1-15 June 2005

1 - 15 June 2005

Tom's River, NJ to Brewerton, NY

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Great Loop Planning ] [ April 2005 ] [ 1-15 May 2005 ] [ 16-31 May 2005 ] [ 1-15 June 2005 ] [ 16-30 June 2005 ] [ 1-15 July 2005 ] [ 16-31 July 2005 ] [ 1-15 August 2005 ] [ 16-31 August 2005 ] [ 1-15 September 2005 ] [ 16-30 September 2005 ] [ 1-15 October 2005 ] [ 15-31 October 2005 ] [ 1-7 November 2005 ]
Date	Destination	Log and Pictures
6/1	Metedeconk River NJ	The water is very shallow and honestly took a good bit of attention from both of us to travel safely. Testing our skills!. We're almost done with the NJ ICW and the places we stopped were pleasant and full of friendly people. The dock at Tom's River was a good relaxing break. We couldn't leave until 2 pm today so we did a little work on the boat. Our spirits brightened once underway when we heard the familiar call sign "Pilgrim" on the radio. We had started the trip in tandem with Kathy and Ross on Pilgrim. Having taken the outside route from Cape May they caught up to us and we happily arranged to join them at an anchorage in Metedeconk River. Also at the anchorage when we arrived were Dick and Gayle aboard StarSong who we first met back in Beaufort SC at the start of the trip. We all got together on Pilgrim for drinks and some sea stories.
			Ross and Kathy from Pilgrim at left. Barny with Dick and Gayle from StarSong at right.
6/2	New York, NY	Underway in formation with StarSong, Pilgrim, and Apolonia at 7:30 am we headed for the Atlantic Ocean and New York. The day was overcast but the seas were less than 1 foot so we had an easy passage. Although I'd never live there, seeing the Statue of Liberty and the sky line coming into the harbor was amazing. StarSong continued north up the Hudson. Pilgrim and Apolonia anchored at Liberty State park at 2 pm, just below the Statue of Liberty for the evening.
6/3	Haverstraw, NY	Barny and I took a tour of the Statue of Liberty, returning at noon to get underway for the start of the trip up the Hudson. Both of us have been to many ports in the world in our Navy careers and we rate this as one of the most amazing from the water. You see it all here, even a Concord sitting on a barge in the river. It must be a tourist attraction.

		We anchored this evening at Haverstraw Bay with a large park nearby, full of geese. We called this the "Goose S---" anchorage as Durango loved rolling in the grass and goose s___, requiring Barny to give Durango a bath before he was allowed back aboard.
6/4	Island Landing, NJ	The morning began with an overcast sky and light rain, but slowly turned clear and hot. We relaxed, steaming through the deep water of the Hudson en route to Island Landing. The views, including West Point, were the best of the trip so far. The day ended moored at Mariner's Restaurant where we enjoyed cocktails with people from four boats doing the loop, and some great sea food at Mariner's Restaurant.

6/5	Murderer's Creek, NY	Continuing up the Hudson we are almost to Troy, 155 miles from New York where we will enter the Erie Canal. The first 60 miles of the Hudson are wide and deep, after that it narrows and we must stay in the channel as there are rock shoals on the shore. Points of interest along the route included Sing Sing, West Point, Vanderbilt's Mansion, the state capital of New York, Albany, homes it would take me a life time to buy, and some beautiful old lighthouses. Summer is finally here and we're enjoying sun and smooth seas.
6/6	Waterford NY	Underway at 11 am we made the last leg of the Hudson river trip that was a total of 155 miles from New York to Waterford NY. At the end of the day we passed through the Federal Lock on the Hudson, the only canal in the area operated by the Corp of Engineers. The picture below shows Pilgrim who locked through with us. A thunderstorm hit us just after existing the lock, with 40+ knot winds that lifted the front end of our 800 pound dinghy off its support. Luckily no damage and luckier still the storm only lasted 10 minutes. We are now moored at Waterford, a 1400' floating dock with water and electricity that is provided for free to boats on the New York Canal System. The canal system consists of several canals that were started in 1818. The Erie, that we will travel first, was completed in 1825. The total New York canal system encompasses over 500 miles and was successful in the late 1800s and early 1900s in opening commerce of the area to New York. Railroad development reduced the commerce on the canals in the early 1900s, and today the canal system is primarily used by pleasure craft.
					At left is Pilgrim tied by a line to a pole in the cement wall of the Federal Lock as the water rises us 14 feet. In the background at right is a view of the first Erie canal lock from the Waterford docks.
6/7	Waterford, NY	Stayed the day in Waterford to clean the boat, do laundry and set up the boat with fenders for the Erie canal and all its locks. We'll be doing 160 miles of the 341 mile Erie Canal, departing at Three Rivers to go north on the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario. At right is a view of a canal tour boat that passed today and the 1400' dock at Waterford.
6/8	Scotia, NY	Underway at 11 am we passed the first five locks of the Erie raising the boat 183 feet in 1.5 miles, the highest rise in the shortest distance of any lock system in the world. Four of the five locks each raised the boat over 30 feet. Later in the day we traveled two more locks and are now quietly tied up to a lock wall near Scotia NY, ready for the next day on the Erie. Here are some of the views along the way, as well as a shot of the top of a lock from the deck of the boat.

