Sat Sept 4: Utica Wall to Rome Wall

In which we go to Rome …

Well, this morning I put my shirt on inside out AND backwards…so I guess I am really living retirement life to its fullest.

First thing in the am we managed to hoist ourselves out of the pit and go grocery shopping. 

There is our sweet boat-alone on the wall.  With the spiders.

Please enjoy this picture of Rick trying to get the groceries down to my waiting arms . It’s a good thing we are still spry. 

There is now a lot of traffic headed east-snow birds headed to FL.  The lock operators say it is usually a flood of people, but this year the Canadians have had a harder time getting in. At any rate, several people heading east pasted by and waked us so hard that we got off that Utica wall in a hurry-rather than get spiders embedded in our skin, or the boat. 

 

Here we are waiting for 4 of those east-bound vessels to clear the lock so we can go into it behind the boat on the right.  That boat turned off its motor once settled in the lock, so we did the same.  It was so peaceful!  I don't know why that isn't a thing.  We are going to do that from here on out.

 

It was a quick hop, skip and lock to Rome.  Which we really only stopped at so that I could say ‘when in Rome’.  I do love to amuse myself… 

The Rome wall consisted of a truly terrible beat-up bit, and a nicer floating dock which we had all to ourselves. 

Rome, very optimistically, had a sign telling us about each exciting section of town (arts, historic, restaurant row, Italian sections, etc). We decided to check it all out via bike. Challenge accepted!

The recreated Fort Stanwick was great - Rick got to geek out and discuss something battle blah blah with a poor volunteer melting in period dress. I wondered around nodding knowledgeably and hoping I would get ice cream later (I did!).

It’s like Last of the Mohicans where they think the fort will save them, but really it’s just more of the same murder, mayhem and nary a brush to be seen for all those hair extensions shit…

And  I’m pretty sure these churches weren’t there originally:

We enjoyed our bike ride-even tho there really was no ‘there’ there.  If you know what I mean. 

This seemed to be the ‘arts district’.

We had a peaceful night on the quiet dock. (After the fisherman guy stopped playing Whip It, Whip It Good, at top volume). I must say, the sheer number of different bug species we encounter each night is impressive.  If my goal were to be bitten by a mosquito in every state, I am TOTALLY WINNING.

Fri Sept 3: St Johnsville Wall to Utica 'Marina' (Wall)

In which Mel is no longer a cash cow ...

Melanie officially ended her job on August 31, 2021, but she needed to ship her company computer back in order to be completely free.  Therefore, the destination for today was Utica (You-tica), NY where there is a UPS store conveniently close to the dock.  We dropped our lines and headed off towards Locks 16-19.

I had been curious to see Lock 17 from the water, as it's entrance mechanism is not two doors but rather a 'guillotine' that slides up and down.  It's also, at 40',  the deepest lock we have been in. As we locked through 16, all alone, I mentioned to Mel that it might be fun to lock with other boats for a change - the last time we did that was long ago in the Troy/Federal Lock.  Well.....someone was listening and when we got to Lock 17 there was a boat behind us and another boat W-A-Y behind that one, running to catch the lock.

On approach to Lock 17 - the door was interesting... but UNBELIEVABLY slow to raise.  The whole lock cycle was 45 mins of our lives, whereas a normal cycle is about 20 mins.

Mel had to get us as close as possible to the front, so that there would be room behind us for the other two boats.  But not so close as to have to stand in a shower for 40 mins.  In fact, later at Lock 22, the chatty Lock Master told us that a sailboat, on this same day, had a problem with its steering mechanism on the way into this lock and accidentally ended up under this waterfall.  It was instantly battered with 3' of water and almost sank.  Somehow it was able to back up and then pump the water out in time.  Yikes...I'm glad we didn't know that story until after we did this lock.

The boat behind us was NOT happy to have to wait 15 mins for the slow trawler behind them to catch the lock.  But we have no real life so we didn't mind.  Although it was cold and damp down there at the bottom! After this lock we told the fast boat to go ahead and not hold the next lock for us, as they have a long way to go today.

 

We arrived at Utica to find the “town dock” - actually a very tall wall that was next to the patio of an Italian restaurant, Aquavino. The wall was at least 10 feet high, and we were lower than normal due to the pool being lower than normal.  We had to position ourselves next to a ladder in order to be able to climb up and out.   Putting out the mooring lines was a trick as we had to climb up 6 feet above the deck to reach the cleats on the dock.  We are always learning something new! We finally got tied up and Melanie grabbed her computer and took off walking for the UPS Store as it was getting late and she wanted to make sure they wouldn’t close before she could get there.   In the meantime I hooked up the electricity, organized the lines and floats and paid the dock fee in the restaurant.  

