October 2, 2023

 The summer goes by so fast!  So many projects and so little time....here is some of what we remember....

The rusty rims have been replaced with the aluminum rims we found in Stuart, FL last winter.  When we stopped in Stuart in the spring to pick them up and load them onboard to sail north we found that Aunt Susan and Ken were already in NY with the rims!  Thanks Aunt Susan and Ken!

Our 1972 Airstream has new plank flooring.  We removed the original parquet flooring that was coming apart.  Jerry carefully planned how the installation would proceed and after a lot of work the results are perfect.  What a difference!

A view looking aft.

Brian and Deb had this vintage 1975 Aristocraft runabout sitting out back for years.  We pulled it out, cleaned it up, replaced a few parts and succeeded in getting it to run after a 11 year hiatus.   Brian is at the wheel enjoying a sunny afternoon on the river.

After 6 or 7 years of claiming "I'm going to replace the canvas on Mouse", I finally did!

 

Debbie and I enjoyed our annual weekend at the Clayton Antique Boat Museum's Boat Show. 

 Here's our Peace of Paradise booth at the marketplace.

And when the apples are loaded on Persephone, summer is over....

Cortland, Honey Crisp, Blondie and Gala

Across Oneida Lake and on the Erie Canal on our trek east.  We found a few spots where there was not quite enough water but not as shallow as it was in the spring.  It is rare to see commercial traffic on the Erie - at Lock 18 we waited for a tug and barge to exit!  

Lock 18 - full capacity with this tug and barge!

The" Edna A" pushing a barge out of lock 18.

More traffic like this would help keep the Erie dredged I think.  That tug boat needs more than 6' of water and when it motors along the powerful props must dig up some muck in the center of the canal.

We motor along each day.  The locks are open from 7-5.  At the end of each day we tie to the wall at one of the locks.  

Tied to the wall on the west side of Lock 16.

We often have to wait for the dense fog to clear in the mornings so we can navigate!

The fog finally clears enough for us to see the red and green buoys on the canal.

This is the Crescent Bridge - looks like an inspection crew or maybe preparing to work on the bridge.

Crescent Bridge Saturday morning workers.

There's someone way on top of the bridge!  

There are 5 locks in a series when we get to Waterford.  The first 4 were a breeze and we locked through quickly.  When approaching the last lock we had to tie up and wait for an hour or so.  

Waiting at Lock 2 at Waterford.

One of the valves in the lock wouldn't close.  The boat that was in the lock had to wait while the repair guy arrived.  He was able to close the valve.  The lock had to operate with one less valve until a proper repair could be done.  We were able to lock through and tie to a concrete wall past the visitor center.  Many boats are docked here waiting for tropical storm Ophelia to move away from the coast.  We were able to tie to a floating dock on our last night at Waterford.

A view from the bridge locking at the Waterford Visitor Center, Lock 2 and the docks.

Another photo taken from the same bridge showing the brick walkway that is actually a "map" of the entire Erie Canal.

I crossed the bridge to the park on the opposite side of the canal to take this picture.  The 2 sailboats at the right side of the picture are on the wall where we first tied upon arriving.

A little rain on the way on the Erie. 

Next: From Waterford through the Federal Lock in Troy on the Hudson River to Catskill for the night.

It happens to all of us at some point - anchor for the night and the current switches putting the boat in shallow water.  No problem for these sailors - they just had to get up between 2 am and 4 am at high tide in the fog and motor out to deeper water.  They were anchored near us when we woke up and looked out.

We arrived in Kingston with plenty of water to get into Hideaway Marina but it has been raining!  No mast up yet.  Good weather to make pie!

We made our first apple pie (and then a couple more) in Kingston for Vince and crew at Hideaway Marina.

                  

The rain finally slowed down and then stopped Saturday afternoon.  Vince and Chuck met us at the haul out slip with the crane and we put up the mast....

Saturday - mast stepping day!

Sunday and Monday we worked on installing the boom, lines, sails and more.  Looks like the current will be in our favor Wednesday morning to head back to the Hudson and south.  Thanks to my family for providing the funds to keep the SPOT going,  you will be able to track us as we move along.  Probably as exciting as watching paint dry.  Ha ha!  At least anyone who wants to know where we are can click on the link at the top right hand corner of the page for our location.  Thanks Mom and Dad, Susan, Brian!!

Karen & Jerry

SV Persephone