All posts by czierhoffergmailcom

We left New Baltimore a little after 10:00 am, about an hour after we had planned, but needed to wait our turn to pump out.

A couple new marine terms for you…. “Gray water” is water from the shower or sink and can just goes over the side; it’s perfectly safe for discharge. “Black water” is water and waste from the heads (toilets); it’s not safe for discharge and needs to be pumped out at a ‘pump out station’ and disposed of properly. Needless to say, we needed to pump out since we were approaching our tank capacity and had to wait our turn at the station…. Yah that kinda stinks ….ha ha!

Our destination today was Waterford, NY – the oldest continuously incorporated village in NY State established in 1794. It was a fairly short run (about 2.5 hours) and just a little over 21 miles. We passed through Albany – a major shipping port and capital of NY; saw many large tankers. Further north, we passed under several low bridges, one of which gave us great pause clearing by less than a foot! Needless to say, we dropped the mast when we arrived in Waterford (see below) to insure clearance of the next low bridge before Lock E2 in Waterford. Phew that was close!!

The most exciting part of our day, though, was …. wait for it….. PASSING THROUGH OUR FIRST LOCK!!!….. was I just shouting? Heck yah! WE DID IT!

It was so exciting and called the Troy Federal Lock! There were 5 or 6 boats ahead of us that lined up on the port side. We were instructed to pull all the way forward to the front of the lock on the starboard side. Once there, we passed our line around the large pole and used that to hold the boat in place. Our new fender covers worked GREAT, I held the line and Gary used the bow and stern thrusters to keep us in place as the lock filled with water elevating us about 10 feet. It was very exciting! We were so glad when it was over, but happy to say…. WE NAILED IT!!

A short distance after the first lock, we turned left toward the Erie Canal (vs. right toward Lake Champlain) and docked at the “free wall” in Waterford, NY just before Lock E2 – the lock at the entrance to the Erie canal. We walked to the next lock (E2) and checked it out from all angles so we knew what to expect tomorrow; we then walked to town for a few provisions. The 3 boats from Seattle graciously invited us to join them for a hamburger dinner. What sweet people and such as sweet night!

Tomorrow, we are on to Mohawk Harbor, NY and 6 more locks! We got this!

One unexpected thing…. It’s much cooler than we planned for this time of year. Glad we brought sweat pants!

Today was a day of catching up in New Baltimore, NY. Gary drove Jodi and Bruce to the train station (in the marina courtesy car) so they could head back to CT and picked up a few provisions, Carol broke out the sewing machine and made covers for the fenders as a extra layer of protection as we head into the locks, caught up on email and laundry and Carol had a Zoom BOD meeting. Busy Day! Then it was on to our first “docktails” experience at 5:00 pm with 10-12 other loopers – what an amazing group of people with equally amazing stories! Who knew we’d be serenaded by a harp at docktails! Who knew we’d meet 3 boats all traveling together from Seattle. Who knew there’s a limit to how many bottles of wine you can have an board when you cross into Canada…..Yikes!

Tomorrow…. Onto Troy or Waterford!

Left Hyde Park promptly at 8:30 (Aye-Aye Captain!) and it was on to Donovan’s Shady Harbour Marina in New Baltimore, NY – about a 5 hour, 46 mile run against the tide. We called this the ‘lighthouse cruise’ passing 5 lighthouses along the way. At Donovan’s, we joined 45 other loopers for a pig roast promptly at 4:00 pm – a looper extravaganza!

We also got to demonstrate a ‘slow pass’ and overtaking a tug and large barge for Jodi and Bruce. In the slow pass, you contact the boat in front of you and request a slow pass. You do this so your wake in passing does not unduly rock the slower boat. If the slower boat agrees (which not sure why they wouldn’t), the captains agree on a port or starboard pass and slower boat slows down, also reducing their wake. The passing boat slows enough to reduce their wake but with enough speed to pass. Once passed, both boats resume their cruising speed. Voila – no violent rocking!

In overtaking a large tug or ship in a confined space like the Hudson River, the pleasure boat contacts the captain of the commercial ship and asks their preference for a port or starboard pass as well location of the pass (now or further up the river). The commercial captain will provide his/her preferences and the pleasure boat will follow them, but without a need to slow. Why not slow? Our wake is not sufficient to effect them. There’s no need to do this on a large body of water like the Chesapeake Bay, although you’d certainly give the ship a wide berth. Also, how do you contact the captain of the commercial ship? You need AIS (automated identification system) that provides the name of the ship. On our boat, that is displayed on the chart plotter and ships monitor channel 13 (ship to ship station), so you “hail” them on channel 13.

Today, we will relax and re-provision here in New Baltimore (how ironic!) Jodi and Bruce will depart today and head back to CT. Tomorrow – it’s on to Albany!

What a great day! Left Half Moon Bay Marina around 9:00 am headed up the picturesque and serene Hudson River….had no idea it is so deep (averaged 60-80 feet!) Such an exciting moment when we passed Verplanck, NY, (the northern most point on the Hudson we had ever been to to date) and entered into waters we’ve not been before! We are now in “Parts Unknown!”

