DAYS 26-29: Shady Harbor Marina to Troy & Waterford to Scotia Locks E-1 to E-7 (ERIE CANAL)

Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina to Lock E-1/Troy NY: 7.1 mph; 21.9 miles; 3:05 hours

Lock E-1/Troy NY to Waterford NY: 5.1 mph; 2.4 miles; 0:28 hours

Lock E-2/Waterford to Lock E-7/Scotia ... plan for the day - took a long time and you have to do them all at once.

Travel was beautiful and full of surprises. The Hudson River is simply magnificent.

Lock E-1/Troy NY

This is the first of the Locks you will encounter and the Lock Master understands that many boaters are first timers. When you call the Lock Master to request passage, he will tell you on which side you will lock. Have your life jacket and gloves on, bumpers out, a short-line handy (just in case), and the Lock Master will talk you through the lock.

Lock E-2/Waterford, NY

Waterford Harbor Visitor Center sits in front of Lock E-2. The dock is free-ish ($10/night includes water and electric then $5 for the shower and bathroom key). 

This is a visitor center and it's smart to pick up ALL the Lock information here. The fold out map lists the speed limits and distance. Pay attention to your speed limit or the Karens of the world will get on you from the canal banks ... 

The Visitor Center is run by volunteers and they set their own hours - just know that going in. On one of the websites/YouTubes/Webinars it was suggested that we call months ahead of tine and ask them to mail brochures and information needed for the Erie Canal - smart suggestion.

The town is super small and offers a ‘grocery store’ that’s a hike away and a few local places to eat within walking distance - stick to your grill. We also saw panacea again! There is a nice trail along the lock for you to see how it all works - very cool. The farmer’s market is right next to the docks on Saturday with live music with lots of choices. During our time there, there was a constant flow of visitors from the NY sponsored Bike Tour of the Erie Canal (350 riders) - very cool. The bikers just popped a tent along the canal - it's a standard procedure along the canal. 

About the Dock: Be very careful, I slipped between the floating docks and could have snapped my leg had I let go of the boat line. Just be careful. One of those campers hurdled the dock and grabbed me from behind to make sure I didn't fall the wrong way. Who ever he was - he was a trip saver!

Moving through Locks: Wear your mandatory life jacket and gloves

PREP AHEAD OF TIME: It's a good time to whip out those little transmitters so you can talk to one another. Some people like to call them "Marriage Savers". I think they are just helpful because any sort of shenanigans can happen when locking through.

E-1/Troy is the first Lock and we really lucked out. Not only were we one of three boats but we were not the only newbies. Entering a Lock can be wicked because the captain is fighting the wake from other boats, the churning waters from the Lock opening, plus possible wind. 

The Lock Master will determine which side for you to lock through, port or starboard, before you enter the Lock. Even more fun, the Lock Master might have to switch sides on you last minute when you’re inside the lock (for safety reasons - sometimes another boater is having a rough time or lost an engine - you never know). I wanted every bumper we owned over the port and starboard sides. We had only locked once before but had an idea of what to expect.

Securing your locking position: Once your captain gets cozy with the wall, you need to catch the hanging line or cable provided by the Lock- use your boat hook. While you're doing this, with the boat set in neutral, another crew member goes to the stern to grab the other hanging line to help hold the boat in place. All of this can become frenzied real fast - just go with it and always remember: sometimes your the entertainment (we don't have thrusters).

Locks E-2 to E-7: The Flight

It's a little sketchy but you can anchor between Locks E1 and E-2 if you need to - just not advisable. 

It will take you about 2 hours to move through the first set of locks so you need to plan ahead where you want to anchor for the night after E-7. This set of locks will raise your boat 179 feet from the Hudson River to the Mohawk River. Amazing.

CONDENSED HISTORY of the Erie Canal

The Erie Canal, nicknamed: Clinton’s Ditch or Clinton’s Folly, began construction with a group of unskilled immigrants and a few shovels in 1817 then opened for use in 1825. 

The concept of a canal was envisioned in 1807 by a failed flour merchant held in debtor’s prison named Jesse Hawley. Using his time wisely, and reflecting on the reasons for his failures, Hawley wrote several detailed essays for building the canal, its route, the cost, and how the design would benefits merchants. 

The essays caught the eye of assemblyman Joshua Foreman who took the idea to Washington, DC. Thomas Jefferson considered the essays, "a little short of madness"; a statement coming from the man who engineered the swivel chair and revolving bookshelf. 

It was De Witt Clinton who got the ball rolling in 1810. The War of 1812 slowed everything down to a trickle but construction was back on the docket in 1816.

July 4, 1817 construction began in Rome, NY which was a brilliant move because Rome, NY is in the middle of the canal route; so no matter what, they would HAVE to finish the canal or the politicians would look like idiots. 

The financial impact, after 15 years of its completion, made New York the busiest port in America. The canal has been widen twice since it opened growing from four feet deep and 40 feet wide to the current measures 12-23 feet deep and 120-200 feet wide - amazing engineer work.