monday June 29, 2015
It’s tough getting any exercise when you are cruising on a boat. We are outside for most of the day, but stationary. I’ll stand for a few hours at the wheel and then walk less than 10 feet to go in the cabin to make lunch.
Today was different. Our marina had a pool, so I swam laps for about 30 minutes this morning. Little pool so short laps, but better than nothing.
As soon as Jim and Sean from the marina had fixed our water problems, we were off, heading north, The Hudson is much narrower than it had been farther south.but it’s still tidal all the way up to Albany.
As we approached the capital of New York, we came around a curve and saw a huge freighter that was perpendicular to the waterfront. Slowly it turned, then the tug that was pushing it came into view. The ship was leaving the port of Albany, so I slowed down to idle speed over near the shore. Plenty deep there, and we were out of the way until the ship passed.

just a few miles north of Albany is lock number 1. It’s a federal lock run by the Army Corp of Engineers, and there was no charge. We called the lock and got the green light to enter.  We followed our usual routine, I was at the wheel and Jim was in charge of the fenders and dock lines. Which side for tie up? Jim wanted to know. Well, we were the only boat waiting, so we could take our pick. Starboard side tie up, I told Jim. Then he gave a look, and said that it always changes.

Jim had the fenders and lines ready, he had on his heavy duty rubber gloves (for the slime factor), and all was going well. Then the wind swirled in from a different direction. I was trying to maneuver us back to the starboard wall when our the top of our mast (off our stern) hit the lock wall,  we were at a 45 degree angle. Luckily we recovered and the rest of the locking through went smoothly on the port wall, of course.  The light on top of the mast looks a bit cockeyed, and we will get it checked at the  end of the Trent Severn Waterway when the mast goes back up!

we were lucky the rest of the evening. We found a spot to tie up for the night on the Watergord free dock.  Our boat is facing the first lock of the Erie Canal, so we took a walk up the hill to see the lock. After dinner walked across a bridge over the Hudson. Jim needed new tips for the bottom of his crutches.

At the end of the day, I got way more exercise  than expected snd a bit too much excitement.

tomorrow we will start the Erie Canal!

fun!!