Mel was back in 30 mins sans computer - so now she is OFFICIALLY RETIRED!   Wait, if she isn’t working how are we going to pay for the boat??? 

We decided to save you from pix of the wall view that we had from inside the boat.  It wasn't a smooth wall, but rather covered in pipes, rubber bumpers and spiders.  So. Many. Spiders.

We were tired and wind blown (even though the weather is cooler, the sun and wind tend to take it out of you) so we decided on takeout.  Mel refused to climb back out of the cellar, so I walked a couple of blocks down to Babe’s restaurant to get a pizza and some spicy shrimp.  (Yes - we were literally docked IN an Italian restaurant, but it was too expensive.) Once back on the boat we had dinner, watched a little TV and then went happily off to bed.  The days get about 2 mins shorter every day as we head toward fall.

No spiders on this side of the boat, so we tried to only look here.

Wed Sept 1 - Thurs Sept 2: St Johnsville

In which we are no longer alone in the wilderness ...

We awoke to a coolish, overcast day and met our fellow marina neighbors at 9:30 to go for breakfast. As we talked with everyone and started to exchange stories we realized that our stay in Mohawk Harbor was actually a blessing. Some had been stuck in far worse places.  Our new friends on Knot Again ended up inside a lock for 5 days!  They had entered the lock for protection from one of the storms (locks can be used for refuge-apparently there were hundreds of boats inside the Waterford Locks riding out Henri), but then were stuck there when the locks closed. Initially they were at the top of the lock, but as the water drained they slowly sank down into the depths of the lock.  No power, no water and stifling heat as the wind doesn’t reach down into the lock.   They had to use the ladders to climb out for groceries. Everyone has a story about where they were and what they had to go through during this period of lock closures.  I guess I am thankful for Schenectady…?

We had a nice breakfast with the group:

Then we went off to find the local barber the group had told us about.  Rick needed a haircut and how great to support a local guy who cuts hair in his converted garage.  It was very professional and he wore his barber “uniform”. Sadly his reading selection wasn’t People magazine, but guns, amo and Rush Limbaugh. Eye roll..

We had all planned to get together for dinner in the little park right next to the dock, but Ida rain continued so everyone tucked up in their boats for the evening.  Rick made everyone banana bread, which he hand delivered via umbrella! We like the group so much we decided to stay one more day for the potluck.  We nodded off to the gentle rain.

The boat behind us-great name as they are retired, and she was a pharmacist !

Thursday dawned bright, clear and cool!  It is as if, on September 1, someone threw a switch and the weather cooled off.  Daytime high temperatures are now in the low 70’s and overnight it has been in the 50’s.  Truly delightful weather.  We had avocado toast with smoked salmon for breakfast - I’m going to brag on Rick about that later!

All the boys made the short walk into town to visit the local farm vegetable stand.  Rick wanted to buy corn and tomatoes for our group dinner.  The regular farm stand wasn’t open but there was another farmer selling vegetables out of the back of his truck.  Fresh tomatoes, onions and a watermelon!

This silly little light house actually functions!

At 6 pm we all gathered  at the park picnic table and prepared a feast of chili dogs, caprese salad and watermelon.  Everyone pitched in something and we had more food than we could eat.  It was just great. We invited the recently arrived sailboat family, and then enjoyed watching the two kids play. Rick and I are usually the youngest in a boating group!  But this time Lunasauras and Velo Polaris (I am not making that up) had us beat. We have so enjoyed getting to know these other boaters.  We enjoy both types of boating - being alone together just the two of us, and meeting and getting to know other boaters.  It is nice to have a mix of both.  

Luna and Velo-she is trying to teach him patty-cake but his gross motor skills are not quite there!!

The other thing that we like is that boaters mostly go to bed early!  By 8 pm everyone was yawning and the group broke up with everyone saying good night.   Earlier in the day we had received an email update from the NY Canal authority confirming that the locks would open tomorrow so we are planning to be on the move again. 

Party on the wall!

Tues: Aug 31: Schenectady to St Johnsville

 In which we break our Personal Best Lock Record ...

Guess where we are!!!  NOT SCHENECTADY!!!!!!!!!!  

You know that saying 'fake it til you make it'?  We decided to act like we were going to be able to move forward.  Poor Rick slept very little, as he had to put all his energy into worrying the locks open.  At 6am (haven't seen that o'clock in many days) we got the boat ready to go, and at 6:50 Rick called the number we had been given by the lock master at Lock 11 and had a little chat with the regional supervisor at the NY Canal Authority.   Rick let him know just how much we REALLY needed to get out of Schenectady, and the supervisor said “well, I guess we are open” and then suggested that we call the lock master at Lock 8 to check the conditions.   Rick called the Lock 8 master who said “well, I have to call the supervisor, let me call you back”.  Ten minutes later we had the green light!  Honestly, I am fully convinced that because of Rick's call they let us into the system, and once we were in the system they had to move us all the way through.  My hero...

