Author: BobS

Today was a shit show at the locks. We had hoped to get through 5 locks which would take us to Sylvan Beach at the east end of Lake Oneida and the hope of mile high pie. It seemed totally doable – ha! Our first delay was at lock 18 (20’ lift) the first lock of the day. We had to wait a half an hour before we got into the lock and then probably another 20 minutes before we were out. However, that paled in comparison with the dastardly lock 19. It took us three bloody hours to get through the lock. The lock master said he had several boats in the lock to come down and we’d have to wait. That wait went on forever. We could hear the communication between the lock master and the east bound boats and there seemed to be issues with a boat that had to back out of the lock, another boat near the entrance to the lock was taking his sweet time to move out of the way.

Meanwhile, a very large canal cruise ship pulls up behind us. There was lots of back and forth on the VHF between the cruise ship, Ramble On and the lock master. First, the cruise said it wanted to go first, had priority maybe. Then said it would let us go first since we had been waiting a while. Then, because it was taking forever for the down lock to happen, the cruise ship said it had to go next, it was scheduled to pick up passengers further west. When the lock finally emptied Chris asked if we would fit in behind the cruise ship, and Finnish Line would raft on Ramble On. It was a valiant attempt but when Ramble On got close to the lock entrance they could see they would not be able to reach the rope at the bow end of the boat. A further slow down of the whole process was that the lock master had to open each gate (two at both ends) individually which meant walking around, slowly, for him. In most cases both doors open at the same time.

So Ramble On backed out and we got to wait again. Shortly after, two motor cruisers joined the line up. When we finally got into the lock Finnish Line took the second last line at the front of the lock, Bob wasn’t sure if he had a pipe to hold onto if we went forward. The lock master ambled over and asked us to move forward which we did ok, and then he asked Linda and Chris to move forward, Linda complied only partially, moving up only half the distance he asked – she rightly didn’t want to get too close to us, we really didn’t want the masts to kiss. The only positive thing that happened was the lock master asking if we could get out ok if he opened just one door – YES we could, which meant not waiting for him to walk to the other side and open the other door. THREE HOURS LATER we were finally out of the lock. Sylvan Lake was now a lost cause but we were able to make lock 20 and docked on the wall just west of the lock. We plan for a 7am start and as long as there are no more lock issues tomorrow we should be able to make it across Lake Oneida. The wind conditions for a lake crossing are ok for tomorrow but not so good after that for several days. It’s a shallow lake and crossings, especially when the masts are down, are not a good idea in higher winds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven locks done today to get to Little Falls, we got here at 3:30. The 40 foot lock at Little Falls was a bit of a non-event as the lock master did a really slow rise so no turbulence – it took 20 minutes. We also had to wait around 20 minutes to get into the lock. It was an interesting view looking up at the top of the lock.

 

We had Interstate 90 south of us and the train tracks north of us for quite a bit of today’s trip. Finnish Line’s engine overheated just a little bit so we had to slow down a little for half of today’s trip. Bob figured there was something stuck in the through hull – that was the problem Ramble On had a couple of days ago. It’s easy to suck up stuff when you’re having to go really slowly while waiting for a lock to open. Once we got close to Little Falls there were some interesting looking houses right at the edge of the river bank, sitting on rock foundations. I’m assuming they have no fear of erosion.
We stopped at a very friendly town marina run by the Rotary and walked into town to the Copper Moose Ale House for dinner. Food was fine, service friendly but inefficient, including a delay in getting our dinner due to a kitchen fire, bringing Bob the wrong wine and they claimed to have totally run out of desserts cause it had been very busy – really ? Yes, we know – first world problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LInda and Chris rented a car so they could make a quick trip to Ottawa, it’s about a four hour drive, to celebrate Linda’s mum’s 85th birthday which is on Sept 29. Bob and Tarja did some boat chores and relaxed with some reading in the afternoon. We had picked out a restaurant for dinner that was a half hour walk. We left at 5:30 and until we got within 10 minutes of the restaurant didn’t really see any other people. The walk took us thought mixed neighbourhoods; several medical clinics, low rise apartments, possibly a senior’s residence. It then changed to houses which didn’t appear to be well looked after. At this point we started to see kids on bikes and a few other people on the streets. In general we though that it was a sketchy area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another 7am start, we hoped to make Amsterdam which meant doing 9 locks before 5pm, when the locks close for the day. When Peter and Bob did the same trek in May 2018 they were not able to make it but the locks were much busier that time of year and they were delayed by a melted impeller. ?

