Troy to Mechanicsville

Last night, my temporary crown popped out while I was eating some ribs.

I considered returning to Montreal to have the permanent crown installed, as I was uncertain how long the locks C1 to C4 would remain closed.

The next morning, I put the temporary crown back on, and it fitted.  I got an email stating the lock would be open.  I searched for a dentist in Troy who could re-cement the crown.  Found Brunswick Dental to do it.  The dentist was Russian.

I did some groceries at Walmart near the dentist.  

I returned to the dock at 12:30.  Another boat was approaching the river from the direction of Federal Lock, so I undocked and followed it.  

Made it through Federal Lock.  But I fell behind the other boat, and I continued to Lock C1.  It seems they were waiting for my arrival.  There were about six boats in the lock.

After the lift, we continued to C2.  

At C3, I noticed a boat docked at Mechanicsville, a free dock that looked attractive. However, since it was only 3:30, I decided to continue.  However, C3 would not take all of us, and I missed the lock, so I decided to stay in Mechanicville.  Nice town.  Did more groceries at Price Choppers.

The dock had free power, water, pump-out and showers.

Albany North to Troy

After a day of rain, the morning sky was blue and 10 degrees C I weighed anchor at 9:10 and headed north.  At 9:43, I received an email stating that locks C1 to C4 were not functioning due to high water levels.

I headed to the public dock at Troy to wait it out.  

The current was almost 3 knots, making it difficult to dock BELLUM single-handed.  It took two approaches.  The dock master thinks that it might take two days for the locks to reopen.  There is still the Federal Lock before the Champlain locks, but it is better to wait at Troy.  It sounds congested after Federal Lock.

Troy looked touristy, and there was a vegan food fair in town   

There is no news about when the Champlain locks might open.

I met Summer Time and Le petite bateau blue at tbe dock  

Rip Van Ripple to Albany - Rainy

The current was strong on the river.  Bellum turned about 6:30 due to the current.  

I departed at 7:30, hoping to catch some of the slack current.  After an hour, I decided to dock in Athens for a few minutes.  

I visited the town, which was quiet.  The dock was located along a lovely park.  I plugged in the Nespresso to make coffee.

At 11:30, I departed, and by 1ish, the current changed, and I made it to Albany at 4ish.  The first few anchorages were too deep for my comfort level.  It was about 30 feet and mid-tide, so I went further to the last anchorage before the lock and anchored in 18 feet of water.  

I made a steak.

The next day was supposed to be wet, and it was.   

Spend Saturday at the anchorage with 66 mm of rain.

Catskill to Rip Van Ripple bridge

Before leaving, I decided to check out the town to see if I wanted to stay another night.  Cute town, but not worth visiting. 

I departed Hop O Nose Marina at 1830 and headed North.  The drive train was vibrating above 2000 rpm.  I anchored near the Rip Van Ripple bridge and cooked the other salmon.  

This was a delightful anchorage.  Or it was just good to anchor.

Nyack to Catskill Demast

I walked to the 125th Street Harlem train station, then to Tarrytown, and then to Nyack.  Did groceries at Nyack Fresh Market and departed the mooring at 14:30. 

There was a lot of debris on the water due to the high waters.  Some logs were over ten feet. 

Headed to Haverstraw Marina to buy 8 gallons of diesel and 1.5 gallons of gas.  I attached the dinghy to the dinghy tow. 

I continued to the Hop-O-Nose Marina in the Catskills. 

I tried to anchor, but was invited to dock at the marina.  

I removed the sails and boom, attended a Melanoma seminar, and it started to drizzle.  I tidy up some lines.  Made supper of the salmon.  

Got up early at six and finished preparing for demasting.  I can keep the Bimini up and have solar panels, as well as more space inside.  

I waited all day for the crew to demast and completed the task at 14:30.  It took less than an hour.  I moved the boat back to my dock to finish securing the mast. 

 

Moved to Nyack Boat Club

After spending two nights at anchor, I moved BELLUM to a mooring at Nyack Boat Club since the Village of Nyack did not appreciate the presence of my dinghy at the village launch. 

On Sunday, Lisa picked me up and returned to the city.

The mooring had a pole, making it easy for me to catch single-handed!

Champlain Canal Update

 Champlain Canal 

Lock C-1 (Waterford) through Lock C-6 (Fort Miller) – Open

Lock C-7 (Fort Edward) to Lock C-9 (Smith’s Basin) – Closed 

Lock C-11 (Comstock) to Lock C-12 (Whitehall) – Open

 

Champlain Canal Scheduled Lockings and Double Draining 

Lock C-1 (Waterford), Lock C-2 (Halfmoon), Lock C-3 (Mechanicville), and Lock C-4 (Stillwater) will pass recreational vessels three times daily.  Lock C-1 will pass northbound traffic and Lock C-4 will pass southbound traffic daily at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 2:00 pm. Locks C-2 and C-3 will pass traffic when the vessels arrive from Locks C-1 or C-4. 

Additionally, these locks will operate on a "double draining" procedure.  Each lock will be maintained in full condition and emptied twice during locking operations.  For northbound traffic, the locks will be drained twice before traffic enters the lock chamber.  For southbound traffic, the lock will be emptied and refilled once before the vessels are admitted into the lock for southbound passage.  The second draining will occur with the vessels in the lock.

Vessels will not be permitted to moor overnight at the Lock C-1 (Waterford) and Lock C-4 (Stillwater) approach walls.