Waterford and the Erie Canal

It was a short ride yesterday from Albany Yacht Club to Waterford, NY. This is the beginning of the Erie Canal. We got a last look at the Albany skyline and headed north through some pretty little towns. Waterford is the decision point as to whether you will take the Erie Canal route or the Lake Champlain route. Our friends Jerry and Jenny in Sweetgrass are going the Lake Champlain way, so we had drinks with them last night and said goodbye for now. Hopefully we will meet up again in Georgian Bay!

We went through our second lock yesterday - a much better experience than the first one. It was on the Hudson just before we got to Waterford. Once you buy your permit for the canal, you can tie up at many docks and wall for free. The dock spaces were all taken, so we were on the wall last night. We moved this morning to a dock space, with electricity, and will stay here today to sightsee and take care of some maintenance items. You will notice in the photo that we have lowered our mast. There are a couple of bridges along the upcoming waterway that have a lower clearance.

When we begin the Erie, it starts with a "flight" of four locks. We will be pros by the end of the Erie! Rebecca will help Sara move to Atlanta this weekend, and will join us sometime next week. We're looking forward to it!

Goodbye Albany

Diane, this building is an administration building for NY University

A restaurant on a barge

One of the tour boats on the Hudson

The mast is lowered - no satellite TV

Another restaurant on a barge

This lift bridge just looked pretty cool

Going into the lock - we were the third boat

And the last boat

As we rose in the lock, we could see the chamber next to us

And we're out - no problem

This tree part was apparently in the lock with us

Approaching Waterford

The decision point

A very busy place

These are the boats on the dock

No this is not Ryder. It's her lady-like twin on another boat.

Going for cocktails with Sweetgrass

A beautiful sunset