Waterford - The Erie Canal

Our last night at Castleton Boat Club was very rainy. Things hadn't changed much by morning. The sky began to clear around 6:00 am. It is the first blue sky we've seen in days. High tide is at 7:00 and the current runs for another 45 minutes which gets to be later as you move north. There is a weird combination of tide and current here and they do not coincide. It's like a series of waves coming and going instead of a bathtub filling and emptying. It's hard to comprehend but you sure can feel that it is different.

Typical day on the Hudson dodging logs

It took 4 1/2 hours to get to Waterford. We were worried there wouldn't be any room but we tucked in at the pumpout station. Scott Johnson from Mona Gee and Brian from Serenity (we met Brian at Catskill) grabbed our lines. Scott walked forward on the docks and found us a spot closer to the lock where we could have electricity. The current is strong here. It pulls you into the dock making it imperative that you watch closely or you will be dragged onto the boats already tied off. We made it to the Erie Canal; but we are stuck here! Locks 2-19 are closed due to high water. So now we wait, and explore!

Passing through Albany, New York

Leaving the Troy Lock

Almost to Waterford

Erie Canal Sign - Go This Way, We made it!

The Waterford dock is a "free" dock. If you want electric, you pay $10 per day. The bathrooms are open during the daytime. To use them after hours you pay a one time fee of $5 for a bathroom key. The Waterford Visitor's Center is manned by volunteers. They are friendly and helpful. The canal area is popular with the locals. 

Mystic sitting right in front of Waterford Lock, Erie Canal

Waterford Visitor's Center

High Water Line, Hurricane Irene

Sal

Welcome to the Erie Canal

There were a lot of loopers waiting with us. We walked the dock to say hello to old friends and meet new ones. We met Skip on a cool riverboat named Idler. A solo looper sat in front of us aboard Knot Busy on a cute little blue Ranger Tug. Treasure of Pleasure, a small Stonehorse sailboat was docked closest to the locks. We chatted with Bob and Sue on Osimo a beautiful trawler that goes about 7 mph like Mystic. We would later learn that Osimo was originally a custom sailboat built at Vignette Boat Yard in Escanaba, MI. Ironically, we purchased Mystic at Vignette back in 2012. It is a small world.

Osimo's red canopy at Waterford free dock

Treasure of Pleasure

There is a Hanafords grocery store within walking distance. We walked over the Hudson bridge with Sue and Bob off Osimo. When we left Hanafords, a nasty, angry skyline was looming between us and the docks. As we rushed back over the bridge we noticed a southbound sailboat trying to beat the storm. The howling winds, thunder, lightening and blinding rain caught us before we could reach the safety of our boats. Unfortunately, we had left all our hatches open so we had a watery mess to clean. In spite of it, we all had a good laugh at our bad timing.

Waterford is one of the locks that has the original lock in place. It sits next to the one that is used today. We walked up to old Lock #2. It is surprisingly narrow with steps leading up several levels. The water rushes down in a waterfall fashion. A lot of work went into making this canal.

The old lock #2 sits to the right of the new one

The water rushes past from the old lock

Original Towpath

Sal's work buddy

The old lock is very narrow

Each section steps up

Stone stairs visible to the right

The dam at the top of the lock

Lock 2 Park

View at the top of the Lock

Lock 2 view East Bound

Everyone gathers at the welcome center in the morning to pay for another day of electric and talk about things to do in the area. Sue and Bob ask us if we'd like to go to breakfast. Don and Paul Coffee Shop is a popular spot for both locals and Loopers within walking distance. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast and wonderful conversation. We learn that they started their Loop in Ludington, Michigan and will cross their wake soon after we do. They are retired Hardware Store owners and have a lot in common with Dave who has done many Hardware trade shows. We would not know until later that we found a buddy boat and would travel the entire Erie Canal together.

After breakfast we grabbed our backpacks and headed for the Hardware store. It's about a mile walk each way. We take the tow path back along an old section of the Erie Canal which is now just a creek. Parts of it is closed for maintenance. 

Tow Path along creek that was once the Erie Canal

We were sad to see the vandalism

Lots of mushrooms blooming after the rains

Peebles Island State Park sits just south of Waterford over a cool one-way bridge. We hiked the outside loop trail that rims the island. We saw several dams and stood at horseshoe falls where the rapids and big rocks churn up the waters. The trail was nice; obviously popular and well traveled. We saw deer that didn't seem at all bothered by our intrusion into their world.

One way bridge to Peebles Island

Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe Falls Flowing

At sunset, we walked up to the park along the Hudson where it was cooler. On our way back we stopped to chat with Bob and Sue and ended up sitting on their patio until 11:00. Dave spotted a bold but rangy fox as it ran down the walkway right through the many folks still out enjoying the evening. This would not be our only fox sighting along the Erie Canal.

We returned to Mystic to retire for the evening. Rumor has it the locks will open in the morning. Turns out our timing was perfect. we were able to stay in Waterford long enough to enjoy ourselves but not so long that we felt anxious to leave. We are excited to get moving and plan to travel with Sue and Bob on Osimo. This is a wonderful place to wait. We are feeling optimistic about the obstacles ahead.

The Waterford Free Dock
Mystic far left, Osimo far right