6/19/2011 LITTLE FALLS TO UTICA MARINA

SUNDAY                          HOPE ALL YOU FATHERS HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 18 NM

DOCKED AT:     UTICA MARINA ($1.00/FOOT WITH W&P)

                            UTICA, NY

SUNRISE: 5:18          SUNSET: 8:37

HIGH:   77                  LOW: 52

TODAY’S LOCKS: 2

     1. LOCK E18      20’ LIFT      JACKSONBURG      12 MILES TO E19

     2. LOCK E19      21’ LIFT      FRANKFORT           10.28 MILES TO E20

With nowhere to go fast, our day started late. After passing through Lock E18 we found this little bass boat waiting its turn to lock down. Although the canal was originally constructed to expedite the transportation of products on barges, recreational boaters make up the major traffic. We have seen everything from tour boats to cruisers to kayaks and canoes being transported through the locks.

          LOCK E18

THE BASS BOAT WAITS HIS TURN IN THE LOCK

The approach to Lock E19 was immediately preceded by this big old train bridge, behind which we patiently waited while a boat locking down to complete its journey. We followed the sailboat Magic into the lock then Trident snuggled in behind us. It has been a long time since we have had a “crowd” locking with us.

 

        LOCK E 19

Our 18 mile journey was done early as we docked at the Utica Marina. Dan got the bikes down and we took a spin around the downtown area. Some of the old buildings were simply breathtaking. Could we possibly duplicate this intricate work today?

GOLDEN DOMMED BANK BUILDING

THE BEAUTIFUL OLD STANLEY THEATER AND DAN AT THE
"DRIVE UP" ATM AT CITIZENS BANK

INTRICATE BRICK WORK ON THE PAUL BUILDING

THE LAW LIBRARY SPORTS CONTRASTING ACCENTS AROUND
ITS WINDOWS AND DOORS

THE TOWERING CHURCH STEEPLE DWARFS
THE WEDDING PARTY AT HER DOORS

THE UTICA TRAIN STATION

While waiting for Craig and Alexis Porter to arrive for a few days on the Erie Canal, this magnificent boat cruised right past the Quest. The 126’ Cangarda was built in 1901 and is the last surviving steam yacht in the US. She was refurbished from 2004 to 2008 and totally re-varnished this past winter in Main. This beauty is currently owned by Robert McNeil.

THE BEAUTIFUL CANGARDA SLIPS PAST

DAN AND CRAIG AFTER THEIR FATHERS DAY DINNER
AT AQUA VINO, OVERLOOKING QUEST

6/18/2011 AMSTERDAM TO CANAL HARBOR IN LITTLE FALLS, NY

SATURDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 37 NM

DOCKED AT:      CANAL HARBOR    315-823-2200    ($1.00/FT, POWER AND WATER)

                             LITTLE FALLS, NY

SUNRISE: 5:16          SUNSET: 8:36

HIGH: 83                    LOW: 63

TOTAL LOCKS TODAY: 7

     1. LOCK E11      12‘ LIFT     AMSTERDAM       4.57 MILES TO E12

     2. LOCK E12      11‘ LIFT     TRIBES HILL         9.68 MILES TO E13

     3. LOCK E13      08’ LIFT     RANDALL            7.9 MILES TO E14

     4. LOCK E14      08’ LIFT     CANAJOHARIE   3.35 MILES TO E15

     5. LOCK E15      08’ LIFT     FORT PLAIN        6.71 MILES TO E16

     6. LOCK E16      20’ LIFT     MINDENVILLE    7.77 MILES TO E17

     7. LOCK E18     40.5’ LIFT   LITTLE FALLS     4.19 MILES TO E 18

After leaving our dock in Amsterdam, the original home of Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Mills, we had soon transited through Lock E11 and catching a glimpse of the old lock and canal to our port side.








  LOCK E11
     

EVIDENCE OF THE OLD CANAL WAY

At lock E12 we found them sandblasting on the bridge and superstructure. Always maintenance!! Dan was happy to find that the Fonda Dirt Oval Racetrack was visible from the Quest. He and Kevin Rooney made the trip here one year to see the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Race.








  LOCK E12
               

FONDA DIRT OVAL RACETRACK

Repairs were in progress at Lock E13. They fabricated a temporary dam on the “up-side” to hold the waters back as they mended the old, ailing dam.

