July 13th 2016
Marina One – Warterford, NY
So much happened after writing yesterday’s blog. First I met the Captain of the Twin Engine Pontoon Boat. He is a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP for short) employee and he explained why the twin engines; Redundancy. Redundancy is needed when working alongside the Damns he explained. I have to agree with that statement. Hell, do they make a triple engine Pontoon boat? He said he was giving a tour to some Engineers doing a plant study. So they weren’t taking soil samples, but plant samples. He did tell me how busy this area was with all the dredging taking place last year.
I also met a man walking his dog. He told me about a trail that would lead me to the Falls on the Hoosick River right before it enters the Hudson. I headed off to find it and discovered a wonderful spot to wash up in the cleaner Hoosick River. I had been approaching the waters edge, when I came within 5’ of a Deer grazing by the water. I stopped as soon as I spotted her and she never saw me until the last second. When she finally looked up and saw me, I thin I gave her a heart attack. She ran so fast, I felt bad.
I got into the water only to discover I was not alone here. A River Otter was swimming in circles around me. He’d swim by in an arc just out from me and then go under the water as he swam right by me and then repeat the act. I hadn’t brought my camera with me so I finished washing up and walked back to get it. Upon returning again, I realized that he was living right on the shore I was entering. No wonder he was swimming circles around me. This time though, he stayed further away from me.
I went back to camp and waited for the sun to set and for things to cool off. They never really did, but I drifted off to sleep as people placed flowers on the bridge in the distance in memory of the young boy’s life that was lost this day. While I waited, I entertained myself by watching Ant’s do a dance as they scooped up some tuna fish I dropped while others circled around a meal.
The Lucy H barge never came through last night and I awoke, made breakfast and broke camp. I was the first boat through Lock 4 and then headed south toward the big NYSEG Hydro Dam next to Lock 3. The Lockmaster had told me that the dam draws so much water for its power usage that one can not anchor in the waters above the dam overnight as the Hydro Dam can lower the lake level considerably leaving you on the hard.
Passing through Lock 3 and then Lock 2 came quickly. Now only one more Lock was in my path on the Champlain canal, but I won’t be going through Lock 1 today. When I reached Lock 1 Marina just before Lock 1, I turned in and chatted with the owners daughter as I awaited Arlene’s arrival here. I was also awaiting my friend’s Tom and Mary as well as an old Elementary School friend Pete Bardunias who is now the Chamber of Commerce President/CEO here in Southern Saratoga. Small World, right?
The Chamber of Commerce helped get Arlene and I a room for the evening at the Scottish Inn in town. The owners of the hotel provided us with a free room for the evening and I have to say, it was quite nice thinking about a real bed and hot shower after 12 days washing up in the lake. The room was clean, comfortable and nicely updated. After checking into the hotel and taking a nice shower, we headed back to the Marina to meet with Pete and my friends Tom and Mary at Marina One.
Passing Lock 1, I had Arlene go down there and she got to see it in operation as well as I for I had only seen it from the water level and never got to watch them actually operate it from above. The technology is old. Just gates and valves though some have new hydraulics on the doors. It is quite remarkable to watch and I encourage anyone with kids to bring them out to the locks for an afternoon. Most have picnic grounds right on site so you can make a day of it and the boats that pass through, well let’s just say, they are a sight.
We headed off to dinner at McGreivey’s in Warterford. I was so looking forward to eating in A/C only to find out theirs was not working, uggh! After dinner, we all took a walk down at the waterfront where the Champlain Canal, Erie Canal and the Hudson meet. Unlike the Champlain Canal, which I believe the larges lift I went through was on Lock 3 at 19.5’, the Erie Canal has a 40’ tall lift and many 33’ tall lifts. The waterfront was full of boats anchored at the city Dock Wall. For those that don’t know, most City Dock Walls are free to park your boat at for up to 48 hours and include water and electric. They also provide free bathroom and showers. Another perk many New Yorker’s are not taking advantage of. I’ve now camped at two City Docks and looking forward to more. Before the night was over, I ran into Mary’s sister and husband at the waterfront. They could not make it down for dinner, but we got to spend some time with them.
Well, tomorrow I am in for some bad weather and I am also waiting to hear from Ch 13 News to see if they will be covering me entering the last Lock on the Champlain canal. After that lock, I have one Federal Lock and then I won’t see another lock for a long time.
Day 12 Done
Enjoy the pictures