Hmmm - this exit is now a LOT more narrow, with all the water

 gone.

The grownup overseeing these Boys in a Boat was kind enough to get on his bullhorn and warn us (in an ominous tone)  that the canal authority was lowering the water level in the 'pool' (the canal system).  Which did NOT help our overtaxed nerves. Also, he clearly didn't realize that Rick and the Canal Authority are BFFs.

As we mentioned yesterday, the level of the canal was being lowered in preparation for rain from Hurricane Ida.  This meant that the dams at each lock had their upper “flash boards” removed so that water was pouring over each damn and the current was much stronger than normal.   We had to be extra careful as we approached each lock as there was turbulence and debris.   

Trust me this is a LOT of water boiling out and creating a heavy cross current right at the mouth of the lock.  It was AWESOME.

At each lock I drive, and Rick gets us snugged up to the wall. We settled into this system early on, when it became clear that my little T-Rex arms weren't long enough to get the line around a pipe - and it has worked well for us ever since.

At Lock 8, the first lock of the day, we ran hard into a large log floating at the opening of the lock and there were several loud thumps as the log bounced down the hull.  It was very unnerving, and I had a bit of a nervy spaz, but it didn’t appear that we had done any damage. By which I mean we didn't sink and the prop continued to turn-always a plus. We kept a close eye on the depth gauge, and by Lock 13 the water level was back to normal and it was a PERFECT DAY. Everything was bright and shiny and new - due to our FREEDOM from Schenectady! 

The scale here makes me giggle-the size of the tugboat makes the wall look HUGE. But actually it’s a normal sized wall, just a tiny tug!

Rick called the dock master at St. Johnsville municipal marina and he moved EVERYONE around on the wall in order to make space for us.   Because the locks further ahead of us -  21 to 25 - are closed until Friday, there are many boats stuck in this section of the canal and there are not many places to stay.  It was super kind of both him, and the other boaters, to work to help us out. When we arrived the kindness continued as everyone came out and helped us with a tricky docking job in the space they had cleared.

After a short nap (did I mention that we got up at 6 am) we emerged from the boat and were hailed by the other boaters sitting together at a picnic table close by. Clearly they needed 'fresh meat' to talk to! The 4 other boats/couples who had been on the wall for a few days had become friends, and they warmly welcomed us into the group.  They were delightful, and also - it WASN'T SCHENECTADY! We fed the mosquitos for an hour, and then made plans to all have breakfast together in the morning.

Quesadillas for dinner and then off to bed.  Despite the nap we were dead tired after our long and stressful day on the Erie Canal!  

Mon Aug 30: Driving to Brewerton

In which we get to have Lock Anxiety --- AGAIN ...

We were up early and at the Hertz office by 9 am to get our compact rental.  We then took the New York Thruway - Interstate 90, westward to Brewerton.  It was a two hour drive (with Mel in the minivan without AC, mind you).

We arrived at Winter Harbor at about 11:30 and checked in at the marina office. They had us park the car inside one of their two enormous warehouses.  I can't remember if we have explained the plan for the winter already, and, according to Mel, I love to repeat myself, so here it is:   The loop takes us through the Erie Canal and then down through the Great Lakes to Chicago.   However, there are a number of ways to get to Chicago.  This year, as the border with Canada was closed, most loopers went all the way out the Erie Canal through Buffalo, NY and then through Lake Erie, Lake Huron and onto Lake Michigan to Chicago.  We, however, would like to take the route through Canada which includes travel down a series of small, historic Canadian Canals. And we are lucky enough to be in no hurry (many people make the loop a 1-year adventure so as to get back to their jobs, etc) Since the border was closed until recently we decided to leave the boat in NY and return next May to continue the trip.  Winter is harsh up here so we can't leave the boat outside like last winter. Winter Harbor is a “marina” with two enormous heated warehouses and their business is basically storing boats (stacked) inside for the winter.  We will drop Blue Horizon off at Winter Harbor sometime around October 1, where she will stay tucked up all winter until the canals open again in May 2022. 

We found a place for lunch close by the marina where we sat in the sun and looked out over the canal we will see again soon (from the boat).  THEN we received an email from the NY Canal authority letting us know that they would once again begin letting water out of the canal in preparation for Hurricane Ida. ARRRRGGGGGGG - they didn't say the locks were closed yet, but it seemed imminent.  I had to take several deep calming breaths ...

I was so stressed that on the drive back we stopped at Lock 11 so I could speak with the lock master about traveling tomorrow.  He said he thought the locks would be open, just that the water would be low.  He gave us a supervisor's telephone number to call early tomorrow in order to check on lock status. We hope to get beyond Lock 15 tomorrow - the very shallow water will be between Lock 8-13.  We went to bed anxious ...