LOCK E13 WITH THE TEMPORARY DAM AND WORK BARGE TO THE LEFT

We enjoyed the verdant banks, balmy weather and an occasional sighting of I-90 as we traveled the 7.9 miles to Lock E14. Lock E14 and E15 have a lift of only 8’ so we were quickly done with both and onto E16 in Mindenville where we locked up 20.5’. This lock kindly reminded us to prepare for Lock E16 by having lines and fenders on our port side due to the reversed water inlets.

 LOCK E 14

 LOCK E15

 

LOCK E16

MAKE READY FOR YOUR NEXT LOCK!!!

With our port-side fenders and lines in place we entered Lock E17, the largest single lift in this canal system at 40.5’.

 

NOTE THE UNIQUE GUILLOTINE TYPE DOOR

LOOKING BACK UP AT THE LOWERING APPARATUS

Along the canal in Little Falls we found houses clinging to their precarious perches.  just one good wind-! Canal Harbor here in Little Falls was our night’s destination and we were pleased to find their clean facilities and hospitable staff awaiting our arrival. The high school graduation party being held there was a pleasant evening diversion.

AN OMINOUS FUTURE COULD BE PREDICTED FOR THESE
OLD HOMES PERCHED ON THE HILL SIDE.
OR MAYBE NOT, LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR AGES

LITTLE FALLS CHANEL  HARBOR WITH QUEST AT THE DOCK
AND THE PURPLE PARTY TENT FOR THE GRADUATION PARTY

6/17/2011 DOCK AT LOCK E7 TO RIVERLINK PARK IN AMSTERDAM, NY

FRIDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 22 NM

DOCKED AT:      RIVERLINK PARK ($1.00/FOOT WITH POWER)

                             AMSTERDAM, NY

SUNRISE: 5:16    SUNSET: 8:35

HIGH: 74              LOW: 63

TODAY’S ERIE CANAL LOCKS: 3

     1. LOCK E8 14‘ LIFT      4.82 MILES TO E9      GLENVILLE

     2. LOCK E9 15’ LIFT      6.16 MILES TO E10     ROTTERDAM

     3. LOCK E10 15’ LIFT    4.05 TO 311                 CRANESVILLE

We dawdled around this morning and it was noon before we untied and headed for Lock E8, 10.83 miles further west. Evidence of the original Erie Canal runs parallel to the new in some sections and we were able to see remnants of the old stone docks and aqueducts either hiding just under the water’s surface or just peeking out.

In Rexford we caught sight of Llenroc (Cornell backwards). This the 5 story, 34 room (including 10 baths) mansion boast 15 fireplaces, an indoor pool in the shape of a sailboat, ceilings gilded in 24-karat gold, underground parking for 20 and a helicopter pad. Holy cow!!!

LLENROC MANSION

We had to wait a bit for Lock E8 as they were doing some work on it. This is one of several locks with a moveable dam. The bridge-like superstructure allows the floodgates to be raised in the winter to allow ice to pass freely.

LOCK E8 WITH ITS  BRIDGE-LIKE SUPERSTRUCTURE AND MOVEABLE DAM

The landscape was diverse as passed rocky cliffs, sloping farmlands, freeways and railroad tracks adjacent to the canal.

THE ROCKY WILD

THEN CIVILIZATION APPEARS WITH A FLASH

At Lock E9 we lifted 15 feet then moved on to Lock E10 where we took refuse from a thunderstorm before continuing on.

LOCK E9

YEP, THAT IS RAIN, AND LOTS OF IT, AS WE APPROACH LOCK E10

LOCK E10 ALSO HAS A MOVEABLE DAM

LOCK E10 FACTS

We docked at the nice Riverlink Park, dined in and watched the movie Master and Commander before retiring for the night. The nearby railroad tracks didn’t disrupt our sleep nearly as much as I had anticipated.

