Lock 7

Good bye Schenectady Yacht Club

Leaving Schenectady Yacht Club was bittersweet. We had hung together through an epic weather event. I felt like we were leaving without doing the dishes or helping to clean up but the river levels were dropping, yes dropping, so fast that by 1000 on Thursday morning our boat was hard on the mud. We had to leave. So with the help of two substantial power boats, we were dragged off the bottom and on our way downstream, 4.5 miles to Lock 7. Milt Bloomer, captain of the Nordic Tug Aloha, led Marg and I and Ken and Sally in the Nordic Tug Digby. Milt has been a member of the club for 35 years and knows every inch of the river. He also knows Fred Ford Smith. Despite that, I felt confident in his ability to lead downstream. All the nav aids had been washed away and who knew what lurked just under the water. We fired up the forward looking sonar after a hasty reading of the instruction booklet, and pulled up the electronic charts and gps in hopes that the bouy placement would be accurate. After some tearful goodbyes, hugs and exchange of gifts, we left at 1300 for the short trip to Lock 7.

The dark area is where the water
had risen

Although the river was still very murky - the color and consistency of chocolate milk - it had receded well below where it had been. There was very little debris that we could see and the short trip was generally uneventful. We arrived at the lock about 1400 and tied up on the south wall just west of the lock, in between Aloha and Digby. The first thing I did was to get a hose and turn on the washdown pump and clean all the mud off the boat. If I never see mud again it will be too soon.

Alize comforably sandwiched between
Digby, left and Aloha

Friday morning began peacefully. Marg and I decided to take a walk and check out the park next to the lock. Before we got very far, a string of cars arrived and a bunch of suits emerged looking very concerned armed with clip boards and pocket cameras. I thought perhaps I could finally find out what was going on downstream and when we might be able to contine our trip. I approached the one who looked the most important and introduced myself. He turned out to be Brian Stratton, Director of the Canal Corporation and Governor Cuomo's representative. Also in the group was John Callahan, Director of Lock Operations and Joe Landry, the local town supervisor. I had hit the mother lode. We learned that the clog in the system was the Federal Lock in Troy. This 600' lock was filled with debris including trees, boats, parts of houses, picnic tables, cows and whatever. Plus, tons of debris was piled up against the lock gates. They estimated that the lock would be closed until mid next week. Once it opened we would be able to go. I then told Brian that we had two immediate problems - fresh drinking water and bathroom facilities. There is no potable water at the lock and our holding tanks were within a week of being full. That afternoon, 30 five gallon jugs of water showed up along with port-a-potties and the use of the lock keepers building which had a bathroom. Life got a whole lot better.

Today, Saturday, a lady we had talked to yesterday, came by to see how we were doing. She took Marg grocery shopping. $150 and two hours later she returned and we felt reasonably sure we would not starve to death. I had food, water and a place to recycle them. Life continues to get better. So now we settle down to enjoy our surroundings and enjoy the Labor Day weekend. One last thing, Ohio State 42, Akron 0. Go Bucks.