Spending Time in Waterford

Okay, it's been a while since I posted to our blog. Sorry, there just isn't enough time in the day sometimes! Anyway, here goes!

We left Norrie's State Park Marina early Saturday morning in the sunshine. After the storm, we were really glad to see it. We still can't get over just how pretty the area around the Hudson River is. We are seeing a lot of history. After all, a lot of the houses we are seeing date back to the 1600s.

We planned to stay at a free dock along the way, but they became a little hard to find. However, we were told about a nice anchorage in Schodack Creek just below Houghtaling Island. The river was rather narrow but we had plenty of water if you stayed in the channel. Jeremiah anchored with us. It turns out that the small marina we passed (The Hook) was having a fundraiser and selling chicken to go. Of course, that ended at 4:00 but that didn't detour Mike and Jeff. They went up there about 6:00 p.m. in the dinghy to see if there was anything left. They came back with enough to feed all four of us. It was good too! We didn't have to cook! What a great anchorage. Ha!

We were up early the next day and ready to go. Our destination was Troy, NY. This is the last stop before the first Lock. We knew there was a wall there to tie up to. When we did get there, a couple of boats that had been traveling with Jeremiah earlier were just leaving. They were heading through the lock to Waterford. The wall in Waterford is free. Rich and Lyn of "Goofin Off" live in the Troy/Waterford area. They had just completed the Loop a few days ago. They were here now to help out any Loopers with supplies, etc. They invited us along with the other Loopers to join them for a cookout at their local marina. They made us feel right at home. While we were there, we saw the twin to NautiNell. Mike and I talked to the owners. They had sold everything and were living on the boat at the marina with their five year old granddaughter. They really had the boat fixed up nice. Gave me some ideas!!

The next day we locked through to Waterford. This lock is called the Federal Lock or Lock #1. It only lifts you about 15 feet. It was a good one to start on. Mike and I have been through several locks before on the Arkansas River, etc., however, never with a boat this size. It is quite different! Anyway, we had no problems and soon we were at Waterford. The wall was full however, so we rafted up to Jeremiah for a while until a space became available. It wasn't long and we were tied up to the wall and ready to check things out. Waterford is a neat little town. There is a Visitors Center right here at the dock. There are several restaurants nearby, a grocery store, laundry and hardware store. Everything that a Looper could want! Oh, and the docking is free! They say that you are supposed to only stay 48 hours, but it isn't enforced. They do ask for a donation of ten dollars a night for after the first 48 hours. Not bad!!

Rich was back early in the morning running the guys to the hardware store, West Marine and anywhere else they needed to go. It rained off and on, but didn't dampen anyone's spirits. The first night we all ate at McGruveys. (Jeremiah, SeaMoore, Dream Catcher and NautiNell). The food was great! We really haven't had a bad experience yet at any place we've eaten. McGruveys had a waitress there that had majored in theater. She was quite a hoot!

We ended up spending four nights at Waterford. It kept raining just enough that none of us wanted to start locking through. After all, the docking price was right! One day, Linda, Becky and I went to the grocery store. It was about a half mile away. The store allows you to push their cart back to the dock. They pick them all back up on Saturdays! The one funny thing is you have to tell them so they can disengage the locking system they have on the carts. If you try to push the cart past a certain place on the parking lot, it just locks up. It's kind of like an invisible fence for dogs. Only it doesn't shock you! We laughed so much coming back to the boat. We knew we surely looked like three bag ladies! What Loopers will do!

While we were there at Waterford, Mike decided to install a new stereo up in the bridge. That, of course, pretty much took up one full day. It sounds great though! (Once he walked back to the hardware store in the rain to get an antenna!).

While we were there, Sweet Pea made it to Waterford. They rafted up with us until there was a spot open. It was good to see Jim and Dale again.

Our last night at Waterford, we ate at the Angry Penguin. The owners wanted to name it Drunken Penguin but the town wouldn't let them. Hence, they named it "Angry" Penguin. It's a bar and grill with really good food. The night we were there, they were having a Texas Hold'em tournament.

Early Friday morning it was starting to clear up so we changed our plans rather quickly and headed through the Erie Canal. We had planned to stay one more day, but Mike decided to go along with the others. Off we went! More than "Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal"!!

The first lock (#2) only lifts again about 35 feet. It was a short ride. Just as we pulled out of that lock, there was #3! Here we go again! We did that for two hours – locking through five locks in two hours! That was a little tiring! Lock #7 was a little farther down so we got a very short break. These locks seem smaller than the ones on the Arkansas. Mike thinks they are. It may be that our boats are larger than in the past! There were five boats locking through on Lock #8. It was pretty hectic. This lock only had ropes to hold on to. No cables to tie off to! The wind was blowing against us and it was all we could do to keep NautiNell close to the wall. Not much fun!

Just above Lock #8 there was a wall we all could tie up to. We decided this would be a great place to spend the night. It was only 3:30 in the afternoon, but we didn't want to venture much farther and cut into happy hour! LOL! Anyway, we gathered on SeaMoore and told lots of stories.

Tomorrow would come soon enough!

Till next time!

Admiral "C"