Bob feels a link with his history. Since his last trip on this canal he learned that his great great grandfather Story had immigrated from Yorkshire England to Ontario via the port of New York in July of 1835. He, his wife, and his mother would have used the Erie Canal (an earlier version) to journey to Toronto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 130 Waterford NY. A 7am start to Waterford, we estimated it would take 8+ hours including a fuel stop and the first lock at Troy. The forecast was for fairly heavy rain starting mid afternoon. The winds picked up just in time for Finnish Line to have an interesting docking experience at the fuel dock as the there was only one person working at the marina and he didn’t meet us at the dock. Good thing there was no video?. At least the rain held off until the boats finished fuelling.

It was a beautiful sunny day for the masts coming down. This was the third time our mast was stepped/unstepped at Hop-O-Nose and we continue to marvel that the very rickety crane is still standing. The crew here are great. Both boats were done by shortly after 10. Linda and Tarja did a major grocery shop after lunch while Chris and Bob finished off lashing the mast, etc., etc. etc. Finally we could relax for a few hours before we walked to the New York Restaurant for dinner. It’s become a tradition that when we’re in Catskill, we eat there – thank you Jeb and Ursula.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a calm four hour motor trip up the Hudson to Hop-O-Nose Marina. The scenery continued lovely with the Appalachians/Catskills in the background.

Arriving at Catskill Creek, we had to cool our heels for just a little while waiting for a couple of other boats to move out. Once docked, both boats started prep work for the masts coming down tomorrow. The first task was finding the mast stands that Linda and Bob delivered here in May. Ramble On’s stands were easy to find, Finnish Line’s were more of a challenge. The marina had cleared out stands older than two years. Bob had visions of having to build new stands but luckily Chris spied the tallest bit in a corner and with some moving of other stand parts they were dug out. Delicious ribs for dinner at Creekside restaurant at the marina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was an interesting start and end to the day. A very nice trawler also anchored at our bay, left before we did. He found the brick pile at the entrance but unlike Finnish Line 2.0 in 2018, it was not just a bump, he was stuck. Since the obstruction is pretty much in the middle of the entrance we were able to get around him easily enough. Chris asked, as Ramble On first went by, if they could help in any way. The captain thanked him and said he has already called BoatUS – he said he knew the obstruction was there but cut it a bit too close! Hoped the tow would come soon as the tide was ebbing and this boat wouldn’t see enough water until late afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A somewhat leisurely morning as we didn’t need to leave until late morning. It was not a really long distance to our anchorage plus the current turned in our favour around 11 am. The other reason might have been our need to replenish the white wine and beer supplies and in New Jersey on a Sunday they can’t sell alcohol before noon. Both boats got a fresh water rinse and laundry was done. Ramble On went to the fuel dock first. She had to go the far end of the dock as the main dock was full with coast guard and NYPD boats gassing up. Apparently this is a “Sunday Thing”. Wine and beer supplies were bought while Finnish Line got fuel and a pump out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For us it was mostly about the museums. We took the very handy ferry that leaves from our marina for the ferry terminal at the World Finance Center about a 15 minute ride. On Friday we headed for the Frick Museum on 5th at 70th. He built this house in 1914 to display his art collection so while it is an art gallery now it remains furnished as it was lived in. Wonderful collection of mainly European masters. After a quick lunch around the corner on Madison we spent the bulk of the afternoon enjoying the Frick.