Waterford to Amsterdam

Another drizzly day along the Erie Canal and Mohawk River. We left Waterford at 9:00 and traveled through 9 locks to the Riverlink Park in Amsterdam, NY. Here at Lock 7 we waited while the chamber was emptied and the lock doors opened. 

The Canal Corp. is maintaining the locks, as it is early in the season, and we had to dodge various work barges and excavators. At Lock 8 we had to squeeze around a barge by making a very tight "s" turn to enter the lock - "at our own risk" said the Lock Master via radio. At Lock 9 this work barge was in front of the lock, and had to be moved for us to go through.

The locks were wet and muddy, but the upside was that we had almost the entire canal to ourselves.

Riverlink Park is maybe 300 feet from the train line that parallels the Erie Canal. Long freight trains pass about every 20 to 30 minutes blowing their horns several times, making sleeping interesting

Here is one of the infamous flammable oil carrying trains. There were hundreds of tankers on it.

And while we were busy, Ellie was just bored.

Coeyman's to Waterford

A rainy travel day, but thankfully short.

Today's drama included one boat going aground as it tried to go the wrong way out of the marina, and then some excitement going through Troy Lock.  

This sailboat knotted his rope around the lock pipe (a no-no, you are supposed to leave it loose) and when the lock started filling with water, the rope got caught and the boat began to be pulled under.  The lockmaster stopped filling the lock and had to empty it so they could untangle the ropes. 

Albany is a bustling commercial shipping port.  I now know where all the barges come from.  This crane is filling a barge with (more - see previous post) scrap metal.

 

These barges are being loaded or unloaded.

There are quite a few "loopers" traveling in the same direction this trip. We arrived early in Waterford, NY and decided to take a spot on the Waterford Town Guest Dock instead of waiting until after we stopped for provisions. Good decision - within a half an hour there was no more room.

 

 



Roundout Creek, Kingston NY to Coeyman's Landing

We woke up this morning to find a blue heron walking by on the dock.

 

Today is day three cruising up the Hudson and we are always intrigued by the many trains, passenger on the east side and freight on the west, that run along the river. Here we caught the Amtrak Vermonter(s) passing each other just outside of Hudson NY.

 

 

And, there is always commercial boat traffic.  This one's a tug pushing two barges full of scrap metal.

 

 

Ended the day's run at Coeyman's Landing, where we are looking forward to a nice dinner out at Yanni's Too. Note the mother goose and goslings in the lower left hand corner.

 

 

 



Croton-on-Hudson to Kingston, NY

The Hudson River is spectacularly beautiful and if you ever get a chance to see it on a boat, do so.

This is our fifth time sailing under the Bear Mountain Bridge into the Hudson River highlands and it never disappoints.



 

Passing the Esopus Meadows light, now a familiar sight, we know we are only a short distance from Kingston, NY and our stop for the night.

We arrived here at Rondout Yacht Basin in Kingston, where we met up with a merry group of "Loopers", or people who are doing the Great Loop.  Some have been living and cruising on their boats for as long as a year and a half, while some take breaks and go home now and then. 

We'll stay here for at least one more day while we catch up on the housekeeping chores.

Through Hells Gate - Norwalk to Croton-on-Hudson

The trip through the western end of L.I. Sound, down the East River, through Hells Gate and up the Harlem River to the Hudson is always exciting.

The barges are large and scary, but predictable.

 

 

Michael and Xuan, who joined us in Norwalk, rode on the bow and took pictures of everything.

 

 
The New Jersey Palisades.
 

 

After 60 nautical miles we reached our destination and settled in for the night at Half Moon Bay Marina.

Captain's Supplement:

Most cruising visitors to New York harbor travel down the East River, around The Battery, and up the Hudson River but the Harlem River (a short-cut to the Hudson coming from the Long Island Sound) provides an intimate New York experience apart from the time honored views of the city.

Having timed slack tide for Hell's Gate we had a smooth ride passed Mill Rock.

Along the way here's some of the sights.

At the junction of the Hudson River is the "very low" Spuyten Duyvill railroad swing bridge.