Sure hope this is the last time we look at the Schenectady Mohawk Marina....

Sun Aug 29: Time has lost all meaning

In which we CANNOT do more driving ...

The locks we needed were finally open - but we needed to move the car to our end pt of Brewerton NY before proceeding, and we just could NOT do more (non-air conditioned) driving, so we decided to sleep a bunch and move the car tomorrow. We felt confident the locks were stable and we could wait a day or two (HA).

There were several hours of active debate about car logistics.  That's how exciting our life is...  

• One option - rent a car in Schenectady, drive both our car and the rental to Brewerton and leave our car there so it is waiting.  
• Or - drive our car to Brewerton and take the train back to the boat (which would require a bus ride from Brewerton to Syracuse).  
• Or - leave the car in Schenectady and come back later to get it. 
• Or - leave the car at a garage in Syracuse to be fixed and beg them to keep it for a month.
  
• Or - drive our car to a mid-point and then have it for use as we cruise down the Erie Canal.  
• Or - sell the car and buy a new one/or a camper.
  

 

We decided that getting it to Brewerton now was the best option - we can load from the boat directly to the car and AC won't be critical at that time of the year. Some of us think that loading into a camper makes more sense, as we have loaned out our house and so will continue to cruise aimlessly around the county - just in a motor vehicle.

After using up the morning on car logistics, we decided to do laundry one more time, just to keep the fresh underwear supply topped up. And that was it…we didn’t need to shop and it was Sunday.  We came back to the boat, read, sat in the sun and did a puzzle.

For some weird reason this puzzle made me hungry for sweets!!

Fri Aug 27 - Sat Aug 28: WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE

In which we flee, like rats leaving the motionless boat ...

Some of the closed locks along the canal have reopened - but not the ones we need (lock 8 and beyond), so we decided to rent a car and drive back to Colton’s Point Marina in MD (where we picked up the boat this year) to get our trusty minivan that has been waiting for us patiently.  We will need it at the end of this trip, and we had nothing else to do while STUCK. This seemed logical and all, but it required 18 hours of driving over 36 hours of trip.  Grump grump ...

We picked up a rental car at the Albany airport and headed south on I-87 which took us through New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and finally Maryland.  It was a fine day for a drive - but warm!  We stopped at a rest stop along the way (honestly can’t remember what state it was in) and as we stepped out of the car I was reminded of the time we spent in Arizona.  It felt like an oven. 

The rest of the 9 hour drive was uneventful.  We took a route that skirted the big cities trying to avoid Friday afternoon traffic.   At about 5 pm we ran into a major thunderstorm and spent the next hour s l o w l y traveling in driving rain. We arrived at the marina and our car at 6:30. 

Weeds!

Since the car had been sitting in a field since about May 10, Rick was ready with jumper cables and an air compressor to inflate tires.  He checked the oil and coolant (while I did nothing), put in the key and the car cranked right up!  What a great car - we were very grateful.  EXCEPT...(isn't there is always an 'except'?!)...the air conditioner would not work. We had NOT anticipated a 9-hour-drive back to New York, on freeways, with the windows down.  Time to regroup - we checked into a nearby hotel, had Mexican food for dinner and tried to reframe things in a more positive manner - with the help of rum & coke.

The next day we did it all over in reverse!  With the windows down!!  In the rain!!!! We dropped the rental car at the BWI airport and started the drive back to Schenectady.  We had planned to take some side trips, but without AC we lost that desire. 

 

You have to admit this would have been a good side trip, right?!  Blesses

d are the Cheesemakers...

We took a different route back to the boat so we could see some other parts of this area (through the open windows!) and to find less traffic.  We stopped for groceries and arrived back at the marina to find the Saturday evening concert was in full swing! Sure enough - a week had gone by and it was Sat again.  Longest week of our lives...

Once we found a parking place and lugged all the groceries MILES to the boat, we enjoyed the concert.  This band is a Billy Joel cover band, and they are good enough that they sometimes travel with the man himself.  Then, with no warning, at 9 pm there was a gigantic explosion in the sky.  It turned into a firework show, to celebrate the last concert of the summer, and was almost directly over the boat.  And what a show it was.  (Rick:  When I was a kid firework shows were 15 - 20 minutes long.  It's ridiculous that nowadays firework shows last 45 minutes, with multiple endings and over the top grand finales.  Yes - he actually used the word 'nowadays'.  He is practicing to be a good curmudgeon later in life… I will be giving him such shit about 'when I was a kid ...')

Over-long or not, it was a grand welcome home and SOME OF US enjoyed it!

ON TOP OF US!

One possible ending ...

Several minutes later - the real ending!