Mareenar Dave...

  We were examining the charts this morning trying to determine where we could dock for the night tonight and Dave suggested "Mareenar Marina" (that is exactly how Dave pronounced it). Reminded me of the line of the father from the movie "Christmas Story"; "Frajeelee (fragile), it must be Italian". I asked to take a look at the charts and agreed the marina was just about the right distance and offered all of the services we require then corrected Dave on his pronunciation of the marina's name; "Dave, the name is Mariner's Marina, not Mareenars Marina". Dave responded "Whatever, just start the motors". The rest of the day (probably the trip) we fondly called him "Mareenar Dave".

 

  Our day went perfect and we docked around 4:00 at Mariners Marina on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake. The day could have been boring except for the beautiful scenery, cool locks, other boats to see, lively conversation, and the adolescent fun of calling Dave a Mareenar.



New crew; Chris, Kenny, and Dave. It took 3 men to take Bills place.

View from the dock this morning, almost looks like a double negative.

Chris really misses his dogs.

"Mareenar Dave"

A friendly lock master.

The bottom of lock 17, the Erie Canals highest lock @ 41 feet.

After being raised 41 feet we are almost ready to leave the lock, just another 2 feet of water.

 

"Clinton's Big Ditch"

  The Erie Canal was New York Governor Dewitt Clinton's dream and in 1817 construction began. At that time it was often referred to as "Clinton's Big Ditch". The Canal opened on October 26th, 1825 and became famous the world over. The first ship to travel the Erie Canal was the "Seneca Chief"  carrying Governor Dewitt and other dignitaries. The start of the voyage in Buffalo was accompanied by the firing of a cannon and this was echoed by the booming of a line of cannons stationed along the canal, the Hudson River, and all the way to the New York Harbor. The "Seneca Chief"  bore two barrels of water from Lake Erie, which Governor Clinton emptied into the ocean at New York in a ceremony generally referred to as the "Marriage of the Waters" between the Great lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

  Bill and I passed through 10 locks today and one very nasty thunderstorm, arriving at St. Johnsville Marina at 5:30. Tomorrow is crew change, Bill has been on board 6 days and we agree that the time flew by fast. The Eastern portion of the Erie canal is really picturesque with mountains and the Mohawk River in contrast to the excavated waterways characteristic of the western section of the canal.

We were definitely the largest boat in the marina.

 

This was a 32 foot lift. Entering the canyon is a little intimidating.

Unlike the western 1/2 of the Erie Canal, we have mountains to look at here.

The cold front hit us around 3:00 with 40 - 50 mph winds. We had whitecaps on the damn canal. Notice the bow window canvas that ripped loose.   

Tucker and Clark took the storm in stride (slept right through it).

First lock experience, WOW !

  This day wasn't in the plan. We were to stop short of the Erie Canal so I could have extra hands for help with the locks. The idea of securing a 53 foot, 22 ton boat with one inexperienced deck hand and two Golden Retrievers is enough to make me loose sleep. When we arrived at Troy N.Y. and the beginning of the Erie Canal at 11:30 this morning we decided to give it a try for a lock or two. Please understand, I have not passed through the locks on the east section of the Erie Canal (and I didn't bother to research it). It wasn't until we exited the first lock and saw the second lock 300 yards ahead that I realized we were in for a baptism under fire. 

 

  The "Gateway to the Erie Canal at Waterford" (Waterford Flight) is considered an engineering innovation  and features a series of five locks where boats are lifted or lowered the greatest height in the shortest distance of any canal in the world.

 

  We had a ball and Bill definitely "rose" to the occasion.

The Hudson stays very wide almost to Albany.

Very neat old house and barn.

Downtown Albany.

Keep her close Billy.

By the fifth lock Bill had it down pat.

Swab the decks, fetch me rum, and walk the dogs.

OH BOY, no salt in the water.

Dusk on the Erie Canal, no waves, no tide, no problem.

The Catskill mountains.

  "Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains," Washington Irving wrote nearly two century's ago in Rip Van Winkle. Every change of season, every change of weather, produces some change in the magical hues of these mountains". Thomas Cole, the father of the Hudson River School made his home in the Catskills overlooking the Hudson as did his most famous student, Frederick Edwin Church. 

  Tonight we are docked in the little town of Kaatskill. In the mid 19th century Nantucket Whalers settled across the Hudson from here giving Kaatskill a decided salty reputation. The red light district thrived until the 1950's. The brothels have been turned into fine homes and B & B's. (shame)

  Bill and I enjoyed the trip up the Hudson and will hate to leave the Catskill Mountains tomorrow.

Captain Bill.

and his Navigator, Clark (notice the worried look)

West Point Academy

Team fishing.

End of a good day in the Catskill Mountains.

All hell broke loose...

    Clear skies and a calm ocean, who could ask for more. Bill and I arrived in the New York Harbor at 11:30 and entered into the Hudson River at 12:30. Everything went perfect on the ocean. The harbor had a light fog, just enough to fuzzy up my pictures.

  We continued up the Hudson 3 - 1/2 hours to Haverstraw Marina, we should have gone only 2 - 1/2 hours. 5 miles before our destination I told Bill to look at the sky behind us. It was black. 5 miles may not seem very far but in my boat your talking 30 minutes of cruising. Just as we entered the marina the winds kicked up (20 - 30 mph gusts) and the lighting started. As I eased up to the dock I saw two 12 year old kids there to grab our lines and the wind was pushing us away from the dock (of course). Hell, those kids didn't weigh 200 lbs between them. After 5 minutes of effort and a little help from another dock hand we got tied down and Bill rushed out to take the dogs to the grass.

  It was a solid five minute walk to the grass and you needed a map to find your way through the maze of docks. About one minute after Bill left the boat all hell broke loose. Torrential rain, lightning, hail, and high winds, then a tornado siren blew in the nearby town. I got nervous and donned a slicker and went out in search of my dogs (and Bill). I got to the marina and asked if anyone had seen them, they said yes and the damn fools had gone back onto the docks. I went back to the boat and found two soggy dogs and Bill (also soggy). We had passed in the maze of docks and didn't see each other.

  Everything turned out good and the dogs are much cleaner now.

  Two days to Troy, the start of the Erie Canal.


Leaving Manasquan Harbor, perfect weather.

Entering New York Harbor with light fog.

Staten Island Ferry.

One of the Armada of Navy ships.

The NEW World Trade Center with the top floor in place.

1/2 hour before all hell broke loose on the Hudson.

1/2 hour after all hell broke loose on the Hudson.