| BOAT TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY JULY 30, 2004-AUGUST 20,2004 - by Capt. Dave Alexander The trip began from Braddock Bay Marina at 0803AM on Friday July 30, 2004 as we headed out for Oswego. About 21/2 hours later we arrived at Oswego and began our trip down the Oswego River via the Oswego Canal. We locked thru 6 locks and headed for the last when another Maxum headed north passed us. We received a call on the radio to have John Lodge from Amigos calling. It seems that they were headed back after visiting NYC. Also Rick Pappeleo was back at Sylvan Beach. As we were locking thru lock 1 we heard a vessel calling to lock thru the other way and behold it was Rick on the other side of the lock. Talked to them about their trip to NYC. We made it to Pirates Cove Marina where we gassed up and spent the night. We had to use 2200 rpm on both engines to maintain a speed of 7.5mph due to the swift current and high water. Canal from Lock 27 to 24 still closed. Saturday July 31: Slept late since we would have to wait on Ron and Jane to get to us after the canal was opened. Met some boaters from CG Auxiliary that had come to pick up a boat and take it back to the Aux. Station at Sylvan Beach. Met Ray Watson who is the Dock master for Flotilla 2-6. Since I was retired CG he offered me a berth at the station for my boat. We accepted the offer and followed the repaired boat to the destination. Mary Watson (Ray�s wife) made us a lovely lunch after which Keith and the girls arrived. We took a ride out on to Oneida Lake and Adelia was quite the helmsperson. We had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then to their house for overnight. Departed Sunday for Spencerport to attend Les and Pat�s 50th anniversary celebration. On our way back to Sylvan Beach we stopped at Newark and visited Ron and Jane on Missy as they were still awaiting opening of the canal. As we returned to the CG Station we met Keith, Colleen, and the girls and returned his truck to him. Monday August 2: We got another late start and had to wait sometime at Lock 22 where we met a couple from a Great Harbor 37. We transited 4 locks and arrived at Ilion where we stayed the night. Received phone call from Capt Ron indicating that canal had opened and that they would try to make Brewerton that night. They did of course but not until about 9:30PM. They advised we should meet at Little Falls on Tuesday. Tuesday August 3: We doodled around again and finally left Ilion for Little Falls a distance of some 12 miles and one lock. Little Falls had changed considerably since Capt Ron last visited and now there was a charge based on length of your vessel. We paid $10 while Capt Ron later had to pay $20. Missy arrived at about 4:00PM and we finally were together for the trip. Spent the night at Little Falls and made some bicycle trips to the store and of course the liquor store for wine. Met Tom Ryan the dock master who was quite pleasant and hospitable. Wednesday August 4: After locking through lock 17 at Little Falls, the highest lock in the country at 40.5 feet, we traveled towards Waterford and the 5 step locks at that point. Ka-leen appeared to need some gas and in my desire to go to a marina it seems there was some sunken item not on the charts and I did a number on the starboard prop. Thank goodness for spares. Of course, the marina was closed and I got no gas. Made Waterford about 8:00PM after traveling some 13 hours on the canal. Waterford is free for the first two nights and then $10 a night after that. We did not have all the facilities but with a little help from Missy we had enough electricity to carry the refer through the night. Ron and I have to make a prop change and we got that done by the use of some skill and a flashlight. All is well for further travel. Thursday August 5: Ron and Jane leave early down the Hudson for Kingston our next stop. We sleep in and have to wait for a marina to open so we can get gas. Make it to Troy Marina where we took on 91.9 gallons in a 102-gallon tank. That was close and we are going to make sure that never happens again. It was only about 50 miles to Kingston so by the time we got started and got gas Ron and Jane were a long way ahead of us. As we motored down the Hudson it was very interesting to see things from a different prospective after living there for some 10 years and never being on the river, not even in the Coast Guard. When we got to Kingston, Ron and Jane were already there and had slips set up for us both at the Town docks. Now up to $1.50 per foot but very little in the way of amenities. I made the mistake of not getting gas when I arrived so had to wait to get it the next morning. Friday August 6: Ron and Jane leave early as they have about an 85 mile trip to Jersey City and Newport Marina. We leave as soon as we can get gas and finally catch them at about the 40-mile marker, just beyond West Point. After some discussion we decide to proceed on to Jersey City and arrive about 2:00PM. Since they do not have gas at Newport Marina we had to go to Liberty Landing Marina about I mile south and return. Iris the dock master was great and had us set up in slips so that all of us could be together and Missy would be right across from us in a bigger slip. Ron and Jane arrive about 4:00PM just in time for the cocktail and hors deuvers. What a spread they had with a little bit of everything and plenty of drink selections. We finally ended up going to the Newport Mall food court and having Popeye�s Chicken for dinner. Saturday August 7: Wake up to a beautiful day and Capt Wally has an excursion planned for around New York City beginning about 11:00AM. However, this does not get started until sometime after 12:00. Eight boats participate with Capt Ron and Lady Jane as guests on Ka-leen. We set off for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Thence we go around Governors Island and up the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge. All the ways to Hell�s Gate and the Harlem River and finally emerge back on the Hudson about 1 mile north of the George Washington Bridge. We take off for Newport and when we arrive there is a mega yacht �Que Sara� entering the marina. This beautiful boat is only 122� long and we understand that it can be chartered for $65,000 per week. After some more cocktails most of us assemble for dinner at the Newport Marina Restaurant. Good time is had by all and eventually say good night to all. Sunday August 8: Capt Ron, Lady Jane, Queen Jeanne, and I take the Pathe train to NYC to attend a play, The Producers, for which we already have tickets. Walk