As you can tell by the tardiness of this post have been having focus issues. I will carry n though! Our last leg of the Erie Canal was the section we had already done so we knew where to go and what to expect. Yet at the same time the adventure of “first times” was behind.

None the less we set off across Lake Oneida towards Sylvan Beach on a bright Sunday morning. We actually wanted to get across th Lake and through Sylvan Beach before the party crowd awoke the “excitement” started all over again.

Another lock, another day…..

Our first stop was Little Falls, NY. A nice little town with a good grocery store so a walk was in order to restock.

Every so far along the canal they have these HUGE gates. I have to assume in a catastrophic failure they would drop these so as not to drain the entire canal into someone’s valuable farmland.

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Departing Little Falls our first Lock is number #17. It is the tallest lock on the canal and just over a 40foot lift. Its is pretty impressive to enter from the bottom. The picture does not do it justice when you look up those walls!

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Flags at half staff for Sen John McCains passing…..what a great man and example.

Next stop was the famous town of Canajoharie NY. Try and say that fast three times…does anyone remember what famous company was started here….to the over achievers will remember…Beech-Nut.

Magnolia moored on the Canajoharie waterfront

Departing the next morning it was ‘kinda” foggy out…Magnolia/Gibbs Rule #39…if its foggy at the dock, it going to be foggier at the first lock. When the lock master asked where we were I answered right out front!!!

Our greatest fear….approaching the next lock we were informed the lock was not functioning…we asked the tender if we should stand-off or tie up…he replied “Better Tie Up.” After getting Magnolia settled I walked up and asked the repair crew if we should start splitting firewood for winter or lunch…they suggested we start with lunch….in an hour or so we were back on our way…last thing we wanted to do was get stuck in a lock for the winter…scares me to think about!!!

Our last stop on the Erie was actually a place we had not stopped called Scotia NY.

It turned out Wednesday nights is free music night in the park…next to where we docked. We could listen in the park or on the boat, we went with the whole experience and headed to the park. A really terrific evening.

Our last day on the Canal was terrific weather day. We encountered a number of crew boats. Every team wanted us to blow the horn…people really like boat horns!

One of the last…..

 

The last…well almost. This is the last Erie Canal lock…Lock #1 is actually on the Hudson and operated by the Army Corp Of Engineers.

We stopped and stayed in Waterford, NY for a couple days at their waterfront welcome center. A nice place to be….

The welcome center projects a movie onto the wall of a bridge at the center each week. We scored and could not help but be reminded of my friend Jack Tennar…one of the greatest western fans I have ever known.

Departing Waterford and the Erie Canal was kind of sad. This summer was an amazing adventure and not sure when we will be back . Going through the Troy Federal Lock (lock #1) though was a great feeling. We transited 105 locks this summer which I can assure you is too many for one season…next time we will figure something else out!!!

Passing Albany NY as we head south on the Hudson.

We did see another Kadey Krogen anchored along the Hudson. We took the time to head over and say hello.

I think they were afraid we were going to raft up and they put out fenders!

We returned to one of the most protected and favorite stops for us..Roundout Creek at Kingston NY

We are FINALLY back at anchor but we are missing Kindred Spirit. Our friends Al & Michele traveled this far with us in June. It was lovely and lonely this time.

With hurricane Flo churning away in the Atlantic this is looking like a good place to be….