To the end of the Erie and Beyond

Tony M in Clyde

After Newark we continued on the Erie Canal until we came to the tiny town of Clyde. with a 2,300 person population.  They too offer weary boaters a free dock with power and water so, of course, we took them up on it.  While we were there, the annual bike tour from Albany to Buffalo used Clyde as one of their resting places.  There were 400 +/- bikers attempting this year's trek.

The famous mineral spring is the perfect place to recharge a biker's energy

Clyde- very proud of their heritage

Construction on the Richmond Aqueduct (also known as the Montezuma Aqueduct) was begun in 1849 and completed in 1857. It enabled the Enlarged Erie Canal to pass over the Seneca River, on a series of 31 stone arches. The Aqueduct was about 900 feet long.

We arrived in Baldwinsville with intention of staying two nights but we ended up staying four nights, mainly because of the great folks we met there.  As we were tying up, another boat was coming in so Pete helped them.  They had engine problems which Pete did his magic on.  Needless to say, after that we were very much welcomed into their marina members weekend get-together. They enjoyed  a good time and did their best to make sure it happened.  We were also lucky enough to be entertained by Fire and Ice (a Pat Benetar Tribute Band) concert Saturday night-we had excellent seats across the canal from the Budweiser Amphitheater. 

Ginny, Tommy and Jane -they adopted us!

Budweiser Amphitheater engaged in concert

Staying four nights in one place is more than we usually stay put so we welcomed starting our engine and untying our lines to continue our journey.  The Erie Canal at this point is also the Seneca River but it shortly connects with the Oswego Canal which runs north/south while the Erie Canal runs east/west.  We decided to take the Oswego up to Phoenix because they have power (the temp is beginning to warm up and power means we can us the AC without running the generator) and they have a laundromat which we need to use. We arrived on Sunday which means the Bridgehouse Brats, a Phoenix volunteer youth group who will deliver meals and do other services for tips, are off.  We found out why...there are no restaurants opened on Sunday so there's no food to be delivered.  Oh well, there's plenty in the freezer.

The famous Phoenix sign

Approaching Phoenix

We have been meeting S/V Ilanga, a Norwegian boat that had been to 48 countries around the world in seven years-they plan on sailing for three more years!

We traveled south  down the Oswego back to the Erie Canal and headed East toward Brewerton.  We were prepared to stay in Brewerton if Oneida Lake was too rough but the lake was calm so we motored the twenty miles across it to Sylvan Beach where we would spend the night.  We have been here before so we were familiar with the beach, amusement park and restaurants.  It feels like a throwback to the 50's and 60's vacation destination-maybe we're in a time warp-even with the sweet smell of cotton candy and popcorn.

Sylvan Beach's wall for us to tie up to

An Icon for this era

Do you remember this?

Lots and lots of ducks

July 21, 2010 YIKES

Sunset over the Erie

Pete hanging on to the bollard in the Troy Lock-the last lock on our journey-Yippee!

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

We enjoyed the Hudson River's beauty-it rivals anything in the rest of the Loop.

Spuyten Duyvil is the left turn from the Hudson to the Harlem River.  We were fortunate we didn't have to wait for a train and could just scoot through the intersection.

View of the many bridges on the Harlem River.

Harlem Murals

Condos on the Harlem River

Would you believe a horse ranch on the Harlem River?

With careful planning, Hell's Gate looks like this...a piece of cake!

These were my faithful gloves that got me thru many disgusting locks.  They began with painted fingernails a "diamond" and a fancy "bracelet", designed by talented friend Linda Reznik. The certainly didn't end that way!   Thanks, Linda!

Our ending Stats in Stratford-Awesome

Our first visit on return was to see our Lucie.  Isn't she adorable?

Well, we are back in  Newtown, CT, waiting for the closing of our house and figuring where and when we our next adventure will be.  We have had fourteen months of travel through the US and Canada that have left us with memories that will be with us forever.  We have met marvelous people, visited awesome places, seen nature up close and personal, ate some interesting foods and learned to appreciate what gifts we have. The Loop has enriched our lives...it will be a tough act to follow!