The next leg of our journey takes us through the NY Canal system, the historic Erie Canal and the Oswego Canal then crossing Lake Ontario into Canada.
From Hyde Park we stopped at Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina in New Baltimore, NY for the annual Looper Pig Roast that raised funds for Little Warriors Foundation whose mission is to help families dealing with childhood cancer. They raised $10,000 this year between the Pig Roast and another event they had later in the summer. We were able to reconnect with many Loopers we have seen along the way and meet new ones as well. One couple we met were not Loopers but Boaters from MN now living in FL and traveling by boat in the summers.
Although Shady Harbor was only 17 miles from the entrance to the Erie Canal, our strategy was to let the group of pig roast attendees get ahead of us and go through the locks first, our hope was to have less waiting at the locks. So we headed for Albany, the capital of NY and stayed at the Albany Yacht Club for a night where we did some provisioning for our trek down the canal.
(Sorry if there are some formatting issues on this post, the hazards of Internet while on the river).
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Entrance to the Erie Canal that would take us through meandering waterways, pristine lakes, and quaint villages. Yes, Kayaks do the Erie Canal. Bike paths also go along the Erie Canal.
The lock observation area was a park-like setting that allowed spectators to see the locking process and talk to the boaters. The Erie Canal was the first Canal system to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes thus opening up westward expansion and trade. The purpose of the Canal was commercial but since the ’80s has become a recreational canal.
First Lock on the Erie Canal. 24 total Locks for us to get to Lake Ontario to pass into Canada. Being they are historic locks dating back to 1817, they are smaller and narrower than the locks of the Ten Tom or Mississippi River. There is a fee for using the locks, we purchased a 10-day pass for $50.
This Nebo screen shot shows the number of Loopers at Shady Harbor for the Pig Roast and who will all be leaving for the Erie Canal.
Many Chickens roam the marina and their eggs are available to the Boaters
Always a good time at the Container Bar located at the marina
Had fun with these two MN boaters, Steve and Liz, their boat Shingebiss is a classic 1984 Roughwater 41
The Albany state house was modeled after Parliament
Night time in Albany, the tall building is the Corning TowerDoobie Brothers concert in Saratoga Springs, including Michael McDonald.Donovans Mohawk Harbor marina in Schenectady
Reimanns 'round the loop in 2022 