Monday, June 6, 2016

Waterford, NY to Mechanicville, NY

Miles Traveled 9.03
Total Miles Traveled 4579
Day 270

This may be one of our shortest cruising days since we started the loop.  We had new loopers arrive at the dock late yesterday and this morning, “Summertime”, Willy Nilly III”,  “Avocet”, and “Still Waters II”.  There was also another looper, but I didn’t get their boat card, and one of the crew had a boat at the Light House Marina, Grand Rivers, KY., close to our home port.  We went to breakfast with “Willy Nilly III”, then headed north on the Hudson River.

The Champlain Canal is a 60-mile canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River.  The canal was officially open in 1823 and includes 12 locks which reach a maximum lift of about 140 feet above sea level.

We only passed one boat this morning, shortly before Lock 1, when I called the lockmaster, he had the lock doors open waiting for us.  After a 14 foot lift, the lockmaster came out to check our permit and said he would call Lock 2 and tell them we were on our way.  After a short 4 mile cruise, we were at Lock 2.

This is our approach to Lock 2, the overflow dam on the right, the lock in the middle, and the hydro-power plant on the left.  The original hydro-electric power generators from nearly 100 years ago are still generating electricity at this facility. 




We only traveled 2 miles to stop just before Lock 3, at Mechanicville, NY.  This is a very boater friendly town that provides a long wall to tie boats to and provides water, electric, very nice restrooms and showers, holding tank pump-out, and it’s all free, my favorite four letter word!  There is room for at least 5 or 6 boats here and a short walk to town.  The town name is derived from the occupations of early residents.

We walked to town and found a local sports bar “The End Zone” which served an awesome homemade pizza.  We stopped at the Dollar General and Rite Aid Pharmacy on the way back, then kicked back on the boat and watched the river pass by.  Another great day on America’s Great Loop! 


2 comments:

Unknown said...

Glad every thing is going so smoothly. And "free" sounds good. I think all the rain soaked in yesterday. We have no standing water. Mommy

Unknown said...

Glad every thing is going so smoothly. And "free" sounds good. I think all the rain soaked in yesterday. We have no standing water. Mommy