6/9	Amsterdam, NY	Easy trip to Amsterdam and tied up to lock 11 wall for evening. Town used to be full of clothing manufacturing, but now is a bit tired.
6/10	Canajohorie, NY	After checking out the Amsterdam museum, traveled two locks to Canajohorie, NY, a name that means the "bowl that washes itself." Most authentic old town we've seen to date and it provides great facilities for boaters, as can be seen by river park shown below. We are enjoying the beautiful Mohawk River that is the route of the Erie Canal here. The canal used to be a 4 foot deep, 12 foot wide canal next to the rivers that allowed mules to pull barges, but the system now mainly uses the local rivers with locks and dams to control water and allow boaters to move from the east coast to the mid west.

6/11	Canajohorie NY	Stayed the day to work on a broken air conditioner and check the charts for the next couple weeks travel. We also took a walk to the "bowl that washes itself," the Indian meaning for the name of the town. Along the way enjoyed some classic homes in the town.
6/12	Little Falls, NY	Easy trip to Little Falls, passing through several locks. Nr 17 lifted us 40 feet and was unique as the after lock door was raised over our head and did not swing open as is normal. John and Sharon Paddock stopped by for a visit, friends for over 30 years who live in the NY area.			Lock 17 with a sliding door	Holding the boat with lines as we're lifted 40 ft
6/13	Utica, NY	Having been joined by Ross and Kathy on Pilgrim at Little Falls, we were underway at 9 am after pumping out and quickly make the journey to Utica in company with Pilgrim. It is hot and humid in NY now -- temperatures over 95 -- and the locks, hot weather and travel got us ready for an early happy hour. We found the problem with the main air conditioner and have "jerry-rigged" it until we pick up the needed part on Wednesday. That was the good news. The bad news was our inverter stopped working. As it is only two months old and cost more than $1.24 I'm not a happy person. Forty minutes on the phone with Zantrex, the manufacturer, did no good. We'll try again tomorrow. Considering the two months we've been underway these two problems are relatively minor. We've got ice and happy hour has not been compromised. Let's hope the problems stay that way.
6/14	Sylvan Beach, NY	Underway at 9 am for Sylvan Beach NY thru 3 locks. Sylvan Beach is at the east end of Lake Oneida that we will transit tomorrow. We enjoyed a visit by John and Sharon Paddock, friends for many years. We ended the day with dinner aboard Pilgrim, great ribs cooked by Kathy in the crock pot as we traveled with them throughout the day. A storm last night somewhat cleared the oppressive 95 degree heat wave we've had for the last few day. It's now in the 80's and we're hoping for mid 70's soon.
				John and Sharon with Barny at left. The Sylvan Beach Park at right.
6/15	Brewerton NY	Mid 70 degree weather appears to be the order of the day now. The oppressive heat wave is over. We sailed across Lake Oneida and moored at Winter Harbor in Brewerton, received parts to repair both the mid cabin air conditioner and inverter. Fully back up we're enjoying a great dinner onboard. John Paddock stopped by for cocktails. We're looking forward to a visit from Lauren and Cynthia this Saturday in Oswego, NY.
				Home on the Oneida River in Brewerton NY at left and the last buoy on Lake Oneida at right.
[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Great Loop Planning ] [ April 2005 ] [ 1-15 May 2005 ] [ 16-31 May 2005 ] [ 1-15 June 2005 ] [ 16-30 June 2005 ] [ 1-15 July 2005 ] [ 16-31 July 2005 ] [ 1-15 August 2005 ] [ 16-31 August 2005 ] [ 1-15 September 2005 ] [ 16-30 September 2005 ] [ 1-15 October 2005 ] [ 15-31 October 2005 ] [ 1-7 November 2005 ]