Welcome Center Free Wall at Waterford, NY to Scotia Landing at Freedom Park in Scotia, NY

Day #358: From last evening I beat Mike at cribbage. Mike and I were up at 5:30 A.M. (the alarm was set for 6:00 A.M. but the light woke both of us up) for departure. Beautiful sunny and warm morning. The engines were started at 6:50 A.M. Mike hailed the lockmaster at lock E-2 (there is no Lock 1 in the Erie Canal) for an opening.  The lockmaster said that it would be 5 minutes. Mike and Kelly from "INNTW" were on the dock as they were waiting to depart as well. At 7:10 A.M. the green light at the lock on so Mike from "INNTW" helped "Parrot Bay" off the dock. At 7:15 A.M. "Parrot Bay" and one other boat were in the lock and secure. The Waterford locks are one right after another and both boats moved through all five without issue. At 8:50 A.M. "Parrot Bay" cleared lock E-6 transiting the "flight of five locks" in 1 hour and 35 minutes lifted 169 feet total (38 locks total for "Parrot Bay" for the trip). For all of the locks Patty would get a line around the cable then walk it back to mid-ship Mike would take the line then Patty would grab the lock line at the stern. At 10:10 A.M. Mike hailed lock E-7 for lockage. "Parrot Bay" cleared lock E-7 at 10:10 A.M. after being raised another 27 feet.  For today "Parrot Bay" has been raised 196 feet (lock #39 total for the trip) this was the only lock that requested that we enter on the port (left) side of the lock. Mike and I had bumpers deployed on both sides of the boat so all I had to do was move to the port side of the boat with the line that I wrapped around the cable. At 12:00 P.M. "Parrot Bay" was secure at the dock in Freedom Park in Scotia, NY after traveling 21.4 miles (4,384.6 miles for the trip). The sign stated $20.00/night and $10.00/power that an attendant would stop by to pick up the money.  Mike found a notice that the Oswego Canal will open on Thursday morning (it's been closed due to high water since late last week).  The two of us then walked up to downtown Scotia.  There are beautiful parks with a few restaurants and small stores. Mike and I had happy hour on the flying bridge with 84 degrees and humid with only a slight breeze. No attendant rounded for the cash for the dock and electric.  At 4:00 P.M. it was time for blogging. Thunderstorms developing to the west so we waited to see if we are going to get rain.  At 7:00 P.M. there was a concert at the park here in Scotia.

                                                                          Lock E-2 

All the lock information for lock E-2.

"Parrot Bay" entering lock E-2 on the Erie canal.

Clearing lock E-2 with a barge on the starboard bank, a bridge to clear and the lock doors weren't open. Mike hailed and it took about 10 minutes for the lock doors to open.

Heading to Lock E-3.

All of the lock information for lock E-3.

"Parrot Bay" clearing Lock E-3.

Heading to lock E-4 look the gates are open.

Lock E-4, that is the lady lockmaster and the green light waiting for the "Parrot Bay" to enter the chamber.

Lock E-4 information.

As "Parrot Bay" was raised in lock E-4 Mike and I could see lock E-5 with the gate opening.

"Parrot Bay" coming out of lock E-4 heading to lock E-5.

Lock E-5

Lock E-5 information.

"Parrot Bay" being raised in Lock E-5 looking at lock E-6.

Lock E-6 is the last lock of the "flight of five" locks. 

Lock E-6 information.

Looking into the open lock E-6 as Mike was bringing "Parrot Bay" into the lock.

Lock E-6 front gate Mike and I waiting for the water to start filling the lock chamber.

 

As the water fills the chamber there is turbulence.

"Parrot Bay's" buddy boat for the "flight of five" locks.

Beautiful rock formations along the banks.

Guard gate as "Parrot Bay" cleared lock E-6.  This gate protects the canal system if there is a lock failure.

Twin Bridges with a beautiful reflections on the water.

Dam heading toward lock E-7.

Lock E-7 to the left along with the dam.

Lock E-7

Lock E-7 information.

Mike and I had to wait for lock E-7 to be turned over.  Here is the water being let out of the lock.

Mike waiting to take "Parrot Bay" into lock E-7.

Lock E-7 filling lifting "Parrot Bay" up 27 feet.

Beautiful reflections on the water.

Beautiful scenery along the Erie Canal.

NEBO trip from Waterford, NY to Scotia, NY

"Parrot Bay's" home for the evening.

Next to the docks is Freedom Park where there is a concert this evening.

In Freedom park there are beautiful flowers this is a dedication named "Rejoice".

Just down from the docks is Jumpin' Jack's Drive In a very hopping place.

 

Jumpin Jack's there was a line of people waiting to get food. 

Beautiful tree in bloom.

Abraham Glen House (1730).

"Parrot Bay" in her slip at Scotia Landing.

Welcome Center Free Wall at Waterford, NY 

Day #357: Mike and I were up at 6:15 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and blueberry muffin. It was overcast and 69 degrees. The two of us watched the local weather which was forecasting rain morning until afternoon. As breakfast was winding down for Mike and I the rain started coming down so we were happy that we had decided not to travel today. We worked on navigation planning and paperwork. I made herself a haircut appointment for 4:45 P.M. today in Waterford. At 11:30 A.M. "INNTW" docked at the Waterford wall for the evening.  It was great to see them again. Mike finished working on the navigation for the next 7-8 days and worked on a bit of condo association business. At 12:30 P.M. the two of us headed to McGreivey's, an Irish pub in downtown Waterford were the two of us had lunch. Mike and I talked to "Chill Time",  who Mike and I talked to in Kingston. "Chill Time" had talked to the lockmaster of E-2 as they will be locking through in the morning as well. Mike and I walked up to E-2 lock where Mike talked to lockmaster to let him know that "Parrot Bay" would be locking through at 7 A.M. The lockmaster informed Mike that E-2 through E-6 locks were going to be closing at noon tomorrow and he wondered if Mike had seen the notice which Mike had not. Mike and I headed back to the boat and the rain had stopped but it was 81 degrees and humid. Mike worked a bit more on navigation while I found the notice regarding the closure of the locks on E-2 through E-6.  It is for the removal of an obstruction the hope is that it will only be a one day closure. It shouldn't affect us.  At 4:15 P.M. I walked to Classic Cuts Family Hair Salon where Ellen cut my hair. I returned to the boat at 6:00 P.M. Mike and I headed up to the flying bridge for happy hour. At 6:20 P.M. the two of us walked the length of the dock to see if there were any other boats that were planning on leaving at 7 A.M. which there were no takers on the 7 A.M. locking. We met "Soul Shine" who are gold loopers but have decided to keep going as they are enjoying traveling. After talking to the group of boats the two of us headed back to the boat to complete happy hour. It was then time for blogging and reading. The plan for Wednesday is for Mike and I to leave at 7 A.M. which is when the first lock opens.  There are a of 5 locks that are one right after the other called the Waterford "flight of five".  We will do one additional lock before stopping in Scotia, NY for the night on a free wall.

                                                                                     

                             Mike saw this sign on the visitor center,  the one way up on the wall. 

That is how high the water had gotten when Hurricane Irene came through in 2011.

Mike and I had lunch at a local favorite McGreivey's.
 

Mike wanted to talk to the lockmaster while he did that I watched the lock filling with water.

For this lock there are cables that a line can be wrapped around to hold the boat.
 

There are also lines that can be used to hold the boat.
 

Lots of boats on the Waterford wall this afternoon. The boat coming down the fairway is "Soul Shine" They ended up near the lock wall.