Amsterdam Guy Park Free Wall Lock 11

We chuckle about all the exotic names of places we've been to on this journey; Cuba, Havana, Brunswick, Dunkirk, Ottawa, and Melbourne to name a few. Today we're headed for Amsterdam. It is cloudy and overcast with rain all around us but we make way in spite of this. We are a bit concerned about the possibility of the locks closing again so we want to keep moving whenever possible. 

Train Bridge Ahead

Idler and Osimo follow Mystic out of the lock

Lock and dam ahead

Waiting for an east bound boat to leave the lock chamber

There are two options for docking in Amsterdam. The Riverlink Park has Saturday night concerts in the amphitheater so we planned to stay there. We were happy to pay $1/foot for the opportunity to listen to music in the park but the concert was canceled due to weather. 

Idler was at the Riverlink dock when we arrived. Captain Skip, decided to stay put. We chose our second option, the Guy Park free wall which was only a short distance past Lock 11. Before we left, we met a local teenager trying to fish off the dock. He was having trouble with his rod and reel. Dave helped him get it working. He was so sweet, thanking Dave for making his day! One of our favorite experiences on the loop is connecting with locals. 

On our way to Guy Park, we passed under a bridge that had been turned into a walking garden. It looked lovely from the waterway so we decided to walk back to see it.

The Garden Bridge behind Mystic

There was only one boat on the Guy Park wall when we arrived. It didn't take long for the empty spots to fill. Before dark, three powerboats and three sailboats lined up and settled in. A huge ketch, was heading east on the canal. The two men on board told us they made it through the low spot between Locks 29 and 30 by being pulled through the mud by Tow Boat US. They said they hit a few rocks along the way but it was the only way for deep draft boats to pass this area. The water level was kept at 5 feet here while a collapsed retaining wall was being repaired. This is far to shallow for Mystic to pass through and there is no way we'd agree to being dragged. We simply accepted the reality that we would be delayed at the low spot.

The Bug Factory

Our view at Guy Park

Canal neighbors

Talking to family at the Amsterdam Wall

Osimo in front of Lock & Dam 11 at Guy Park

Lock 11 Dam

We set off on foot back toward Riverlink Park to find the bridge called the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook. Our course took us through a very rough part of town along the river. The garden bridge was not easy to reach. Maps sent us behind Ace Hardware to a corridor leading to the top of a parking garage and then over the highway and river. It was very high up which I didn't like much. My sea legs caused issues with perspective. I couldn't find anything to look at that made me feel grounded.

The trail behind Ace Hardware

Boldly walking over the high bridge

Once we crossed the river, we walked down a two story stairway to the park. There is a re-creation of a famous Mohawk Indian rock painting and a 911 memorial in the park. There are two impressive sculptures by Dimitar Lukanov, one called DreamRiver, the other Mother and Child. We enjoyed the beauty and history preserved here. It is a quiet, reflective place to visit and a wonderful way to use a  bridge no longer in service for vehicles.

High walkway and stairway down to Riverlink Park

The Painted Rocks - A recreation of a famous
Mohawk Indian Rock Painting - by Alice Manzi

911 Memorial - Amsterdam connection

World Trade Center remnant from 911

Click here for details about the 911 Memorial 

at Riverlink Park in Amsterdam, NY

There were beautiful flowers all across the bridge

Amsterdam garden bridge

DreamRiver

Fascinating sculpture

Story Mark - Living, Moving, Working, Renewing

The Wheel of Life

Flowers overlooking the Erie Canal

Mother and Child by Dimitar Lukannov

We took a safer way back to Guy Park by walking just a few blocks away from the river. The neighborhood had huge houses, some in disrepair, others well maintained. We passed a waterfall that literally flowed under the city streets. It was a lovely walk back.

We'd had a long day with a rough time in the locks. Lots of turbulence and debris made us work hard to secure our boats. Mystic is taking a beating and wears a muddy Mohawk River cloak on her once pristine hull. She's also covered in spiders! The Lock Masters work with us to make sure we are safely secured in the chamber but it can be a daunting experience at times. Many days we arrive at our destination exhausted, battered and bruised. We take it all in stride and forge onward to our next destination. All of it is part of the adventure!