Monday, June 1, 2009

We are here at Winter Harbor Marina in Brewerton,  NY and will be for maybe two weeks. It'll take that much time to complete maintenance and repairs on our starboard engine (need parts, etc.). So we're flying out to take care of other business and will resume the trip as soon as possible. 

It might be worse. It could be winter. 

Brightwater sleeps.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday May 28, 29, 30 2009

Left Lock 21's south wall at 7:10AM in order to cross Lake Oneida and get to Brewerton before noon. Lake was exceptionally calm allowing smooth passage and less fuel. Need to have oil changed in both engines and starboard generator and there seems to a competent marina in the city.

43° 14' 37" N

76° 09' 32" W

Here we are at Winter Harbor Marina in Brewerton, NY. around 10:40AM.  Oh, but trouble in River City. Changing the oil is no problem. However we developed a slight leak in the starboard heat exchanger and fuel supply. Plenty of evidence of a larger pending problem and parts have to ordered. Should have them Saturday with scheduled work finished on Monday and maybe we can leave Tuesday. Luckily this is a very nice marina with shipyard services so they're competent to do the work. A Caterpillar engine technician will also come to revive everything.

Wednesday May 27, 2009

Rain. Rain. Go away. Come again another day. Too bad for us. Rain for the next two to three days. We can operate Brightwater from the pilothouse and only go on deck at the locks. Have to do so barefoot due to lack of waterproof shoes. Temp only 50°.

Pulled away at 7:40AM from Fonda westward on the Canal. Hope to be at Lock 21 tonight, mile 123, depending on the wait at prior locks (we will have been through 20, count 'em, - er 21? there is no lock 1 and that's the way they did it in the old days). Very little boat traffic as we passed only four other boats, all sail. Its still eerily Erie. Passed through the largest single step lock on the NY canal system, lock 17. The west entrance is a gate (one of two locks in U.S.) that's pulled up over you (you get wet from the dripping gate). Strange feeling going under rather than through.

42° 12' 31" N

75° 36'54" W

Docked at Lock 21 (south wall) in New London, NY. around 6:40PM.  Wish there's something to highlight. Unfortunately not. There is absolutely nothing here. Nothing and quite also. Real quite. Will have to lock our doors tonight and sleep with a light on. Makes you feel better. I think. And even worse, we have no TV. The satellite dish is non operational because the radar arch is down. I assume nothing changed in the outside world. Just like Days of Our Lives over twenty years.

Tuesday May 26, 2009

Had to take our dingy off and pull behind the boat because the radar arch had to lowered. The bridge clearances on eastern part of the Erie canal are too low. So we needed to do the equivalent of a nautical limbo and bring our height to approximately 16 feet. It works but looks a little strange. 

   Eerily Erie. This is slow. Anyone thinking they can make this passage faster is delusional. Some locks are slow and others faster. Net, net; slower. Nothing to do but enjoy the pace and scenery (lots of trees - um). Its a 160 miles to the north bound Oswego canal and lake Ontario. Hopefully it'll take three days.

42° 57' 01" N

74° 22' 17" W

Docked on a long high wall off the canal just west of bridge E-23, in the town of Fonda, NY. Yes sir, that's right. Fonda. Home of Henry and the rest of the Fonda clan. Wondering if they were named for the town or the town was named for them. Anyway, when they left for greener pastures so did the rest of the town. There's just nothing here except the mandatory McDonald's at the highway intersection. Since we didn't have to leave the boat, no problemo for us.

Monday May 25, 2009

Memorial Day 2009. Away in strong current at 7:00AM. Survived loud music as the Brightwater is sound proof as well as water tight.  Destination is Troy, NY and the entrance to the Erie Canal system. Lots of river ca-ca everywhere (for those not previous readers, river ca-ca  is a nautical term referring to all sorts of floating debris) . An out going tide must daily wash the river's banks. Mandatory sharp lookout on the flying bridge to dodge logs and other ca-ca.

Wow. Every boater in upper NY state is out and on the Hudson. They're like amoebas. State and local police presence very helpful in controlling craziness. But not eliminating it all. With all the activity, had to slow down too may times to control our wake with small boats.

Arrived at the Troy Docks downtown Troy, NY. approximately 4:00PM.  Helpful proprietor. Drove us to grocery store (Price Chopper) so we could provision for the canal Trip. Took on fuel just in case its scarce or higher priced on the Erie Canal.

42° 42' 06" N

73° 42' 14" W

Troy is a older town and must have really been some hot spot in the 1700 and 1800's. Large monument from later 1800's commemorating the people who fought in the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.  Troy was the eastern terminus of the canal system and from here all goods brought down from the interior went down stream to NYC. Goods from down state were able to be transported to the Great lakes and immensely expanded commerce. 

Until the railroads and then river was no longer the major highway.