June 17                 Waterford, New York

Studying our charts, we realized we would soon encounter many low bridges.  It was time to take down the radar arch, canvas over the bridge helm area, and the antennas.  Before leaving Baltimore last year and after we considered making the Down East Circle Cruise, we had measured the boat from the waterline to the top of the windshield.  We needed to be below 20 feet.  We measured 18 feet and 6 inches.  With our equipment lying on deck, we would not have television or GPS until everything was replaced upon completion of our journey through the Erie and Oswego Canals.  To our surprise, the GPS did continue to work!

Today we would go through our first lock.  After a five hour journey, we passed through Albany, the capitol city of New York.  Massive state buildings were visible from the river.  We regretted time did not allow us to stop for a visit.  Here we encountered our first low bridge, one of many to come.  Needing only a few feet of clearance, we lowered the antennas and I nervously stood on the bow to observe if we could pass under the girders without slamming into the upper part of the boat.  It was a tense moment as we began to glide forward.  We cleared with ample space to spare.

Troy is almost a suburb of Albany and it has re-invented itself as a popular restaurant and club scene.  To our dismay, the Troy Marina listed in our guide book was no longer open.  We were unable to secure the canal permit and extra fuel in our tanks needed to lower the boat for better clearance under the low bridges.  Looking ahead, we saw a massive outpouring of water from the dam across the river.  All three of us were studying the chart and consulting the GPS as we tried to locate the lock we knew was there.  Hidden by trees on a small island protruding into the river,  the lock remained invisible to us until we were with several hundred yards of its massive doors adjacent to the dam.

Troy Lock is the #1 lock of the Erie Canal. It is a Federal lock and the others are owned and operated by the State of New York.  Dave had never been in a lock and he was awed by the experience of being inside a huge concrete box as massive torrents of water poured into the area. Unlike the many locks we encountered on the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers, the sides of the lock were devoid of layers of green, slimy moss. The rough surface was clean but presented a hazard to fenders as they rubbed hard against them.

Almost as soon as we exited Troy Lock, we saw a large blue highway-like sign with arrows pointing right to the Champlain Canal and left to the Erie Canal.  The Champlain Canal is a more direct route than the Erie to the St. Lawrence Seaway but it tends to be narrow and shallow in many areas.  It would not be possible for The Bottom Line to navigate that route.  We turned to the left and immediately saw the small docking area at Waterford.

With confident maneuvering, David skillfully docked the boat between two others on the terminal wall.  The crews of the boats came forward to catch our lines and immediately engaged in conversation.   The dockmaster proudly showed us his 1967 Hatteras tied to an adjacent dock.  Carefully maintained, it was a beauty with a dark blue hull and white superstructure. 

Waterford has an impressive visitor center and small downtown area with several recommended restaurants.  We opted to dine onboard from our copious supply of provisions.   We had delicious rainbow trout with baby green beans and tiny tomatoes.  The charge for overnight docking with electricity was $1.00 per foot of the length of the boat.  Never have we had such inexpensive fees.  

Several hours after going to bed, I was awakened by thunder and lightning.  Remembering we had been complacent about the weather and had left open the doors and plastic flaps on the aft deck, I rushed above and closed them just as the rain hit.  Our new carpet was saved!  The storm continued unabated for several hours but we were securely docked and sustained no damage.  The Bottom  Line received an excellent washing!