Going
Up
Erie
Lock 8 Wall
Today
was cool and overcast when we woke up...a sweatshirt day. Stan went back to
Don & Paul's for breakfast while I sat on the flybridge and had my coffee.
The lock was busier this morning, boats of all sizes were locking up. Several
boats from the wall left this morning, so we decided to wait until after lunch
and have a short day. We didn't want to get bunched up with a lot of other
boats. There are speed limits on most of the canal and limited space in each lock...Gallivant and The Pearl were joined in the lock by a catamaran.
We
went through seven locks (211' up) today, the first five are known as the Waterford Flight
and must be done all at once. “The Waterford Flight” is a set of five locks,
built in 1907, which raise watercraft 170 feet in a mile and a half. It raises boats from the Hudson River at Erie
Lock 2 to the Mohawk River at Erie Lock 6. This is the greatest lift in the
shortest distance on any canal system in the world. These five locks are
necessary to navigate around the Cohoes Falls. Lock 2 in Waterford harbor is
the most visited lock on the Erie Canal, but lock 4 provides the most scenic
perspectives of open spaces including both sides of the Hudson River Valley where
the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers converge. The American Society Of Civil Engineers
has named the flight of locks as a significant historic civil engineering
landmark, because of their innovative design and protective gates.
Most of the locks
have free walls you can stay on at night, some offer water and electricity. We
are on the wall just past lock 8, nothing fancy here, but an easy tie up and
the Lock Master was very friendly. We visited with Pam and Donny for a while;
making plans for tomorrow and then we had dinner onboard.
The Pearl in Lock E2
Lock E5The view from the top of Lock E6...most of the views were wonderful, but there wasn't time to take pictures.
Scenery around Schenectady, NY
Gallivant coming into Lock 8
Hello!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Katie (though I don't think I mentioned that) and I just met you in Canajoharie. I hope you enjoy your stay and get to visit some of the local restaurants/bars/shops and (if the weather isn't too hot) Wintergreen! Enjoy our little town and share your fun findings with your friends along the way!