Sunday, June 30, 2013
New York residents?
We are not sure but hoping that all this time in New York is not going to require us to take up residency. The Erie is still closed. At docktails last night we heard that more than 6" of rain dumped on Utica and Herkimer Fri. night and both cities are flooded. The canal authority got most of the dams open to let the water pass but 2 were not opened in time and 1 of those sustained damage. There are also some areas that have shoaled from mud silt to the point that you can walk across them. They only have 1 dredge up there so it could be up to another 2 weeks until the canal is navigable. All this and more rain forecast this week. Everyone is trying to remain calm and explore their options. Meanwhile, enjoy some of the pictures of stuff floating past us yesterday.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Another road trip day
Today we decided to travel north to Waterford where the Erie canal starts and visit with some of the loopers that have been there for several weeks. It was a fairly short drive that will take much longer by boat. We arrived at the visitors center and walked along the docks and talked to several people. While we were there 1 boat entered lock 2 going west and one came out going east.
Lock 2, the first of 5 at Waterford.
The visitor center at Waterford.
When we left we headed west and soon joined Riverview Road which paralleled the Mohawk River and the Erie. It was a beautiful drive and we got to see several more boats that are stranded along the way due to the closure.
Here are some waterfalls in the town of Cohoes. This is the Mohawk River and the reason for the 5 locks in Waterford.
This is lock #6, the last of the Waterford locks.
Looking back towards the east and lock #5.
We finally wound up back in Albany and turned in the rental car.
This is "The Egg". It's a performing arts center right downtown.
After returning to the boat we found a visitor.
This is a cicada. We were inundated with them last week on the way up here. They were all over the boat but we didn't get a picture of one. They only swarm every 17 years.
Three more looper boats came in and everyone gathered again for doctails. Jeff and Karen, the founders of Active Captain are here with us and even gave a class the other day on medical emergencies aboard. They are both EMT's.
Lock 2, the first of 5 at Waterford.
The visitor center at Waterford.
When we left we headed west and soon joined Riverview Road which paralleled the Mohawk River and the Erie. It was a beautiful drive and we got to see several more boats that are stranded along the way due to the closure.
Here are some waterfalls in the town of Cohoes. This is the Mohawk River and the reason for the 5 locks in Waterford.
This is lock #6, the last of the Waterford locks.
Looking back towards the east and lock #5.
We finally wound up back in Albany and turned in the rental car.
This is "The Egg". It's a performing arts center right downtown.
This is a cicada. We were inundated with them last week on the way up here. They were all over the boat but we didn't get a picture of one. They only swarm every 17 years.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Road Trip
Yesterday we headed out for Kingston and Camping World. After the fan switch, The words of an old Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song came to me: "I came upon a child of God, walking along the road". So off to Woodstock we went.
They came, they stayed! Tie dyed and all.
We then drove back to the Kingston waterfront where we were going to meet Rick & Leila from Sun Gypsy for lunch. They had not arrived yet so we visited with friend Ron & Jan from Adagio and Eddy from Spiritus. Once Sun Gypsy arrived it was off to lunch at Mole Mole. It was a great Mexican feast!
Ann, Leila, Jan, me, Rick & Ron
I got hatted.
After lunch we drove up the river to Saugerties.
Some towns have statues of animals on display, this one had houses.
This one threw us. A traffic light with no intersection! Turns out there was an underpass ahead with just 1 lane.
Next was the town of Catskill.
Yes it's super cat! This town has cats & a few dog statues.
Santa cat.
What a great day we had. Topped off with docktails with the other loopers and dinner at the restaurant. Today we drive north to the Erie and beyond.
They came, they stayed! Tie dyed and all.
We then drove back to the Kingston waterfront where we were going to meet Rick & Leila from Sun Gypsy for lunch. They had not arrived yet so we visited with friend Ron & Jan from Adagio and Eddy from Spiritus. Once Sun Gypsy arrived it was off to lunch at Mole Mole. It was a great Mexican feast!
Ann, Leila, Jan, me, Rick & Ron
I got hatted.
After lunch we drove up the river to Saugerties.
Some towns have statues of animals on display, this one had houses.
