We get up early and say good by to Donovan’s Shady Harbor. A good place with great people. As we get ready to leave, the sunrise is really pretty and there is some mist hovering just over the water. Looks like today will be a good day for travel.
We went under quite a few bridges today and these two were my favorites. The architecture is very interesting.
We travel, maybe an hour or so, and see Albany in the distance. It looks like a really pretty city. I didn’t know that Albany wasn’t New York’s first capital. In fact New York has had several capitals. The capital bounced around the cities of Albany, Kingston, the city of New York and Poughkeepsie. They finally made their minds up on 1797 and made Albany the permanent state capital. The boat is the USS Slater, from the US Park Service “The USS Slater, docked on the Albany waterfront, is the only World War II-era destroyer escort still afloat and the only one in existence with its original battle armament. Launched in 1944 and named after Alabama sailor Frank O. Slater, killed during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, the Slater saw service in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during World War II.”
Can you say Erie Canal??? At last we get to start our trek through the Erie Canal which is celebrating it’s 200th year Anniversary.
We went through 7 locks today starting in Troy that what was originally called lock 1. The lock in Troy is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers not the New York Canal system. The locks themselves are actually pretty hot and grimy. To protect your boat you need to have these big fenders. The ropes are used to hold the boat still when they fill or empty the lock. Because of the water pressure and current when they fill or empty the lock, you have to keep a pretty good hold on the line to make sure your boat doesn’t just float around the lock and get damaged or damage someone else’s boat.
The canal itself, for the most part, is pretty and a little boring. However there are other parts that are just absolutely stunning. The canal has a lot of small communities with really pretty houses.
We make it to Schenectady, get settled and find a place to eat right behind the marina. The food is pretty good and we’re very pooped. With full tummies, it’s time to head back to the boat and relax. We’ll stay here at least until Sunday.
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