RIVERLINK PARK IN AMSTERDAM

6/16/2011 WATERFORD, THROUGH LOCKS E2-E7 ON THE ERIE CANAL TO DOCK AT LOCK 7

THURSDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 11 NM

DOCKED AT:   LOCK 7 WALL ON THE ERIE CANAL
                          3 MILES FROM THE ALBANY AIRPORT AND 4 MILES FROM SCHENECTADY

HERE WE ARE AT LOCK E7

SUNRISE: 5:16      SUNSET: 8:35

HIGH: 87               LOW: 57

TODAY’S LOCK TRANSITS:

     1. LOCK E2    33.6’ LIFT        .28 MILES TO E3

     2. LOCK E3    34.5’ LIFT        .62 MILES TO E4

     3. LOCK E4    34.5’ LIFT       .16 MILES TO E5

     4. LOCK E5    33.25’ LIFT    .28 MILES TO E6

     5. LOCK E6    33’ LIFT    10.83 MILES TO E7

     6. LOCK E7    27’ LIFT    10.83 MILES TO E8 (NOT TRAVELED TODAY)

This was a busy day for the Quest and its crew. First, we all walked back to Don and Paul’s for our $1.75 breakfast then made ready for our first day on the Erie Canal. We got the mast lowered, the pump-out completed, all the bumpers attached and made sure the necessary lines were ready.

This engineering marvel was first opened in 1825 after eight years of construction and without employing a single professional engineer. This culmination of Governor Dewitt Clinton’s dream linked the Western States to the Atlantic and marked the beginning of New York City’s prosperous reign. The Erie Canal extends 363 miles from Waterford on the Hudson to Tonawanda on the Niagara River, lifting 676 feet.

Locks E2 through E6 are known as the Waterford Flight, a series of five locks that lift the boats the greatest height in the shortest distance. The 169’ lift occurs in about 1.5 miles and takes about 2 hours. We entered Lock E2 (Remember the Troy Lock is Lock 1) with much excitement and anticipation of the day ahead. Alyssa and Bethany perched themselves on the forward deck, Mark manned the aft lines and I was ready with the bow lines while Dan manned the helm. Just like a fine tuned machine we executed our duties. Dan and I reminisced about how intimidating our first locks were last year. What a difference a year and lots of lock experience can make.

LOCK E2 AT WATERFORD

ALYSSA AND BETHANY ARE POISED AND READY

ENTERING LOCK E3

After exiting E2 we passed the Peckinpaugh, the last remaining of 150 canal vessels (they doesn’t need a tug) built in the 1920s to maximize the newly enlarged locks then safely passed under the low train bridge that Dan measured yesterday. Lock E3 was dead ahead and our passage was flawless.

THE PECKINPAUGH AND THE LOW TRAIN BRIDGE THAT
US TO LOWER THE MAST

LOCK E3

Immediately above E3 we saw the working terminal where the tugs, barges and dredges are maintained. Many of these working vessels are well over 50 years old. How about these two wooden beauties?

BEAUTIFUL OLD WOODEN TUGS STATIONED AT THE WORKING TERMINAL

In Lock E4 we loved the “water flower” that the water made as it burst from its constraint. Lock E5, only .16 miles away, could be clearly be seen before we even exited.

LOCK E4

"WATER FLOWER"

EXITING E4, ONLY TO JUMP RIGHT IN E5

LOCK E5

In Lock E6 we were joined by a transiting turtle. After seeing us through this lock, the lock tender had to jump in his vehicle and rush to the safety flood gates to allow our continued passage.

LOCK E6

OUR LOCK E6 COMPANION

THE FLOOD GATE OPENS FOR QUEST

We were soon traveling under the familiar Twin Bridges (aka the Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge) that spans the Mohawk River on Highway 87 between exits 8 and 7. We always pass over this bridge going to or from the Albany International Airport and often comment on how lovely it would be to travel on those serene waters below. Well, here we are!

THE TWIN BRIDGES THAT BRING YOU INTO ALBANY

E7 was to be our final lock of the day. We locked through and tied to their approach wall for the night. The girls got to fish (not catch) and Bethany accidentally took a little dip in the waters while playing on the swim step. No harm, no foul, just wet! After lunch and play time, Mark and the girls got a taxi to transport them back to their truck at Waterford and their day on the Erie Canal came to an end. The girls will have lots to report on their last day of school.

LOCK E7

ALYSSA TENDING THE BOW LINES

MARK HAS THE STERN LINE AND BETHANY IS KEEPING US OFF THE LOCK WALL

WE DOCKED FOR THE NIGHT RIGHT ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS DOCK

FISHING TIME

SO LONG!