10/8/2015 To Lock 5

To 43 06.835N, 73 34.711W    Lock 5 Dock Schulyerville    64.9NM  

Sun peeking over an Addison County farm

Other than the geese chatting and the occasional whir of the wind generator, it was peaceful night. Hoping to getthrough a number of the locks, we were underway at 0630 and watched as the sun peeked over the horizon, lighting up the foliage on the hills across the way. Given how dry the fall has been, there is more color than we expected. 

Foliage in the early morning light

One of 4 eagles spotted along the southern end of the lake

With an invitation for dinner at the Finns in Saratoga Springs, we were underway before sunrise to get us within pick up range  It was a beautiful morning, cool, but with sun and light wind forecast for the day.  As we motored through the narrow portion of the lake, it looked like we might be the only boat locking through - no sign of the boat that had spent the night tied up on the monument dock.  But eventually we saw them gradually catching up with us about 5 miles north of Whitehall, and we slowed to let them go past. It was Largo 1, an older model center cockpit boat in the 40' range with 2 guys on board.  Our options were to continue at our  normal motoring speed of 5.5kts which gives us good fuel economy, and possibly wait for each lock to clear after they locked through, or nudge the throttle up, burn more fuel, and keep them in sight so we could lock through together.  We opted for faster since it would be a 60+NM day, and the locks would stop operating at 1700, making it impossible to clear Lock 6 before it closed for the day.

One of the turns at the southern end of the lake

As we approached Lock 12, we saw Largo 1 making circles in front of the lock door.  I suspect this was their first trip through the locks and they were unaware that all southbound vessels must lock through on the east wall due to the velocity of the water when the lock fills - they had fenders on the wrong side.  Leonard tried calling them on the VHF, but got no response (he hadn't hear them contact the lock either). When we got closer, I yelled they needed to switch the fenders (there is a sign posted just before the lock).  While they did, they indicated we should go in first which didn't make sense since they were motoring faster, but we did.  They followed us all day, obviously happy to have a lead boat and someone to contact the locks.  They didn't appear to have a handheld VHF on board.

It was a pleasant day in the canal and the locks opened soon after we contacted them, making for a fast rip.  Largo 1was efficient in getting tied up behind us so locking through was quick.  At Lock 8 we asked if it was possible to tie upat the wall by Lock 6.  The cleanup in the Canal and Hudson
River is still underway some 10 years after it started, and the tugs and barges tie up at the various locks overnight.  Wewere informed the little floating dock on the canal N of Fort Edward (Lock 7) was available,  but the town basin was not,nor were the walls at Lock 6.  A conundrum since we'd havea problem clearing Lock 6 before 1700 and Chuck indicated Fort Edward was too far to drive to pick us up for dinner.

A bit more of a sag to the roof, but it's still standing and for sale

Cell phones are great and we used ours to call the various Lock Masters to check our our options.  The Lock Master at 6 said he'd lock us through whenever we got there since the locks south of 7 were operating 24/7 due to the cleanup.  The Lock Master at 5 indicated the floating dock just N of the lock was free of vessels, so that became our destination.  It would be a 12 hour day, but Lock 5 was fine with Chuck who said they would meet us around our estimated arrival time of 1815.  There was a bit of a delay while the Lock Master at 8 talked to Largo 1 (who had no idea of where they were going)  and us.  I confirmed I'd spoken to Lock 6 and that there was space (at least for us) at Lock 5.

Reflections as we approach the dam at Lock 6

It was 1830 when we shut down the engine after tying up at the dock.  Leonard opted to have Largo 1 dock ahead of us since our mast head instruments (delicate and important) were aft and the dock was short for 2 vessels with the masts down.  When I went to grab their lines, they decided to tie up on the lock wall across from us, that appeared to have space behind the 'Stop Here' mark.  Chuck and Mary appeared in a few minutes and we were off to one of Mary's delicious dinners and a pleasant evening with cruising friends.  We got a tour of their 'new to them' RV.  It looked very comfortable. Mary also filled a bag with pears, peppers and a jar of fresh honey for our journey.

It was 2230 when we got back to the boat and Largo 1 had been moved back around the corner where a tour boat usually is docked.  It appeared they had a problem as we overheard a comment whatever was wrong could be dealt with in the morning.  We'd wondered if they planned to depart with us in the morning.  At 0030, I heard a tug and barge lock through, probably the reason Largo 1 had been repositioned, and the reason the locks are manned 24/7.