We were looking forward to passing West Point from the water, having walked the campus the day before. Very picturesque, but with all due respect, kind of gray. Okay…. So it’s almost 16 THOUSAND acres versus the US Naval Academy at about 340 acres, but we’re talking architectural character here, being Annapolitans. Enough said. GO NAVY!

Enjoyed passing Marist College (sent a picture to my friend Hugh Taylor!) and Bannerman Castle (former arms dealer and Scottish castle replica) on our way to Hyde Park Marina, where we’d only be a few miles from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) presidential library and residence. Very cool tour of the library and residence; learned many things we didn’t know.

Did you know: FDR was elected to an unprecedented 4 terms as president (but died a short time into the 4th term). He oversaw the “New Deal” navigating the US out of the Great Depression and the start of Social Security, FDIC, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), minimum wage, Civilian Conservation Corps (jobs program) and the March of Dimes to battle infantile paralysis (polio) which he was stricken with at age 39; Wife Eleanor was his 5th cousin once removed, also last name Roosevelt; Teddy Roosevelt (Preisdent 1901 – 1909) was FDR’s fifth cousin and Eleanor’s uncle ….small world; FDR was president when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor asked Congress to declare war on Japan, entering the US into WWII; He oversaw the development of the atomic bomb, but it was his successor (Harry S Truman) who ordered its use; His was the FIRST EVER presidential library and the only presidential library to be used by a sitting president (him) as an office; FDR had at least one, possibly three, mistresses….. YIKES…. and Eleanor also had few other men in her life…. Double YIKES – all unsubstantiated rumors! FDR is considered to be one of the greatest US Presidents of all time, second only to Abraham Lincoln.

Learned the above and so much more at the FDR library. Also learned there are VERY LONG freight trains (miles long) on the west side of the Hudson, while it’s the commuter train (Amtrak) that runs on the east side. Enjoyed a great fireworks show in honor of SOMEONE’s 60th birthday who lives across the Hudson. Happy Birthday to You and thanks for making our night on the Hudson memorable!

Passing marina in Verplanck, NY where we took delivery of Legacy III (SeaRay 38) on Labor Day weekend of 2014 and brought her back to Annapolis over the next few days. We rented a car one way, drove up with a couple days provisions, met the previous owner at the marina, got a quick orientation and headed south!

We are now NORTH of Verplanck entering parts unknown!!

What a relaxing and fun day first marveling at the beauty and engineering of the Croton Dam – built between 1892 and 1906, 206 feet thick at the base and 18 feet thick at the top holding back a reservoir of 30 trillion gallons of water! When it was built, it was the tallest dam in the world. The reservoir spills over in beautiful waterfalls as you can see above and on the other side of the reservoir/dam is a beautiful park. We were very pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this beautiful spot…. And no more Smokey skies!

Spoke to the park ranger at the entry to the park (Andrew who looks like he had a lot of fun in the 70’s) and got the scoop on where to go for lunch – always asks the locals! Was not disappointed by Whiskey River in Peekskill; then it was on to the tour at West Point.

Thoroughly enjoyed West Point (Collegiate Academy of the US Army), the tour and their motto of “Duty, Honor, Tradition.” Nearly 16,000 acres complete with 7 chapels, barracks, classrooms, athletic facilities and statues honoring past heroes and graduates of West Point. Students are called Cadets. First year are called Plebes, 2nd year Yuks, 3rd year Cows and Senior year Firsties. Lots of ‘Army Beat Navy’ paraphernalia….. what do they know!

Did you know that George Washington saw control of the Hudson River, which borders West Point, as the hinge point of the Revolutionary War? Part of their defense was a huge chain strung across the river (see pic of a remnant of it below) to stop the British from crossing or gaining control. Tomorrow we will pass by West Point on our way up the Hudson.

Great day capped off by dinner at a local seafood restaurant. Tomorrow it is onward to Hyde Park and parts unknown!

After some coffee and amazing NY bagels, we set out from Great Kills, NY to begin our venture up the Hudson River. The smoke remained heavy, although a little bit better, but the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Lady Liberty and Manhattan skyline were still eerily shrouded in smoke and hidden from us until we go closer. We travelled to Lady Liberty with a ‘buddy boat’ (Love on the Locks – Tim and Francie) so we could get pictures of them and vice versa….Loopers helping Loopers!

The Manhattan skyline never disappoints and it was interesting to see the shift in architecture from the business of the financial district to the residential nature of the upper east side and then serenity of the Hudson north of the city. Our destination was Half Moon Bay Marina in Croton-On-Hudson (about a 4 1/2 hour run) where we reconnected with some loopers we had already met and met some new ones. About 10 looper boats are here with stories to be told and docktails to be shared!

