St Johnsville Municipal Marina and Campsite in St. Johnsville, NY to Aqua Vino Restaurant in Utica, NY
Day #363: From last night Mike beat me at cribbage. The two of us were up at 5:45 A.M. to prepare for departure. The weather was sunny, clear and 54 degrees. At 6:50 A.M. the engines were started and at 6:55 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was underway with "Forever Friday", "Alysana" and "Scaliwag" heading to Erie Canal lock E-16. All four boats were clear of lock E-16 at 7:35 A.M. after being raised 20.5 feet (#48 lock for the trip). The group of boats headed to lock E-17 which has been a challenge for boats that have transited the lock in the past few weeks. Stacey from "Stickpot" described lock E-17 as being a "beast". All of the boats were told to tie of the port side of the lock and were told that it would be a slow fill. Even with a slow fill there was lots of turbulence I found myself with the bow line and bow of the boat in the middle of the lock but finally we were raised 40.5 feet. All four boats where clear of lock E-17 at 9:00 A.M. (#49 lock for the trip). For lock E-18 there was a pipe that Mike had a line around and I had a ladder that I held onto which allowed the two to keep "Parrot Bay" to the port side of the lock. At 10:10 A.M. all four boats were clear of lock E-18 after being raised 20.0 feet (#50 lock for the trip). At 11:20 A.M. "Parrot Bay" passed the tug/barge "Erie". At lock E-19 the four boats were told to tie up on the starboard side of the lock Mike and I were able to get a pipe as that was available way up in the lock as "Parrot Bay" was the first to enter the lock. At 12:05 P.M. all four boats were clear of lock E-19 after being raised 21.0 feet (#51 lock for the trip). "Parrot Bay" traveled 5 miles were we stopped in Utica, NY. They said their goodbyes to "Forever Friday", "Alysana" and "Scaliwag". Mike and I stopped at Aqua Vino which is a restaurant with dockage at 1:00 P.M. after traveling 32 miles (4,465.6 miles total for the trip). Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays but boats can tie up on the wall and at 5:00 P.M. someone was to come around and collect the money for tying up to the wall. Mike and I had lunch onboard and did a few boat jobs. The two of us decided to take a walk to look for some ice. As the two of us were getting off the boat a lady approached asking if we wanted to settle the account for the wall now and the two of us said absolutely. Mike told her that he would go to get the envelope with the money for the dockage the lady was so impressed that the two of us had the money set aside and ready. The lady was the owner of the restaurant she apologized that the restaurant wasn't open today she told me about the stores and restaurants within walking distance. Mike asked about a place to buy ice and she gave Mike a large bag of ice free from the restaurant. She told the two of us to feel free to light the tiki lights on the deck of the restaurant and to sit on restaurant patio. Mike and I decided to take a walk heading to a strip mall but we would have needed to cross a on ramp which was extremely busy so we headed back the other direction that had multiple fast food restaurants and hotels. We decided to head back to the boat. At 2:00 P.M. the two of us headed to the flying bridge where there was warm breeze Mike played the guitar and I read. After dinner it was time for blogging and navigation planning. The plan for Tuesday is for "Parrot Bay" to head to Sylvan Beach where we have reservations at a marina.
