Before we even had our first sip of coffee, folks were already out enjoying the Erie Canal / Mohawk River.  I think it is a hoot that the coach is yelling at the rowers when he is driving a motor boat.  Yes, I know.  The coach can’t do it all.  Just funny so early in the morning.

Rowers in training

Although we were officially on the “Erie Canal”, the Eric Canal intertwines with the Mohawk River.  They are the one and the same from place to place.  Convenient when the Mohawk River is wide and deep enough for boaters.

We left our berth at the yacht club on a cloudy day.  It should brighten up a bit farther on.  We hope.  As long as it doesn’t rain, we can take a cool and cloudy day, anytime!

Schenectady Yacht Club – as we were leaving

We had been seeing “debris” on the Hudson and now on the Erie.  This tree on the side of the river does look more than just a little “debris”, don’t you think?  We are glad it is stuck on the side of the river.  By the way, yesterday, did I tell you that we heard the lock master at lock 7 tell the boat behind us to mind the 4X8 sheet of plywood in the lock?  Really?

Large Debris

Another fun filled day of Locks!  See the dam?  It is holding back some debris.  The door is to the left of the picture.  Between the white boxes.  Wayne has to really work at getting past all the debris and water surges from the dam just to get to the doors!

Approaching Lock 8

We were the only boat in Lock 8.  A great deal less stress when you are the only boat in the lock.  You don’t have to worry about hitting another boat as the water surges into the lock.

You can see the ropes hanging down in this picture. We now have a locking routine that works for us.  What we do is Wayne will guide the boat into the lock.  I will be on the bow and grab the rope with our pole.  Cleat the rope quickly to the bow.  I run back to the stern and grab another rope.  Wayne is still at the helm until he hears me tell him that I have the stern secure.  Which means I am holding onto the rope at the back of the boat.  He then leaves the helm and grabs the first rope that I had cleated to the bow.  We are now holding both ropes.  Generally, holding the boat in place as the water is being pumped into the lock chamber.  This way, Wayne can see when the chamber is completely filled and the doors begin to open.  He can then drop his line and get back to the helm.  He yells at me and I drop my line.  The boat is floating freely again and we motor out of the lock.

Entering Lock 8 – going UP 14 feet

Wall Slime!

All filled up and ready to leave Lock 8.  The good thing about going up, you can watch the water rise and know how much further you will be going up.  Of course, watching the slime crawl up the walls is also a giveaway.

Leaving Lock 8 –

Lock 8 spill way – looks different from the top

Landscape at the top of Lock 8

MV Grand Erie Barge – NY Canal Colors are blue and orange

5 miles up the Erie and we find Lock 9 waiting for us.  Again, we are the only boat in the lock.  The Lock Master at Lock 8 calls Lock 9 and let them know we are coming.  We have seen the doors open and ready for us with no waiting.  That is great communication!

Approaching Lock 9 – spill way to the left

Since we were the only boat in the lock, the Lock Master let the water in pretty fast.  See the water swirling?  It looks like the water is filling from the opposite side of the lock and bouncing off our wall.  Yep, we were being pushed pretty well into our side of the lock.  Glad we have the big 21″ round ball fenders.  They are really doing a great job.

Swirling Water with in the lock 9 – UP 15 feet

Spillway at the top of Lock 9

At the top of Lock 9, we were told to speed up and catch up to the boat ahead of us. We were going to be locking together for Lock 10.  The Lock Master had told them the same thing.  They had waited for us at the top of the lock.

Another 8 miles and Lock 10 is barely a memory.  We must have gone in and out and I didnt get one photo of that lock!  Maybe we were just in a rush to catch up to the other boat?  Or that wall slime… great stuff!

Lock 10 – Wall slime!! and goo – isn’t this how life started millions of years ago?

This is the spillway for Lock 10.  Looks just like the other spillways.

Lock 10 spillway

Notice the debris in the lock with us?  Some of these logs and branches look wicked.

Top of Lock 10

But at the top we find the power company.  I hope they are taking advantage of all the water power cascading over the spillways!!

Adirondack Power and Light

We are now 207 feet taller.  We have gone through Lock 10.  Each time, it seems to get easier.  Practice, practice, practice.  Wait… how many more locks will we go through by the end of the Loop??

We decided with the gray clouds and impending afternoon rain, to pull over and call it a day at Amersterdam River Link Park.  Of course, it drizzled when we were trying to get our lines set and the boat stable.  “Just throw a rope around the cleat and pull us in”.  Of course, I will!  We jockeyed back and forth until we finally moved the boat near a wall stair so we could use the metal stair to get off the boat more easily.  Our first attempt at docking our boat by ourselves.  Normally, we ask for help since Always Home is so tall but no one was around to help.  Guess when the drizzle stopped?  When we were done hooking up the power!!

Amersterday River Link Park

We read that the Erie Canal is closed up ahead from a “Mariner’s Notice” sent out by the NY Canal Corp.  For at least a week.  Too much rain in the north part of the NY state causing high water and lots of debris.  We may be here longer than expected.  Another unavoidable delay?