Scotia Landing at Freedom Park in Scotia, NY to Riverlink Park in Amsterdam, NY
Day # 359: From last evening Mike and I enjoyed the Capital District Youth Pipe Band which was a combination of bagpipers and drummers. There were also Youth Irish Step Dancing as well. We are so excited to have free entertainment back again. Later, Mike beat me at cribbage. The two of us were up at 5:45 A.M. to prepare for departure. At 6:50 A.M. the engines were started and at 6:58 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was underway. At 7:15 A.M. Mike hailed the lockmaster at lock E-8. The chamber needed to be emptied then we headed into the lock. There were no cables in the lock so I grabbed one of the lines that was provided and Mike came down to grab a stern line as we were raised 14 feet clearing the lock at 7:40 A.M. (#40 for the trip). At 8:10 A.M. Mike hailed lock E-9. There was lots of turbulence and debris on the way into the lock. We had to wait for the lock to be "dumped". Again, no cables but I was easily able to use a boat hook to grab a bow line and Mike grabbed a stern line. The lockmaster of lock E-9 offered to call lock E-10 to let them know that "Parrot Bay" was headed their way. "Parrot Bay" was clear of lock E-9 after being raised 15 feet (#41 lock for the trip). At 9:00 A.M. Mike hailed the lockmaster of lock E-10 the chamber was ready the doors just needed to be opened. I was getting used to grabbing the bow line and Mike grabbing the stern line but there is a workout that happens when there is turbulence in the lock. "Parrot Bay" cleared lock E-10 at 9:30 A.M. after being raised 15 feet (#42 lock for the trip). At 10:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" secure at the Riverlink Park in Amsterdam after traveling 17 miles today (4,401.6 miles total for the trip) they were raised 44 feet total today. The first thing that Mike and I noticed was that the train tracks are right by the park so there are trains about every 30 minutes going by blowing their whistles. There was a sign on the power pedestal that docking was a $1.00/foot to call Dan with his cell phone. Mike called Dan he said that he was just pulling in that he would be down to talk to us. Mike and I cleaned up the boat from the boat trip today but there still was no Dan. There is a restaurant near the Parklink Park so we walked up that is where we met Dan. He runs the restaurant and the dock. Mike payed for dockage and Dan showed Mike and I the showers and restrooms. Dan informed the two of us that this evening there is a water skiing show and advised us that we may want to put additional bumpers out. Mike and I took a walk in the Riverlink Park then walked across the Riverlink Skywalk over the train tracks and expressway. We found a hardw of us found the Creekstone Restaurant which is new to Amsterdam. We had a great lunch. The two of us then headed back to the boat where they found another looper boat "Stinkpot" at the dock so they stopped to introduce themselves to Stacy and Dave. Mike and I worked on a few boat jobs. There ended up being 7 boats on the wall in Riverlink Park. At 7:00 A.M. the X-Squad Water Ski Team did a show in front of the marina. Loopers love free entertainment.
