Hello to all crew and friends,
Crew is Captain John, first mate Paul Berne, deck hand Dick Fritz, Galley person Nancy Fritz. We are presently in Brewerton NY in the Ess-Kay Marina. This is the west end of Oneida Lake. They charged us 1.00 per foot for the night so 44.00 but charged 8.00 for pumping out each holding tank so 16.00. Fuel here cost 3.05 per gallon but we have used only 35 gallons since leaving PYC. We stopped in Amsterdam paid 1.00/ft, Canajoharie free dock, Utica paid 40.00 , Sylvan Beach free dock and now Brewerton. The free docks usually have no facilities so we stop in marinas for showers and food shopping. Paul and I used the loaner car in Ess-Kay marina and restocked the boat today. Nancy cooked a splendid spaghetti dinner tonight. The last lock was number 22 only 12 to go. Lock 23 is the last lock where we go down and then they all go up to Lake Erie. Next stop is Baldwinsville where we part company with Nancy and Dick. Then Paul and I will have to manage by ourselves, oh well!!! John Hello all crew and friends,
We are doing the American Great Loop. The Crew consists of Paul Berthe, Nancy and Richard Fritz and myself of course. Started on May 16 from Poughkeepsie Yacht Club, only a day late because we had to replace the starter. Thanks to Ernie Klopping for analyzing the problem and finding the new starter. We had to drive to Paterson NY to pick it up and $211.00 later and 4 hours driving we had a new starter. Our first stop was the Hudson Boat Club for the New York Rivers Boating Festival and stayed for 2 days. On Monday May 18 we proceeded to Waterford NY where the Erie and Champlain canals begin. On May 19 we sailed or motored into the Erie Canal and did locks 2,3,4,5, and 6. When we got to Lock 7 it was closed and another boat was tied to the wall before the Lock We were told that there was no electric power to operate the lock and we would have to wait there till tomorrow. So we cooked dinner and talked all night. Left early at 0730 since the Lock was fixed and they opened the door. We stopped at Schenectady Yacht Club for diesel and pump out. Then to Amsterdam after lock 10 only 25 to go. Now you know a little of what we are doing more later. Going out to dinner now bye. Captain John and crew. The brick walkway is a map of the entire Erie Canal System. Each lock is marked in the brick with the lighter bricks identifying the path of the canal and location of the lakes. The original canal is the narrow spillway beside the behemoth it is today. Footprints of mule and boy in the concrete give you a feeling of what it was like in 1823. The water is diverted as needed so the spillway slows at times and flows again.
Docking along the wall in front of Lock 2, we see several interesting vessels old and new. This dock was free except for the $10 charge for the electricity and $10 deposit for the restroom and shower key. We stayed a little longer at this spot because of all the interesting things to see here. It's a living museum. We had dinner at McGreivey's and are heading out for a $2 breakfast at Don and Paul's.
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