Day 250, "on the loop", 6/16/2023
- boisselle13
- Jun 16, 2023
- 14 min read
Updated: Nov 30, 2024
*Warning: May be a long read, includes 2 weeks of our adventure, thank you for following our journey. When our trip is over, I plan to have the blog printed in book form*
As promised from the last post, dated 6/2/2023 - See picture of Summer Place in front of the Statue of Liberty. Oh my goodness, what a site to see from the waterway! Arabella took our picture in front of Lady Liberty and we returned the favor.
We stayed at Liberty Landing for $7.00 a foot, which totaled $350.00 with power (included our US Boat discount). Normally, we would not pay such a high fee; but, this was the best & easiest location to pick up our most precious cargo: Jonathan :-). Liberty Landing did provide a grocery bag at check in so we like to say, here is our $300 bag!
Friday afternoon (6/2), we toured the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It was unbelievable and sobering. We enjoyed the museum. It was touching (and emotional) to see the outcome of such a horrific event put in a format to be shared with the world.
Picture below is one of two Memorial fountains with names of those that lost their lives on that tragic day!
Some additional photos of our time with Jonathan in NYC:
Oculus Building @ the World Trade Center
VIP guest (aka Jonathan Boisselle) and highlights of the week:
On Saturday (6/3), we left Liberty Landing and traveled the Hudson River, it was a foggy day; however, on Sunday, it was a beautiful sunny morning!
We said our farewells to Arabella and Long Gone 2 and began making our way to Syracuse to drop off the VIP :-).
Pictured here is: Long Gone 2 (Chris & Dan). They live in the Knoxville, TN area.
Jonathan started an on-line summer class which kept him busy most of the week but he was able to experience a little of the Looper life! After Jonathan finished class and we finished docktails, we treated Jonathan to some Greek food (a restaurant near Half Moon Bay), we also picked up a few groceries.
Picture below is the Half Moon Bay marina, we were next to the sea wall (2nd boat behind the blue hull boat named: Living in Color).
While at the docktails, I met a looper: Boat name: Jagger (Chuck worked with my friend and pervious manager, Laura Schneider). AND of course, we took a selfie and sent it to her!!! He also wanted to make sure Sherry Hibdon saw this picture (I posted on FB).
Our trip up the Hudson River was incredible. The views, lighthouses, mansions, and waterfalls were amazing. Seeing West Point and the American Culinary Institute from the waterway was breathtaking. We were in awe of how magnificent this part of the loop was.
Made it to New York, officially out of Salt Water and tide changes.
Breakaway (Danielle & Alain) crossed their wake on Sunday, June 4th! Congratulations to them.
The following people celebrated another trip around the sun - Hope you all had a wonderful birthday and tons of fun!
Judy Weavil, June 5
Heidi Puls, June 6
Kym Popp, June 7
Eric Heise, June 11
Bud Horsley, June 15
There are a total of 57 locks and 17 lift bridges on the Canal System (including the lateral canals). How big are the locks on the Canal System? All Canal System lock dimensions are 328 feet long and 45 feet wide. The area available for vessels within a lock is 300 feet long, 43.5 feet wide.
On Tuesday (6/6), we went through 7 Locks, beginning with the Troy Lock and ending at Lock E7. These locks are only minutes apart from one another, making it easy for set up.
We lost a line at the E7 lock. When I released the line from the lock wall, the line got tangled around the bolts at the top of the cable. We tried multiple times to untangle the line before making the decision to sacrifice the line (leaving it at the wall). Luckily, we have extra lines)
Locks for Tuesday and how many feet the boat was raised (think of it like an elevator):
Troy Federal Lock - Lift 14.0 ft.
E2: Waterford - Lift 33.6 ft
E3 Waterford - Lift 34.5 ft
E4: Waterford - Lift 35.5 ft
E5: Waterford - Lift 33.3 ft
E6: Crescent - Lift 33.0 ft
E7: Vischer Ferry - Lift 27.0 ft
The unique thing about locks in the NY Canal system (especially these first 6 locks), they were in close proximity to one another. Explains why some locks had the same name (they were in the same town / city). Lock E7, was approximately 10 miles from Lock E6.
See below: Jonathan is working the stern lock, we later found out that we only needed to tie the boat off at the midship line (middle line).
Erie Canal lock:
Another boat was working to tie off, allowing me time to grab the camera to take this picture (Joel is holding the line while I stepped away to get camera).
Locks E1 - E7 all looked the same with the number appearing at the entrance of each lock. Here we are entering Lock #7.
Lock Information (Panels are located near each lock with details relating to locks ahead)
We are secure in the lock!
