June 20 - June 27 Maryland - New York and FINALY the ERIE CANAL

The Maryland party to celebrate our niece Lauren's High School graduation was a Wigglesworth mini reunion.  Crabs, and more crabs and lots of pool time!  With a super graduation party as a plus.

We returned to Shady Harbor Marina in New York on Tuesday and departed there on Thursday!  Weather went from 90+ degrees to drizzling rain. 

Motored up the Hudson River past Albany to Lock #1.  Piece of cake!  Then continued on past Troy to dock at the City Docks in Waterford. Only $10 for the night.

After a morning of Don doing "boat yoga" in the engine room fixing the generator, we left Waterford and traveled through Locks 2 - 7 to Schenectady and the Mohawk Harbor Marina.

When opened in 1915 the "Flight of Five Locks" as those locks are named represented the greatest series of high lift locks in the shortest distance of any canal in the US.

What a workout, you basically try to hold your 40,000 lb. yacht against the wall, while the filling water is in turmoil. And then at the top of the lock, you might get a crosswind.  We lucked out, in that we were the only boat in the lock each time, so didn't have to wait for other boats or worry about being too close to someone.  The Dock masters were awesome, but I'm sure the little treat bag I gave them, helped sweeten the deal!

After leaving the lift locks, we entered the Mohawk River, which is beautiful with granite rock faces, nice and wide with lots of summer homes on the shore.  

The Erie Canal region is still recovering from industrial decline, with Schenectady showing a lot of progress and new development.  Schenectady was previously well known for The American Locomotive Company (ALCO) that operated here for 120 years.  Prior to closing their last plant in 1979, they sent almost 90,000 steam and diesel locomotives to railroads throughout the world.

Off to more locks tomorrow!

Lock # 1 at Troy NY

Hooray we're at the Erie Canal

Lock 2 info
Waterford Welcome Center
Lock 2 from Waterford Dock
Runoff from Old Champlain Canal

Lock 6 entry
Fishing on the Erie Canal
Looking back at the last lock
Leaving Lock 6
Trains, trains, trains....









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