September 10-14, 2016 Going thru the locks

 

September 10, 2016

6:30am- Left Little Sodus Bay and headed for Oswego.  Gorgeous red sky this morning.  Very breathtaking.  It is nice to take the time and appreciate the beauty.  It was 12 kn miles to Oswego so we arrived at 8:30am to report to US Customs at Oswego Marina. It took 1 hour to get all our papers in order including our cruising pass.  

The cost for going thru the canal is $50.00 US for a 10 day pass.  Today we started at lock 8 and ended staying at lock 1 in Phoenix NY.  We arrived  at 3 pm.

We met up with Twin V boat at lock 3 seeing that they did not have to report to Customs because they are Americans.

It was sure breathtaking at some parts f the river. The walls on the locks were full of gock (slimy seaweed).  Good thing we had gloves to hold on to the guck you rope as you get lifted up.   Also, Steve made a fender board before we left and it sure came in handy as the board slides against the concrete wall instead of your rubber fenders.

It took us the longest to go thru at lock one because there is also a lift bridge.

. We were aloud to stay along the wall on the south side of lock 1 for free.  Cleaned washrooms with a paid to use shower.  5 minutes for $1.00.  

Walk down Main Street, if that is what you call it.  Everything closed at 3pm except a sports bar and a roadside market.  We bought peaches and plums.  

From Fairpoint Marina (Little Sodus Bay) to Lock 1, we cov red 28.81 kn miles today.  

There was a public shower which Steve and I took for $1.75.  Felt so good after a hot and muggy journey.

5:30pm- Margie and Chuck couldn't use their boat air conditioner on the boat because we did not have hydro so they decided to join us at Duskee's Sport.

When we got back to the boat, I did some knitting before going to bed.  Steve tried getting wifi to catch his son's football game but no luck.

At 12:30, we had to shut all the hatches because of a thunderstorm going thru.  It was sure hot in the boat.  

September 11, 2016

7:30am- Brrr. A lot colder today. At least no humidity.  Had to make coffee with our new french press. 

9:30am- Thumbs up to head down to the Erie locks.

Cowboy Steve heading down the Oneida river.

We noticed how the leaves are starting to change already as we pass the dense woods along the Oneida river. 

We covered 9.91 NM today.  Staying along a free transient dock for tonight since the lake is too rough to cross. We arrived in Brewerton at 11:30am.  Guess another day of exploring. 

We learned something new.  US Customs just called to say we need to report in everytime we make a significant move. (Over 20 miles).  They sure keep track of us.  Not a big deal.  They are very courteous about it. 

It is like every night calling home to momma.

12:00pm- had quite the adventure

Someone who was fishing at the dock told us there was a Walmart nearby in Central Square, NY.   Steve and I decided to walk since someone told us it was only 1.5 miles away.  After walking 2 miles, we stopped to ask someone how much longer we had to go.  To our surprise, it was another 3 miles.  We decided to hitchhike.  A young man was kind enough to bring the us to the store.  We figured we would take a taxi.  After purchasing groceries (it all fit into one bag), we were informed that there was no taxi service.  So off we went thinking we will just hitchhike.  As Steve was sticking out his thumb, a policeman stopped and said there was no hitchhiking until we crossed a bridge which he pointed out 1/4 of a mile away.  We said no problem.  As we were walking, Steve saw a truck coming and decided to stick his thumb out as the cruiser, to our surprise, came back.  The policeman came dashing towards us and said :Do you want to go to jail tonight?  Of course, Steve was apologetic while he was thinking "Asshole" under his breath.  He let us go with a warning.  The good thing was a nice lady picked us up after we went over the bridge and hitched hike.  She was so kind and brought us to our boat .  She asked whether we got the policemen's badge # since she knew the sheriff personally.  She said that was unacceptable behaviour since it gave her little town a bad name.  We were so appreciative of her kindness specially on 9/11 anniversary.

3:00pm-  we met two other couple from Canada who are heading to Bahamas. 

6:30pm- Had drinks with 3 other couples going the same way.  Margi,Chuck,Dave, Betty from Port Dover and another couple who were in a small power boat.  

Steve went to bad at 8:00pm and didn't wake up until 6:30am. 

September 12, 2016

Left Brewerton at 7:00am with Chuck and Margi following. There was a gorgeous mist on the water. 

 

 I am loosing counts of all the locks we have gone thru.  During my watch, I would put on my earphones and listen to Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young while I enjoyed the breathtaking scenery. I think Steve listened to Howard Stern. 

 

We lost Margi and Chuck along the way.  We follow a power boat named Spirit all the way to Berkimar.

 

 September 13, 2016

6:45am- What a great way to start your day when Parker, Nicky and Brent Face timed us. Lyla had a hard time getting up this morning so we didn't get to talk to her.

7:00am - Left Herkimer barge canal to continue our journey.. It was so mystical to see the mist coming off the water. What a sight.

 

 

8:30am- In lock 18, the dock master told us that lock 17's door was not operating correctly and it might take at least an hour to fix. We are now tied up at Little Falls until we hear more news. At least they have free Wi-Fi.

10:00am- Off we go to lock 17. What an amazing lock..it has a 40 ft drop. Barge canal lift lock 17 is one of the highest lift locks in the world. So cool!

 

 

You can tell by lock 11 & 12, we were tired. First, at lock 12, the current took our stern along the canal wall while trying to catch a line. No worry....Steve said a little polishing will take it out. Then in lock 11, the wall line caught the fender board but we managed to straighten it out. The locks close at 5:00pm and we managed to dock at the entrance wall at lock 10. It was taco Tuesday at the boat

A couple, Penny and Jack on another sailboat named Ashtir asked us to join them for a drink while they lit up a bonfire. Needless to say, we did not last long since we were fading.
Highlight of the day was seeing a bald eagle flying over us.

 

September 14, 2016

Getting ready to enter lock #10 at 7am. Meanwhile, while Steve is making coffee, I am doing some exercise on land.

There was a lot of fog at the start until the sun came out.  Couldn't see much. 

10:00am - Stopped for diesel and water at Schenctady.  Great access from the water.  So far we covered 14.8 k miles.

 

Good thing I made myself a nice comfy seat in order to see what is going out  My floating seat.

We made it to lock # 2. Lock 6 to 2 was 1/4 miles distance between them so it became very tiring.

 

3:30pm - Arrived at Waterford, NY and will stay here for a couple of days.  We need to take a couple of days off after going thru all those locks.  We are now at the mouth of Hudson River. 

 

We caught up to Needful Things who left a couple of days before us from Fifty Point. 

 

4:00pm- Steve and I enjoyed taking a shower and then we went downtown and did groceries. At least it was walking distance.   .  

 

Now come the resting part.  Life is good

Did I say rest.....Steve and I went and did laundry until 8:30pm at the local laundromat.

Couldn't tell if Steve was watching the TV or the washing machine.