NY Canal locks have cables, ropes and pipes. The 1st and 3rd black lines are hanging ropes, the 2nd (middle black line) is a cable. The ropes hang from the top of the lock wall while the cable is secured within the lock wall. The cable was my preference because I could secure the boat from the midship cleat (center of boat cleat) and in most cases would not need the other options (hanging ropes). Note: If you are unable to secure the boat using the cable, the hanging ropes / lines can also be used. Note: I marked the lines in "black" to make it easy for you to see the hanging ropes and cable.
We ended the night with dinner at "Druther's" with Yachts of Fun (Jeff & Sharon). It was nice to see fellow loopers as we are traveling ahead of the pack (to get Jonathan to Syracuse by Saturday).
Wednesday (6/7) was another fun and challenging day of locking! Traveled through 8 locks, Jonathan was a huge help! I really don't know how I would have secured the boat without his help. Remember, above I indicated I didn't need the hanging ropes when using the cable? Well, these next locks did not work that way, with the river current, it took 2 of us to hold the boat steady. Jonathan managed the center part of the boat using the pipe or rope (the one available to him) and I managed the bow (front of the boat) using the hanging ropes.
By now, you probably know about the Quebec (Canada) fires. The air quality was so bad, we were unable to see the NY Mountains and other scenery. It was somewhat of a gloomy day; but, we made the most of it. Jonathan is a fairly funny kid, always making us laugh!
We traveled through 8 locks on Wednesday, see below the number of feet the boat was lifted: (continue to think of it as an elevator):
E8: Scotia - Lift 14.0 feet
E9: Rotterdam - Lift 15.0 feet
E10: Cranesville - Lift 15.0 feet
E11: Amsterdam - Lift 12.0 feet
E12: Tribes Hill - Lift 11.0 feet
E13: Yosts - Lift 8.0 feet
E14: Canajoharie - Lift 8.0 feet
E15: Fort Pain - Lift 8.0 feet
We ended Wednesday at St. Johnsonville, NY. We tied up to a wall for a small fee of $46 included power (this is a bargain). I washed a couple of loads of laundry. There is not much to do in this sleepy little town; however, did manage a short walk to grab bread and a few other small items.
In this part of the trip, there are inexpensive and in many cases "free walls" to stay on overnight. Free walls generally do not have power or water; but, are near towns with restaurants and touristy type attractions. We are able to run the generator for power, this allows us to watch TV, take warm showers, etc.
We arrived at 2pm and was the only boat for the majority of the afternoon. A few other non-loopers (boats) arrived around 4pm to share the wall with us. We also made Jonathan the "selfie" king!
Thursday, 6/8 we had a long ride to Sylvan Beach, NY where we found a great "free" wall to hang out for the night. Note: These free wall spaces are on a first come basis. We also ran into fellow Looper: Soul Shine (Tony, Mindy and their dog, Amelia Earhart) and met new loopers: Blessed Again and Cool Breeze.
Before arriving at the free wall, we completed another 7 locks. Jonathan slept through the first lock; but, was up and ready for the next 6 locks. These locks were challenging due to wind and river currents causing more work for me and Jonathan.
Lock 17 was different style lock from the rest of them, it reminded me of a utility type elevator. The door lifted like a garage door (verses opening like a gate). In the previous locks, you could secure the boat to either side of the lock. In this lock, it was MANDATORY to secure boat to the Port (Left) side of the wall.
Locks 21 and 22 were different, instead of the boat being raised, the boat was lowered (which meant we started at the top of the lock and lowered several feet before the gate opened (on the other side)
Side note: I posted a video of Lock 18 in Facebook if you would like to check that out (Tracy Carr Boisselle). You can also google NY Erie Canal Lock 18 if you prefer (or if you do not have a Facebook account).
E16: St. Johnsonville - Lifted 20.5 feet
E17: Little Falls - Lifted 40.5 feet
E18: Jacksonburg - Lifted 20.0 feet
E19: Frankfort - Lifted 21.0 feet
E20: Whitesboro - Lifted 16.0 feet
E21: New London - Lowered 25.0 feet
E22: New London - Lowered 25.1 feet
Side note: In between locks, Jonathan was in the boat cabin (sitting at galley table) completing his school assignments. We would call to him as we needed help with the locks. I think he enjoyed working the locks with us!
Some pictures of our time in Sylvan Beach.
Pics 2 & 3 - You can see the boat secure against the "free" wall. Typically, you can stay at these walls for 3 days. There are no dock hands to assist, you are on your own. There is no power or water. The generator is the source of power. We typically run ours a couple of hours in the evening before bed and an hour or so in the morning. By running the generator, we can watch tv, make coffee and use air and heat should we need it.
