The Erie Canal Adventure
on the
Sterling Lady
If you leave ATlantic City 2 hours before high tide, you will ride it all the way up! We did. Otherwise in spots it would be impassable for our 4 ft. plus draft.
Gotta remember to put sunblock on my feet!
We had an uneventful run to Manasquan, where in our $2.5O a foot fixed dock slip, we watched a herring gull skillfully devour a crab. He knew to only grab the crab by the back.
Up and out the inlet at dawn, and the wind and weather and tide God was with us!
Thank God!!!
The seas ,wind , and weather stayed with us for the 30 mile run off shore from Manasquan to New York. After 4 hours, we arrived.
New York Harbor is HUGE, and so are the ships!
Today there is a smog alert, and you can see it.
Dead ahead, Manhattan
Give you chills to see Lady Liberty up close and personal.
Ellis Island, where American life started for most all of us.
We wondered if this was the new World Trade Center??
Always lots of traffic and choppy rough water in the New York Area.
IN this day and age, are they stil hauling garbage out to sea to dump it???
The Empire State Building
Helocopters were everywhere, comming and going
The George Wasington Bridge, two levels and 17 lanes of traffic.
After New York, you don't think it can get any better.
But it does!!!!
May I present the Palisades!
And it only gets better!!
Looking back on New York. Wow!
Tonite we ancored off of Sing Sing, the prision.
Dropped the dinghy in the water, went to shore, and discovered this very local New York bar.
Thats us , anchored off Sing Sing Prision, luckily no prisoner escaped this evening.
The next Am, proved to be , as stated , even better.
Sadly, it's a cloudy day, these vistas are Post card views.
What can I say.??
Passing West Point, in all it's Glory.
No words will express, just enjoy!~!
These are not hills, they are friggin Mountains , and we are cruising thru them!!
As we passed West Point, they gave us a 5 cannon salute (Or maybe they were just shooting cannons)
(Just enjoy the view)
Commuter Trains run along both banks of the Hudson River.
Tonite we will sleep in Kingston New York , at anchor.
Heading down Roundout Creek to our anchorage for the nite. In Kingston, NY
Mountains are all around us.
Near Catskill Ny, this mountain vista is called the sleeping man, see him??
They gave tours of this light house.
I knew we were getting closer to the Erie, when this sailboat with a stepped (lowered) mast passed us. It won't be long now!!
Tonite we anchor in this chanel behind an island, safe and secure.
And now a word about trains. They are everywhere. Along both banks of the river, and running to and from NY all the time. Everywhere you anchor, every marina , is near a train. Some so near, you can feel the vibration.
This
7/9/2011
On our way for the quick 4 hour run to
Waterford NY, the beginning of the Erie Canal!!!
Passing Albany
Then the Troy Lock (haven't done this in a while)
Welcome to Waterford, Ny, the beginning of the Erie canal!!!
Waterford offers free dockage for two days, with electric and water, groceries, shopping, bars and restaurants. They know the value of cruisers to their economy.
In front of us the first lock of the Erie, lock 2 (don't ask)
That's us, first boat on the dock.
The sidewalk at the Welcome center is a map of the Erie canal.
Human and mule foot prints are in the concrete by lock number 2.
By the way, there is no lock number 1, it was eliminated.
Part of the original Erie Canal is being used as a water bypass in Waterford.
7/12/2011
We enter Lock 2, the first lock on the Erie Canal.
