Albany, NY to Lake Champlain, VT June 23--26

We took on fuel in Albany for the first time since the Kadey-Krogen Rendezvous in Solomons, MD last October--327 gallons.  Not bad for having returned to Virginia, and then traveled north around Delaware, south around New Jersey, and then up the Hudson River into Lake Champlain!  In Albany we dropped the radar arch, mast lights, and all antennas to get our "air draft" down to the 15.5 feet required to pass under all of the upcoming low bridges.  Normally my tallest antenna is 33 feet above the waterline, with the next-tallest 24 feet and the anchor light above the radar antenna  20.5 feet.  North of Troy, NY we passed through a federal Corps of Engineers lock that effectively stops the Hudson River tidal currents and tide rise/fall (140 miles upstream of NYC harbor), and then turned into the Waterford, NY harbor to lie along the free dock.  We were directly in front of the first lock gates to be traversed by those transiting the Erie Canal to the west, but we will return to the Hudson River and travel up the Champlain Canal northward.  A trip to the grocery store across the Hudson River and a return to the marina pushing (with permission--they had to unlock the wheels) their cart enabled us to fill the larder.  We had good visits with a number of boaters, then the next morning entered a series of eleven locks of the New York Champlain Canal System.  The first eight raise the boat from about 15 feet above sea level to 150 feet above sea level, and the next three lower the boat back down to about 97 feet above sea level, the level of Lake Champlain.  After the first six locks, we reached Fort Edward, NY where we docked at the free town wall, and explored the town, visiting a neat old hardware store (still selling BBs and BB guns--but in NY, only to those age 18 or older!) and a restaurant which has been present in an old blacksmith shop from the 1700s.

The next morning, we resumed our travels north in cloudy or drizzly weather, passing through 5 more locks to reach the end of the NY canal system at Whitehall.  We had considered staying there, but all marinas, docks, and in fact most of the city seems to have dried up and gone away.  We pressed on, soon technically entering Lake Champlain, though at this point it is really still a river.  Vermont--appropriately nicknamed the Green Mountain State--is now on the eastern shore of our waterway, and NY (and its ubiquitous trains) is on the western shore.  About 1500 we arrived (in a rain shower) at Chipman Point Marina in Orwell, VT, and docked.  The folks here are superb, and there is good Wi-Fi, cell (roaming) service, and marina offices in houses dating from the very early 19th century.  The next day the weather was clearing, and the marina operator took us in his small outboard up and across the lake to the Ticonderoga, NY public dock, from which we hiked up the hill a mile or more to tour Fort Ticonderoga.  There were stunning views, and an interesting insight into a spot that played such a crucial role in American history.  We will press on from here into the wider portion of Lake Champlain for a few days of scenic anchorages, and then into Burlington, VT to re-supply a few items that can only be found in larger cities before heading northward into Canada.

Albany, NY

Albany, NY--The Egg in Background

A Lot of Folks Move Out of Albany

Low Bridge and Lock Entrance

If You Miss the Lock Entrance...

Few Fellow Travelers on this Route

Vermont--Green Mountain State

Fort Ticonderoga

Fort Ticonderoga

Not All Amtrak Stations are Large!



Chipman Point Marina

Fort Ticonderoga

Croton on Hudson, NY to Albany, NY June 20-22

After a week at Croton on Hudson, including a side trip to Essex, CT to attend a John Deere diesel engine course and several area sightseeing jaunts, it is time to move north.  We departed our marina berth, and moved up the Hudson, passing West Point, Hyde Park, Culinary Institute of America where we had dine a few days earlier, and numerous villages and town.  Along the way, we were accompanied by the ubiquitous trains...passenger trains along the east side of the river, and freight trains along the west side.  At West Point we could see not only the impressive United States Military Academy, but also the narrow, twisting point of the river where colonials stretched a massive chain across the river to impede the progress of British ships.  We passed through the Appalachian Mountains; Catskill, the fictional home of Rip Van Winkle; and under a bridge named for this sleeping legend.  All sorts of interesting structures are along the river, including an island with a (now partially destroyed) medieval castle, numerous interesting lighthouses, and massive bridges spanning the waterway.  We passed a group of swimmers and their accompanying boats who were engaged in an Eight-Bridge Swim, swimming under all eight of the major Hudson River bridges (we have steamed under them all--does that count?)  After anchoring overnight near Athens, NY, where a fawn came down to the water's edge adjacent to our boat and smoky miasmas drifted over the surface of the water, we resumed a northward journey through small hamlets and villages.  Visible high upon a hill overlooking the river was Olana, the massive home of Frederick Church, one of the best-known artists of early America.  At times this last week I have wondered if I should feel ill...I've been to Norwalk, Old Lyme, and Coxsackie!  We arrived in Albany and docked; it is a noisy area quite different from our tranquil anchorage.  The radar arch and antennas will be lowered here in preparation for the next leg of our journey into the New York Canal System up to Lake Champlain.  A great highlight of the Albany stop was a visit with fellow K-K 48 owner Paul, who took us and our traveling companion boat crew to his home in nearby Malden Bridge for dinner.  It was a delightful evening renewing friendships, and a hospitality we will not forget!





