Pictures From the Trip October 3, 2001 Last Cruising Update - Summary October 1, 2001 Cruising Update - From Annapolis September 26, 2001 Home Strech September 19, 2001 Last Of The Erie Canal September 15, 2001 Back on the Eastern Erie Canal September 12, 2001 Finishing the Western Erie Canal September 10, 2001 Lockport to Fairport September 7, 2001 Western Frontier of the Erie Canal September 6, 2001 Back in the Canal System September 4, 2001 Leaving The Great Lakes September 1, 2001 In our 7th State August 29, 2001 Ohio Has Libraries August 27, 2001 Vermilion, Ohio August 26, 2001 Fox Haven Marina August 22, 2001 In Put-in-Bay August 17, 2001 The End Of Lake Huron August 15, 2001 Down Lake Huron August 13, 2001 North Channel and Lake Huron August 3, 2001 Gore Bay August 1, 2001 Keel-Haulings July 31, 2001 Rocks Everywhere July 28, 2001 On To The North Channel July 17, 2001 Wouldn't Change A Thing July 13, 2001 Speed Limit July 9, 2001 Thousands of Islands July 5, 2001 Out Of New York July 3, 2001 Typical Day July 2, 2001 Cold Mornings July 1, 2001 Phoenix NY And Beyond June 26, 2001 Through The First Lock June 25, 2001 Up Around Manhattan June 15, 2001 Daily Routine June 12, 2001 Strolling The Vineyards June 11, 2001 Sag Harbor June 9, 2001 Block Island & Beer Can Music June 5, 2001 Lessons Learned June 1, 2001 The Tides Increasing May 25, 2001 Up The Coast Of New Jersy May 21, 2001 Getting To Know The Cruisers May 17, 2001 And So It Begins!

 June 26, 2001 

We have been through our first lock and are here to tell about it! We left Albany this morning and went through the Troy Federal Lock about an hour later. We are now tied up to the wall at the Waterford Visitor Center. The first two nights are free and then there is a $10 fee after that. It is very nice, about 5 minutes from town.

Within the lock, we looped a mid-boat line around a 4" diameter pole in the wall and just rode on up with the water. We were one of 4 boats within the lock at the time. Apparently, the New York Canal locks are not as clean or in as good of shape as the Federal one, but at least now we know what to expect. One down; 400+ to go ... !

We thought we would see more boats on the canal. So far, we have only seen one other boat go by. We don't know if this is typically or not. We'll see ...

Last night, we met up with the people from 4 other trawlers for a cook out. Three of them ("Patchy Fog", "Dandy Too", and "Runaway") are from Virginia and heading to Ontario. The last one, "Loonacy", is heading home with a brand new boat (a Defevor 44) from New York to Michigan. We had a wonderful time; it is always nice hearing other people's plans and experiences.

We plan to continue west on the New York Canal system tomorrow. As of now, we believe it will take us 4 - 5 days to get to Lake Ontario. We have the time so we will take our time.

One non-boat related thought: don't plant Cottonwood trees! They are apparently 'at a time in their lives' when they are sheading 'cotton-like' stuff and it often looks like it is actually snowing. In addition, we have small "cotton dust bunnies" in every corner of the boat! I think we should collect it and make a pillow!

All for now. We are currently in the wonderful Waterford visitor's center using their PC and will now walk into town. I am going to try to talk Brian into celebrating our wedding anniversary this evening by having dinner in town tonight. Wish me luck ... (Brian says as long as it keeps us under budget - - what a hopeless romantic he is ...)

Later. Jeri