We realized as we looked ahead on the charts, these are still waters we’ve navigated before. When we bought Legacy III (SeaRay 38) we picked her up in Verplanck, NY just north of here. So tomorrow when we leave, we will cross into the unknown! Is tomorrow the real day 1 on the loop, or are we on day 15? Same debate as the the number of states we’ve been in. We travelled to Massachusetts and RI by car when were in CT, so does that count as 2 states? We’ve been in 5 or 7 states in 15 days? Captain Chris Chitterling says “your trip, your rules!” I’m going with that. Day 15, 7 states!

Had a leisurely dinner on the boat with some of the fresh pasta we bought at an Italian deli in Great Kills and homemade pesto we brought from our garden at home. Enjoyed a game of cards with Bruce and Jodi (Machiavelli – sort of like Rummikib with cards). Having played Rummikub, we were able to be quite competitive! Today we are off to tour West Point and the Croton Dam.

Despite the heavy smoke coming from the north (they say worse air pollution in the world right now) we ventured into NYC for the day. Jodi and Bruce arrived around noon and we crafted a plan that included buses, trains, cabs and ferries!

First a trip to Freedom Tower and the 9/11 memorial, yet we were not allowed to approach the 2 reflecting pools because of the smoke…..What? Why? We could stand 15 feet away behind a barrier, but not close enough to look down into the pools or read the names of the nearly 3000 who perished that day whose names are engraved in the bronze parapets creating the edge. Disappointing yet moving at the same time. We toured the South Street Seaport which also allowed us to see several historic ships from the 1800’s, but not board them.

Then we headed north to the theater district and had a fabulous Italian dinner at La Masseria then off to Broadway to see Six. It was very high energy, fun and inspiring! Back to the boat around mid night after a ferry ride (and great glimpse of Lady Liberty at night), train ride and healthy walk to the marina. Looking forward to those amazing NY bagels Jodi and Bruce brought in the morning! Tomorrow we are off to pass Lady Liberty again and begin our journey up the Hudson River.

Here’s the video that I didn’t successfully separate from the Trawler Life Facebook Group the other day – Legacy traveling south on the East River toward Lady Liberty.

Feels like tomorrow will be our first day on the Great Loop, even though we’ve been traveling for 2 weeks. All of the ports (except for arriving in Great Kills) so far have been places we’ve been before, so we will now be off to parts unknown!

Yesterday was a long run. Left around 6:15/6:30 am, had a little trouble with the port (that means left) engine that wouldn’t shift into forward. With only neutral and reverse, that wasn’t going to be very helpful in needing to travel over 100 miles in 1 day! We limped along for a few minutes but managed to solve the problem very quickly and had a very uneventful run across LI sound, through NYC, past Lady Liberty and all the way to Great Kills, NY – a beautiful well protected harbor on Staten Island.

You can track us on NEBO (see the route we travelled yesterday). We erroneously didn’t start NEBO until we were already out of the CT river, so our trip is short by about 30 minutes. We are getting better at all this stuff! It’s only day 10!

We had a great ride on the East River through NYC again (it never gets old). With favorable currents we were flying, hitting a top speed of about 16.5 knots vs our normal speed of 9-10 knots. We settled into this beautiful harbor on a mooring with the help of harbor host John. As the sun started to go down, there was some drag racing behind us that turned into headlights facing us (what are they looking at?). We hoped they were gearing up for a spectacular sunset but that was hampered by the extreme cloud cover. Maybe tomorrow!

Tomorrow – 2 all day Zoom meetings then we will move to a dock at Great Kills Yacht Club and look forward to meeting John, the Harbor Host at his club. Then off to NYC to on Wednesday!

We were up and out at 6:00 am to start one of our longest planned legs of the journey – 12 hours from Essex, CT to Great Kills, NY. Weather forecast looks great although the morning was chilly! High in the 70’s, winds 5-15 knots and no rain in sight. We’d not normally want to run that long…. not that we or the boat can’t handle it….. it’s just a long rather boring day across the Long Island Sound, but we are looking forward to going through NYC again. That just never gets old!

Why run so long? We have 2 zoom calls tomorrow that will take most of the day and we are not confident the Wi-Fi and Zoom would perform well under way in the middle of LI sound. So we will get to the anchorage tonight around 5:30/6:00 pm and be ready for tomorrow at anchor.

On the way, we are making water (yes we desalinate and purify our own water) so our fresh water supply is completely replenished, doing some laundry, making an apple pie, catching up on emails and making some reservations for our next couple stops on the Hudson River. Bruce and Jodi Goldman will be joining us on Wednesday for this next section of our journey and we’ll spend a day in NYC, even taking in a Broadway show. This trip isn’t just about traveling port to port; it’s also about exploring each stop and smelling the roses along the way! We just hope the good smells in NYC will outweigh the bad smells!

Late breaking share! This was posted on the Trawler Life FB Group! Check us out cruising down the East River!! I hope the link will work!!

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1248195261992819/permalink/3113011422177851/?mibextid=v7YzmG

Above is a non high rez version of the video. Please excuse our clunkiness here to make this happen. We are not the owners of the video. Wish we were!