Friday (6/9) was a short travel day, we cruised for 2 hours from Sylvan beach to Brewerton, NY. It was an overcast day with a couple of rain showers. The marina is small; but, the owner, administrative staff and dockhands are great!
Pic 1 - Being silly! I love my boy.
Pic 2 - 3 - The rain!
Pulling into Brewerton, after the storms - it was beautiful.
Jonathan was playing with my phone and took action shots of me preparing to dock, he took so many (I deleted all but these 3)!
Saturday (6/10) was our last day with Jonathan, it's bittersweet as we will miss him; but he has a busy rest of the summer planned. He will work the remainder of the summer, take a short vacation with the Jesionowski's and wrap up with getting his wisdom teeth cut out before returning to school (August 17th).
Pictures with Jonathan's on our last couple of days with him:
We took a dinghy ride to lunch, picked up a shirt and said our good-byes. He also had his first clam (and sort of liked it).
After Jonathan left, Joel cleaned the boat and I washed sheets and towels.... we miss him already!
Week of 6/11/23:
We are holding here in Brewerton, NY for a week. We will stock up on supplies, meet other loopers as they pass through (while we wait for Arabella and LG2). We should be in Canada next week and looking forward to seeing Canada.
We rented a car and took care of several errands that were long overdue (i.e. groceries, haircuts, etc). While out we had lunch at Dinosaur's BBQ. Apparently, this is the place to have BBQ in Syracuse! Everyone knows about Dinosaur's BBQ. See the Arkansas license plate? "Hog Fan".... nod to Jonathan!
Shady Harbor had their customer appreciation annual pig roast. We didn't partake (took Jonathan to Syracuse). It was a great turn out (42 boats there and several come by car). Arabella & LG2 participated and sent this picture.
Fred Singler came for a visit, took us to lunch (Thank you, Fred, for the lunch!). Joel returned the rental car on Thursday (6/15) in Syracuse and made a stop to spend a little more time with Fred. They had lunch and Fred took Joel for a boat ride. Joel said Fred's lake water was so clear and clean looking. Joel enjoyed spending time catching up with Fred.
Wednesday (6/14), our last day with the rented car, Joel drove Yaughts of Fun and Knot Dreaming to dinner. It was a fun night. The Wildhorse Bar & Grill had clams by the dozen for $6.50 and buckets of beer for $15.00 - wh0 can pass that up? Julie from Knot Dreaming took pictures; but, forgot to share :-)
Arabella and Long Gone 2 arrived in Brewerton on Thursday, 6/15. We are so excited to see them. We will start moving again soon!
While in Brewerton, I ended up with pink eye. I think it had something to do with the locks and lock ropes (they are exposed to the "gross" river water). I used gloves and washed my hands multiple times; however, I still got it.
Also, remember our friends Boat Name: Donna Lynn? Their boat burned in the Bahamas! Well, they have a new boat "Panacea". They will store it in the Chesapeake area and pick the loop up again next spring or summer. We look forward to following their adventure! Congrats, Corbin & PattiChesapeake
Until next week, have a great weekend and thanks again for following our journey!
Random Information & Other Stuff
Although Joel and I are having a great time, one thing we really miss.... our family & friends. Shout out to our good friend, Brian Boeglin, Happy official retirement! We hate we missed your party but looks like you all had a GREAT time. Love the new patio!
Lighthouses:
Traveling the seas, we have seen so many lighthouses. In my opinion, the New York lighthouses are the prettiest by far. See these below, no particular order.
Saugerties Light, known also as the Saugerties Lighthouse, is a lighthouse on the Hudson River north of Saugerties, New York.
Built in 1869, it replaced the earlier 1838 lighthouse. Its Coast Guard service was ended in 1954. It is currently managed by the non-profit Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy which purchased the lighthouse in 1986. The conservancy manages the nature trail leading to the lighthouse, offers two bed and breakfast rooms and public tours. A small museum displays artifacts of the original lighthouse and the restoration efforts, as well as the history of the Saugerties waterfront.
The lighthouse keeper of 1835 was Abraham Persons and paid $350 for the year.
Check links out below to learn more.
Rondout Light is a lighthouse on the west side of the Hudson River at Kingston, New York.
The first lighthouse at the entrance to the Rondout Creek was a wooden one built in 1837. It was replaced by a second lighthouse, made of sturdier bluestone, in 1867. The bluestone lighthouse was abandoned after 1915 and torn down in the 1950s.
The current lighthouse was built in 1915, replacing the earlier 1867 lighthouse. In 1954 the light was automated and the building closed.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and currently managed by the non-profit Hudson River Maritime Museum.
