437'.

Croton to Haverstraw to Kingston NY

Monday June 20th

Today was a later than expected start as we needed to return the rental car, get a pump out and to fuel up.  SO... we traveled over to Haverstraw Marina once everything was done we didn't get off their dock until almost 11am. The trip today perfect travel weather, we just needed to keep a close eye out for wood or sometimes logs coming down stream.

We are now docked at Kingston Marina right in downtown, what a great stop everything you need is right off the dock.  Or you can grab a bus or trolley to the big stores, we would most definitely stop here again to spend sometime.  We will however be leaving here tomorrow morning as we are hoping to catch up with NautiNell and some other loopers to travel west through the many locks in the Erie canal.

West Point

West Point is massive!

 The ruins of Bannermans Castle

 Another cool lighthouse, NY has really interesting lights

Rondout Lighthouse

Kingston NY marina located in downtown what a great stop.

Downtown Kingston

Oh!  Jim says hello

Back on the Hudson after a visit home

We have been at Croton on Hudson marina for a bit more than 2 weeks, well SweetPea has anyway, we went home for a visit and to get some things done there before heading further north into Canada.  Its funny once we walk through the door to the house its like we never left, but we miss the boat. Once we are on the boat its like we never left here.  Its just each place has its own set of priorities.

We did get a chance to catch up a bit with my sister and brother in law, dinner and alot of wine.  But besides that it was just the home reality stuff and spending time with our daughter.  Bob and Denise, sorry we didn't get the chance to get together but time just slipped away.  And Lori Happy Birthday sorry we missed the party.

When we left the boat we figured the boats we had been traveling with would get so far ahead of us, some have and others, we will catch up to in a few days.  NautiNell was here just a couple of days ago, keep looking over your shoulder you two we will catch you in a few.  SpiritDancer, JollyTolly and a couple other loopers are now here so we are not too far back in the pack.  We will have to take a dock walk later and see who else is here.

We are planning on heading out on Monday morning and since we still have the car we will make good use of it until then.  Thats it for today, now its time to put the boat back together and restock the galley.  Until next time......

SweetPea out!

PS......Congratulations to Cindy and Al on your great news,  we wish you a happy and full life together!

Croton on Hudson (Half Moon Bay)

Here are some pictures from Half Moon Bay.....
AGLCA sponsors they offer a .50/ft discount to members, the owners are trying very hard to build up looper business and are very boater friendly.  It is a great stop if you want to visit West Point, the culinary institute or NYC as there is a train station located nearby, an easy walk or bike ride away. There is also a GREAT walking or bike trail that will take you to the beach or along the coast to the park. The town has all the supplies you need CVS, liquor store,  grocery store, ice cream parlor, really good BBQ place, a hardware store, and a nice Pizza place with a complete Italian menu as well.  And if you need a car there is a rental place just outside the gates of the marina.  Nice place if you want to spend a few days and visit the nearby attractions.

sail boarders on the Bay,  this is a popular anchorage voted best on the Hudson.

They certainly have had enough wind for it.  Glad someone can enjoy these windy days.

It is very pretty here surrounded by hills.

Much different landscape for a sunset than what we have gotten use to in Florida.  But feels more like home to me.

Half Moon Bay is located in a condo community, here is some of the complex.

Largest sailboat in the WORLD! NYC and Hudson River

Make sure when you leave the Sandy Hook area its a nice weather day, you are in for an unbelievable experience.  This is a day filled with emotion as you pass the Lady Liberty and enter NYC,  Make sure you have your camera battery fully charged. It will take you about 1 hour 20 mins to get to the NYC Harbour and about the same amount of time to travel under each of the 3 bridges.  There is a stunning change in the scenery after you travel under the George Washington Bridge.  

 Lady Liberty in all her glory

 The Largest sail boat in the world, The Maltese Falcon 305' with 42'.2" beam she has a steel hull and aluminum super structure.  Ever wonder what to do with that $100 million you have sitting around?  Or you can rent her for $600,000 per week.

 George Washington Bridge

Tappan Zee Bridge

The Palisades on the western bank after the George Washington Bridge.  After you round this bend it will open up to the widest point of the hudson 2 miles across it will be very uncomfortable if its windy.

We are now at Half Moon Bay Marina and very happy to be tied to a dock as it was very windy.  Once we rounded the bend at the Palisades the 15-20 kts winds hit 25-30 once in the middle.  

It is very beautiful here its a 1/4 mile to town and a bit less to the train station where you can take a ride into NYC for the day $12 per person and 40 min ride.