Appalachian Mountains Along the Hudson River

Trains Run Alongside the River

US Military Academy, West Point

US Military Academy, West Point

US Military Academy, West Point



Medieval Castle, Hudson River

Culinary Institute of America

Hudson River Lighthouse

Hudson River Lighthouse

Olana

Rip Van Winkle Bridge

Hudson River Lighthouse

Cape May, NJ to New York City, to Croton on Hudson, NY June 9-14

Texas Ranger, along with Spirit Journey and Akasha, departed Cape May mid-day with the intent to travel to Atlantic City, anchor for the night, and then move north to Sandy Hook, NJ and/or New York City the following day.  This would give a briefer day to the other boats for their first offshore experience.  The weather was nice, and we had no problems entering the Atlantic Ocean.  There are no photos of our travel along the New Jersey coast, however, because less than an hour into our trip, fog engulfed us.  I commented that, "this is like navigating at night, by radar and AIS".  As the fog continued, and knowing how difficult the Atlantic City entrance channels and anchorage can be, I suggested that we just press on northward.  The group agreed, and so we moved north up the New Jersey coast "blind".  A front blew through earlier than forecasted about 0300, clocking the wind around ahead of the beam and making for a rougher ride.  As planned, we turned out of the ocean into the Sandy Hook entrance channel just before daylight.  By the time we were "inside", there was enough light to see.  We all dropped our anchors, and retired to our berths for a morning nap.

About noon we arose and decided after considering the weather forecast to press on to New York City that afternoon.  We had a delightful slow cruise through New York harbor, with lots of photos, and then docked at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, just across the harbor from lower Manhattan. The next two days were spent touring New York (our first time).  We obviously could not cover many locations we hope to return and visit someday, but did take in the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum, the Financial District, Brooklyn, Broadway (including the show Jersey Boys), a walk through Chinatown, and a drive past Central Park and Bellevue Hospital (important in medical history, and also notorious from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest").  Of course, we also toured several delis and subway trains, along with harbor ferries and many miles of sidewalks.  The night before we departed, we were treated to an elaborate fireworks display just off our marina soon after our return from the City.  As I reminded Kay, who else would have taken her to New York for her anniversary by boat, been joined by friends for a good dinner, and then had a fireworks display launched in celebration?  (What a Romantic!)

Finally, we must be off, so all three boats moved north to Half Moon Bay Marina at Croton on Hudson.  We passed the beautiful stone cliffs, the Palisades, as well as other notable sites such as Sing Sing Prison and perhaps less well-known, but nonetheless important in American literature, hamlets such as Irvington and Sleepy Hollow!  Croton on Hudson is a lovely small town with a beautiful park and stunning views across the Hudson River.  The boat will remain here a few days while I attend a diesel engine class in Essex, CT, and then the journey upriver will continue.  Perhaps we will even see Rip Van Winkle in the Catskills, if he is up yet from his nap...

Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook, NJ

Verrazano Narrows Bridge

Lower Manhattan, New York City



Liberty Landing Marina

Liberty Landing Marina Lightship



Night View of NYC from Marina

Leaving Marina

Hudson River Palisades

Sing Sing Prison



Half Moon Bay Marina, Croton on Hudson

Philadelphia June 1-3

Philadelphia Chinatown

Music Scene

Rocky's "steps"

Texas Ranger spent 2 weeks in Cape May while its captain and crew traveled.  Well, we didn't travel the entire time...just for a week or so.  Our friends Michele & Ron had a business meeting in Ohio for one week, so we decided to tour Philadelphia and return to Texas for the 87th annual family reunion in Lampasas during the same time.  We had never been to Philadelphia, and so we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the historical district and touring more of this grand city.  It was amazing to not only see, but to stand in, the very same rooms in which the founding documents of our nation were discussed and approved almost 2 1/2 centuries ago!  We later saw a bit of more modern Philly--the U.S. Mint, Chinatown, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Modern Downtown, and the steps that Rocky ran up at the Museum of Art.

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall



Benjamin Franklin's Grave
"A Penny Saved..."

Christ Church Cemetery