around Times Square awhile and watch the Dominican Republic parade and thence to the theater. After the show it is a walk to �Ground Zero� for some pictures. Catch the last Pathe train from there to Newport. What a nice day. Monday August 9: Lady Jane and Queen Jeanne take a visit to NYC and take the bus tour of lower Manhattan. Also see some other sights and return before dark. They seem to be tired from the day�s activities. Meanwhile Capt Ron and I ride bicycles all around Jersey City and of course make a run for more wine. We did have some time for a few cold ones on the flying bridge of Missy. What a great way to live. Tuesday August 10: The Missy gets an early start and Ka-leen visits the gas dock and gets a pump out in order to make the 90 miles to Kingston. We catch the Missy and proceed on to Kingston. This time I get gas as soon as we arrive. We plan to anchor out for the night at an anchorage back on Rondout Creek. I find us a place and wait for Missy since she needs more room and a much bigger anchor. We anchor out and have a wonderful dinner on board the Missy. Wednesday August 11: Depart early for Waterford and I proceed ahead of the Missy this time. Stop at Troy Marina for fuel and thence to Waterford where I get space set up for us and Missy. They arrive a few hours later and we have just enough space to dock Missy but we could have moved the boat just in front. No problem though as Capt Ron did a salty sailor�s docking. Thursday August 12: Get an early start trying to get as far West as we can to avoid any fall out from Hurricane Charley. Move through the 5 steps locks and proceed on with Amsterdam as our destination. Just before Amsterdam we are hit with a terrific rainstorm and cannot see much. Have to slow down to 3.5 miles per hour and Capt Ron uses radar and GPS to find channel markers. I can barely see the navigational light on Missy to guide me, as you cannot see the banks of the canal. This lasts for about 1and half hours but clears up just before arriving at our destination. The town docks are closed and we have to call some dock master at his work to come open up and turn on the lights and give us keys to the facilities. They do charge $1.00 per foot and take only cash. Friday August 13: Leave Amsterdam for Little Falls where we will spend the night. Get there and find space on the wall. Tom Ryan, the dock master, takes Queen Jeanne into town to do some clothes washing. The other of us walks into town later and walks back with Jeanne. Of course Capt Ron and I have to make a bicycle run to the liquor store for more wine. Boy did that basket come in handy. It was the start of Little Falls Canal Days and Tom Ryan had set up his cruise boat to have a jazz group play and take a cruise on the canal. Behold the generator would not work so that the group would have power for their sound system. Capt Dave to the rescue with his trusty Honda generator which we set on the bow and we had power for everything. They invited us all to go on the cruise including coco, the wonder dog. Had a nice trip and the music was wonderful under the stars. Ron and I stayed behind to get our electrical equipment and Tom put out a bottle of wine which we helped consume. Saturday August 14: We proceed westerly towards Lake Oneida and when we get to Sylvan Beach it is a mad house of boats. Another Canal Day celebration and they are rafted 3 to 5 deep. It takes slow maneuvering to make it thru and out to the open lake. Tonight we stay at Brewerton on the town wall. That is free but there are no services but it is quiet. Oh by the way got gas at Winter Harbor where it was only $1.99 per gallon. Cheapest gas on the canal. Sunday August 15: Depart Brewerton for Baldwinsville where we will spend the night on the wall again. We now have to dock on the south wall but all the facilities are on the North wall. Just cannot park there anymore but the reasoning seems unsure. They had a concert in the park which went until about 7:00PM. Not too bad to listen to as we sat on the bridge of Missy for cocktails. Monday August 16: We leave for Seneca Falls and on the way Jeanne spots a beautiful bald eagle setting in a tree. I have some nice close up movies of the bird. We dock at Seneca Falls where it is free and they do have electricity and water. There is a pump out but it did not work. Some bike rides are necessary to visit the Mennonite store and pick up some goodies. Also we need to make a wine trip and the basket comes in handy. Have dinner in a Chinese restaurant but it is not the best we have had. Tuesday August 17: Today we just hang around town but Jeanne and I visit the historical Trinity Episcopal Church that has three signed Tiffany stained glass windows. It is the only surviving building from the original town when they flooded it to make the lake and the three new locks. After a walk thru town we get back for cocktail hour and then dinner. Wednesday August 18: Today we will say goodbye to Missy, Capt Ron, Lady Jane, and coco as they will head further west and we will go north towards Oswego. We did take a quick trip out onto Cayuga Lake to get some pictures and then go on to Baldwinsville where we pick up gas. We make it to Phoenix on the Oswego canal, which is just before lock 1. We are greeted by the Bridge House Brats as we pull into the town docks. It is great as the kids will run errands, wash your boat, walk your pets, provide three wheel bikes to go shopping and in the AM free coffee and serve you breakfast from a nearby diner. It was wonderful and Adam was just a joy to have around. While having breakfast we are joined by Heather Schisler from another boat. She is a senior at Russell Sage and was quite a joy to have as a conversationalist. By the way we have initiated a pen pal arrangement with her. Thursday August 19: Only seven locks to go to get us to Oswego and of course just before the last three it starts to rain again. Make it to Oswego where we fill up the gas tank again. We go out on the lake and decide that it is too rough to make the trip so we stay overnight in Oswego. We seem to be the only boat on the transient dock so we take a few precautions for security. Friday August 20: Leave Oswego early without even coffee or breakfast to get a little better condition on the lake. We are in Braddock Bay at the slip by 9:34AM and the trip is all over. I take readings to indicate that we traveled 928 miles and put 97.5 hours on the engines for the trip. It was a nice trip but I am not sure if we are ready to go it again any time soon. We had a great time with Ron and Jane, which made the trip so much nicer. |