New crew and close calls...

Outgoing crew, Mike, Rick, and Denny.

Incoming crew, Jack, Tom, and Kenny.

Today was the first day for my new crew and a day of close calls.
Close call #1) We started our day by leaving dock and traveling down stream to the Hudson River then realized we were not supposed to be on the Hudson yet. We were supposed to be on the Champlain Canal for another 6 locks. We turned around and went back to port so I could review the charts. After extensive review we found the Champlain Canal joined with the Hudson off and on for the balance of the Canal. We shoved off and retraced our path.

Close call #2) As soon as we entered the Hudson (for the 2nd time) we encountered a 1/2 dozen working dredge barges  - not realizing one of them was being moved upstream by a tug that was directly behind it. The VHF radio shouted at us to take immediate action to avoid collision (we weren't that close but the other captain was apparently a nervous type.)  Afterward he complimented us on our seamanship.

Close call #3) Entering the Federal Lock (after the Champlain Canal locks) Jack, Kenny, and Tom looked at me and simultaneously said "Dick, there's no ropes".   All of the other locks had ropes hanging for the men to grab and stabilize the boat for the drop, this was a large lock and had side pipes requiring us to loop a rope around and slide down as we dropped.

Close call #4) As we left the Federal lock the lock keeper warned us of a tornado warning in effect and sever storms approaching.  He was a damn good weather forecaster. We had lighting, heavy rain, high winds, and debris floating all over the river.

Close call # 5) There was a 100% chance of darkness at the end of the day. We docked in near darkness at a small Marina off the main river and were lucky to find it.

Close call #6 and the scariest of all) After dinner I took Tucker out to do his business. I didn't have him on a leash and he was chasing something that ran under a nearby shed. He worried that shed for a while then finished his job and we returned to the boat. A half hour later Jack and I watched a 30 LB SKUNK crawl out from under the shed.

Kenny.

Tom.

Jack in the galley where we found him most of the day.

Looming storm clouds.

Albany.

Tucker helping Jack pull the boat against the lock wall.

Old N. Y. Capitol building.

Best light house yet.

The perfect storm.

The only sun we saw all day.