The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse (Town of Esopus, NY) is one of the most picturesque and the only surviving wooden lighthouse on the Hudson River. Nicknamed the "Maid of the Meadows," it was built on the edge of the mud flats south of Port Ewen, where cattle once grazed. Rising sea levels have brought the levels of the tidal Hudson up as well.
The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse, sometimes called the Hudson City light, is a lighthouse located in the Hudson River in the state of New York in the United States. The light is located between Hudson and Athens, closer to the Hudson side. Constructed in 1874, it marks a sandy ridge known as Middle Ground Flats and also acts as a general aid to navigation of the river. The station is built on a granite caisson with a unique shape designed to protect it from ice floes and river debris. The dwelling is constructed in the Second Empire architectural style, with a mansard roof. It is considered to be virtually a twin of the Stepping Stones Light in Long Island Sound, which was constructed just a few years later.
We did NOT pass the Stepping Stones lighthouse (pic below); but, it is a twin to the lighthouse above.
Stepping Stones Light is a Victorian-style lighthouse in Long Island Sound, in Nassau County, New York. The lighthouse is square-shaped and made of red brick, standing one-and-a-half stories high. The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse is a virtual twin of this structure. The light is in current use, under the management of the United States Coast Guard. It is not open to the public.
The reef upon which it sits was given its name by Siwanoy (Minnefords) Native American legends. According to the legend, the tribe used warriors, medicine, and magic to chase the devil out of present-day Westchester County, New York onto City Island (formerly Greater Minneford Island), surrounding him at Belden Point. The devil then picked up huge boulders lying there and tossed them into Long Island Sound, using them as stepping stones to make his escape. The natives named the rocks, "The Devil's Stepping Stones"
Interesting Facts About Hudson River
The average depth of the Hudson River is 30 feet.
The deepest point of the Hudson River is 202 feet.
The entire length of the Hudson River is 315 miles.
The river is about 507 kilometers (315 miles) long.
The Hudson River is home to many different species of fish.
I mentioned this to some of you in the past; the possibility of a dead body being found in the Hudson River. It is not a common thing for a looper to find a dead body; however, one gold looper spotted 2 dead bodes during their adventure. Their boat name escapes me because I told Joel "let's not travel with them". After doing some checking, found this:
It's impossible to say exactly how many bodies have been or are found in its waters, but MV Organizing suggests that around 59 are discovered every year. The majority of them reportedly originate from New York City (around 50), with Hudson County and Bergen County accounting for the remainder. See link below if this sort of stuff interest you!
Killers have also disposed of their victims in the river. In 1841, reports Historic Mysteries, the corpse of Mary Rogers was found in the water near New Jersey, bearing marks around the throat that suggested she had been strangled before being disposed of in the river. The case has been an enduring enigma, and Edgar Allan Poe (who reportedly made regular visits to the store where Rogers had worked) wrote a short story "The Mystery Of Marie Roget" that was inspired by the tragic events.
Putting all the above aside, the views on and near the Hudson River were magnificent. However, we talked among our loopers friends of a plan should we spot a dead body (courtesy of calling coast guard and waiting w/the body, etc). I am thankful we DID NOT find one!
Fishing in the Hudson:
The Hamilton County section of the Hudson River is the perfect spot for Rainbow, Brook, and Brown Trout. The waters here range from small, gentle pools to rough, fast-moving areas.
Trip Maps provided below:
In an effort to get Jonathan to Syracuse, NY to fly home in time for other fun things we had to move quicker than we typically do. By moving daily and making a few very long runs (7 hour days) we made it to Syracuse in time for Jonathan's Saturday flight home.
Saturday, 6/3
Liberty Landing Marina (New Jersey City, NJ) to Half Moon Bay Marina (Croton on Hudson, NY)
Sunday, June 4
Half Moon Bay Marina (Croton on Hudson, NY) to Rondout Yacht Marina (Kingston, NY)
Monday, June 5
Rondout Yacht Marina (Kingston, NY) to Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina (New Baltimore, NY)
Tuesday, June 6
Donovan's Shady Harbor (New Baltimore, NY) to Mohawk Harbor (Schenectady, NY)
*the map indicates 4+ hours; it was really a 7 hour day. The reason for the difference was we had to turn the motor off while in the locks*
Wednesday, June 7
Mohawk Harbor (Schenectady, NY) to St. Johnsonville Marina (St. Johnsonville, NY)
Thursday, June 8
St. Johnsonville wall (St. Johnsonville, NY) to Sylvan Beach, NY (stayed on "free wall" no power or water, but not to worry, we ran the generator)
Friday, June 9
Sylvan Beach, NY (free wall) to Winter Harbor Marina (Brewerton, NY)
Great write up. Thanks for sharing.