With rain pattering on the deck we didn't hop out of our bunk at the crack of dawn. We couldn't complain, the weather was forecast to clear late in the day and warm up and be sunny through the holiday weekend. As we locked through, the Lock Master said it gave us something to look forward to tomorrow. We were thankful the rain wasn't accompanied with wind since it's much easier locking in light air. Leonard rigged a tarp to put over the boom to help keep us dry, unfortunately he'd grabbed the smaller tarp that left a good 12" gap between the dodger and the tarp. Once up and tied, he wasn't going to switch tarps. It did cover the wheel, it was easier to get around to get on deck and gave better forward visibility.
It rained much of the day, sometimes quite hard. It had been great, the locks opened as we approached and locking was easy until Lock 1. We heard a northbound boat call just before we approached the lock and we had a 30 minute delay while he locked them through and took their fees - there were 3 power boats. We considered stopping at Waterford where the Erie Canal heads W, but we arrived shortly around 1300 and walking in the rain didn't sound like fun. By 1337, we'd exited the Troy Federal Lock and continued down the Hudson for one of the anchorages S of Albany. Given the dreary day, we didn't have the camera out and missed a couple of interesting photo ops, but did keep the camera dry. It appeared we were moving south in lock step with the heavier rain associated with the cold front - bad timing! I can't complain too much, I got to stay dry and work on my log while Leonard steered, tucked under the dodger.
Albany on a rainy day
Our lunches have been a treat this trip. On one of our visits to New World Tortilla, owned by an LCYC member Chris Hathaway, I'd noticed packaged tortilla for sale. When I asked Chris if he would sell them, he said yes, so we stopped in Tuesday to pick some up while doing last minute errands. The difference between fresh (the spinach ones were still warm) and the packaged grocery store version is indescribable, read flaky and tasty versus damp cardboard. We're spoiled now and can only hope to remember how good these tasted when I make wraps on the trip.
I am always amazed at how beautiful the trip is through the canal and down the Hudson River. Bucolic is probably a good description of the countryside that in many ways seems almost unchanged from a century ago. Fall and spring provide a wonderful backdrop for our trips south or north with a fascinating display of colors. As many times as we've made the trip (maybe 25) I've always enjoyed the scenery and exploring the towns along the way. I admit the trip is more fun when it's sunny, but there is a certain beauty in the rain as well.
We've contacted Riverview Marine and are on their schedule for getting the mast stepped Saturday - 1 of 3. Susan said who ever's ready first gets done first. We'll anchor at the Houghtaling Island anchorage, about 15NM N of Catskill and plan to arrive by mid morning to get the boat prepped. Most of the work happens after the mast is up - sails, solar panel, bimini, hooking all the wiring back up (keeping our fingers crossed that everything works) and finally bundling up the mast cradle so we'll have all the pieces come spring.
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