I've Got An Old Mule And Her Name is Sal

We have reached the Erie Canal. Hooray!! Yesterday (7/8/16) we lowered the arch on the boat in order to get through some of these low bridges on the Eerie. We have to be able to clear 19ft. Jeff had some wood structures made to support the arch while it's down and him, myself and two guys from Shady Harbor Marina (in New Baltimore) lowered the arch.

Once the arch was secure and a mechanic looked at our water pump (for the 4th time) we headed out around 12ish. We made our way up the Hudson to our first ever solo lock - The Troy Lock. I was very nervous trying to recall everything that Captain Bill had taught us. Jeff and I reviewed the steps, put on our headsets and headed in. I secured the mid line and held on as we were raised 14 feet into the air. It was a success and now I could breath a sigh of release we had completed our first lock and knew what to do. Thank god!!

Shortly after exiting the Troy Lock we veered left leaving the Hudson River and entering the Eerie Canal. A few miles in we docked at the Waterford Municipal dock. It was long and quaint and was within walking distance to the grocery store where they let us wheel our groceries all the way back to the boat. We were happy to be tied up, provisioned and ready to begin our locking adventures.

We set our alarm for 7am and got up and slowly started moving. Our first lock of the day - lock 2 was right in front of where the boat was docked and was scheduled to open at 8a.m. At some point while getting ready a man stopped by our boat and started talking to Jeff. Apparently they were going through the locks as well and wanted to know if we wanted to go through with them. Jeff said yes and we scurried to get everything in order in depart momentarily with them. They were the motor vessel Generals Quarters and it was 2 older couples aboard. We went through the first 5 locks together (locks 2-6) and after that they announced they wanted to speed up in order to beat the thunder and lightening that was supposed to be coming. We said our goodbyes and kept on cruising at our slow pace of 8mph. It rained the entire day while we locked with occasional thunder. We kept going and going until we hit lock 11( 7 plus hours for the day) where we are currently docked just in time for the thunder and lightening storm. It's an interesting place we're at. We are right outside of lock 11 on a wall that is filled with construction debris and junk and a train that goes by every 15 mins. At least we are out of the rain and secure for the night. Tomorrow locks 12 - 17 only about 4.5 hours.