May 24

From Waterford NY (just north of Albany to Amsterdam Ny (Mohawk River) 35 miles

Short post today because it was a long day and 2nd because I am tried after a long day.


We jumped out of bed at 6 so to be in the first locked up river this morning.  That plan worked.  From Waterford there is a step of 5 lock all very high walls.  Then we did another 5 locks over the next 30 miles of river.  


The locks are strange to me as I can keep the boat running and need only grab the front rope then hold the boat onto the wall with the thrusters.  Normally Dianne and I would grab a rope each me through the front window and Dianne through over the back.  But all locks were easy and we had little problems.  Only one lock had a lot of debris floating at the entrance and strong currents and a narrow entrance.  However this tug handled all well and we had no problems.  


Once past the last lock we tied up to a free wall.  Meet a nice couple out of St. Louis who used to sail and crossed the both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in sail boats.  They have been living aboard a boat for over 6 years now.  Covered up and down the eastern Seaboard 20 times.  We visited then went to dinner with them very good time lots of stories and information I picked up was invaluable.   So thanks very much to Steve and Mel.


Seen today

  • 2 two small tow boats
  • 1 tow boat picking up trees floating in the river
  • 4 Kayaks 
  • 9 boats cruising like us
  • 4 fishing boats
  • 7 trains
  • 10 locks
  • 6 dams
  • 9 bridges
  • 2 gates (these protect the locks from floods and ice,  think dams that could be raised and lowered)
  • 3 water towers
  • One family of geese that looked like a floating log.  





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