Six Locks to Scotia

We'd been waiting for two days at Waterford, NY for the Erie Canal to open. July 15, word came out that the locks would open the next morning morning at 7:00 am. We were up and listening to channel 13 to see who would be first to lock through. The captain of the small sailboat Treasure of Pleasure called the Lock Master to request passage. Two power boats, Knot Busy a Ranger Tug and the cabin cruiser Artist's Life, joined him. We photographed them going into the lock; then we walked up to the top and photographed them coming out. As we saw them disappear into the distance, we decided we wanted to leave as well.

The First Boats To Leave Waterford

Treasure of Pleasure

Knot Busy

Our View at the top of the lock

Beautiful Tree Lined Shore

First Boats Leaving the Lock

Waving Farewell

Thumbs up - Locking went well

Somewhere over the two days we sat at Waterford, we decided to buddy boat with Sue and Bob on Osimo. When we told them three boats had left, they agreed that we should prepare our boats and set off on our journey into the Erie Canal immediately. 

The first section of the Erie Canal has five locks in a row, numbers 2-6. Generally, you go through all five on the same day. We entered Lock #2 first with the Riverboat Idler and Osimo.  Once we left Lock #2, Idler passed us and quickly moved out of sight, surprising us with his speed. The first five locks went well except for high turbulence during the first quarter fill of the chamber. We had to wrestle with the ropes and fend off from the wall until our boats settled in for the ride up. By the end of the day we are bruised and sore from being pulled by the lines in the locks. By the time we made it through Lock #7 at Vischer's Ferry we were ready for a break.

Our first destination was Scotia Landing. Mystic led the way in. The Mohawk River channel to Scotia is narrow and shallow, with only about 10 feet of water. Osimo waited while we got into our slip. Knot Busy was already at the dock. 

Idler slipping in front of Mystic in the Lock

Dave holding on while Osimo enters the lock

Dave and Sue holding on in the Lock

We see many waterfalls along the Canal

The Canal has rock cuts

Lots of wildlife along the shoreline

Snag boats a plenty, pulling logs from the Canal

Old traditional wooden boat

Scotia Landing Dock is located at Freedom Park. It is lovely. The park is enormous and very popular with locals. Our waterway guide indicated it was a free dock but we paid $20 dockage and an additional $10 for electric. There is a self pay box so we filled out the paperwork then walked up to deposit our payment. A small boy was climbing along the park wall and came up to where Dave was sitting. In a sweet, friendly, four year old voice he said, "Hello old man!" We all got a good laugh over that!

We took a walk through town and found Jumpin Jack's, a drive in eatery next to the park. It was packed with a long line of hungry patrons. Sue asked a man in the park if the food was good, he said it was. On our way back to the docks we stopped for dinner and desert. It was great! The line never got shorter but it moved quickly! We were delighted with this night away from our boats. 

Mystic and Osimo at Scotia Docks

Scotia Library

Jumpin Jacks with Bob & Sue

As we settled in for the night a small power boat kept speeding by with a water skier in tow. We realized that this part of the Mohawk River is a water ski training area. There is a jump located up river of us. We got rocked a bit but knew that it was temporary as the sun was setting on the day. The current runs fast here but we were comfortable and slept well.