This one threw us. A traffic light with no intersection! Turns out there was an underpass ahead with just 1 lane.
Next was the town of Catskill.
Yes it's super cat! This town has cats & a few dog statues.
Santa cat.
What a great day we had. Topped off with docktails with the other loopers and dinner at the restaurant. Today we drive north to the Erie and beyond.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Another day waiting
Still waiting for the Erie to reopen. Monday saw us doing boat chores and boat maintenance. Ann did laundry aboard and we found out we couldn't use the airconditioner and the dryer at the same time. It kept blowing the circuit breaker on the dock. It must be set low as we were only pulling 26 amps using the 30 amp power. It was in the 90's with thunderstorms late and dime size hail. Yesterday we used the marina courtesy car and refilled a propane tank, went to CVS, the grocery store, the post office and liquor store. Today we have a rental car coming so we'll head back down to Kingston and swap out a 12 volt fan that we bought last year at camping world. I'm glad I bought the extended warranty for $7 as the 1 year expired the end of last month. Word has it now that the Erie will reopen Thursday for the commercial traffic and Friday for pleasure. We will let the rush go by and probably leave Sun. or Mon.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Off to Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina in New Baltimore
We cast off lines this morning at 0830 during slack current. This allowed us to get the "push" of the current all the way north. We made very good time passing the cities of Saugerties, Catskill, Hudson and Coxsackie. The weather was beautiful and the river was flat.
The Catskill Mountains to the west.
Vacation cottage?
The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse.
We shared the river with many logs and debris.
We arrived at Donovan's Shady Harbor just after 1 pm. to a very strong wind and still with the current giving us an extra 1.5 mph. but we got lucky and got the T head at the end of the dock so we just turned around and headed south into the wind and current and slid in alongside. The marina is very nice with a pool, bathhouse, picnic area, ships store that includes some food items and an on site restaurant. We walked over and had lunch after check in.
Marina office and store.
The restaurant from the water.
From the side.
After lunch I checked in with a friend, Joe Hughes from the Venice Power Squadron who lives up here in the summer. He came over to the boat about 4:30 and invited us to dinner with his wife Nancy. The first place we tried in Albany had no parking so as we drove around downtown getting our tour we came upon a little Italian place that they knew the owner of. We decide to stop there but again no parking. Joe went in to see if Felix the owner was there and he came out walked around the corner and opened up the tiny garage at the back of the restaurant. We had a great meal and were treated very well. Joe was with the Albany Police Department for one career and knows a lot of people.
Joe, Nancy & Felix.
The tiny garage!
After dinner we did a bit more touring and returned to the boat to see the full moon out to the east. The bonfire was lit up in the picnic area and lots of people partying as they had a full moon party. We'll be here until the Erie opens. Lots of dates flying around with the earliest being the 26th and the longest being the 1st.
The Catskill Mountains to the west.
Vacation cottage?
The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse.
We shared the river with many logs and debris.
We arrived at Donovan's Shady Harbor just after 1 pm. to a very strong wind and still with the current giving us an extra 1.5 mph. but we got lucky and got the T head at the end of the dock so we just turned around and headed south into the wind and current and slid in alongside. The marina is very nice with a pool, bathhouse, picnic area, ships store that includes some food items and an on site restaurant. We walked over and had lunch after check in.
Marina office and store.
The restaurant from the water.
From the side.
After lunch I checked in with a friend, Joe Hughes from the Venice Power Squadron who lives up here in the summer. He came over to the boat about 4:30 and invited us to dinner with his wife Nancy. The first place we tried in Albany had no parking so as we drove around downtown getting our tour we came upon a little Italian place that they knew the owner of. We decide to stop there but again no parking. Joe went in to see if Felix the owner was there and he came out walked around the corner and opened up the tiny garage at the back of the restaurant. We had a great meal and were treated very well. Joe was with the Albany Police Department for one career and knows a lot of people.
Joe, Nancy & Felix.
The tiny garage!
After dinner we did a bit more touring and returned to the boat to see the full moon out to the east. The bonfire was lit up in the picnic area and lots of people partying as they had a full moon party. We'll be here until the Erie opens. Lots of dates flying around with the earliest being the 26th and the longest being the 1st.
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