West Point and the Hudson River

It is cooler and the trees are just starting to turn.  The Hudson River valley is the home of  this country's first Rich and Famous.   The Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and dozens more built some small, get out of the city, country homes in this valley.  Right.   So did our military.  West Point is spectacular and it occupies perhaps the prettiest stretch of the river as it cuts through Bear Mountain.  We could not see the cadets marching across the plaza today, but the place was buzzing with activity.          

The Main Campus

One of their sport venues

West Point

Here was a secluded place that the cadets sneak down to the river to swim.  Someone cut these steps into the rock a long time ago.

The Swim Hole at West Point

It is fall in New York.  I understand that it is still in the high 90's in Texas, so this feels good.

Fog in the Catskills

The Erie Canal (Encore)

The last time we took Rock Chalk through the Erie, it was a strange and costly trip.  It seems so long ago, but we hit so much debris in Lock 3,4, 8,9, and 10 that we did substantial damage to the boat's drive shafts and props.  In fact it took us 5 more months and thousands of miles of problems to finally figure out the total damage.   But that was then, and this week.....well lets say it was much nicer.  Serene in fact.

The Erie can be ferocious.  We saw the result all week.  Two years ago, Hurricane Irene dumped 15 inches of rain into the Mohawk River valley.   Then this last June, as we sat in the Hudson for 10 days, the Valley had another torrential rainstorm.   The result was really devastating.   The canal system was closed for six weeks.  We saw most of the park area around each lock totally wiped away.  Where there was once a serene park and wall to tie up to, now it was just rock.  Most of the locks were being worked on.   But we had a nice run through the locks.   Here are some of the sights.

Lock 14.  Gates on the far right were torn out.  What was once a small creek on the right side of the lock is now a  20 ft. ravine.  The water was 8 feet over the top of the lock wall.  

Lock 2 in Waterford.   This is the first lock as you head west from the Hudson River.

Probably one of the most impressive locks is Lock 17.   It is the largest lift of the system at 65 ft.  We were downbound, so we came into the lock when it was full.  It only takes a few minutes for the lock to empty, and then the far wall lifts up instead of doors that swing open.  The wall lifts up to 20 ft. over the water so the boat can motor out of the lock underneath it.  Pretty cool.

The Approach to Lock 17

Going Down!  Looking back to the way we came into the Lock

Open Up.  You get wet as you go under that door.  Watch out Shelley

You met the most interesting people on the Waterway.   This gal stayed overnight at Lock 16 in her tent.   She was just 4 days into her "Rowing" adventure across the entire length of the Erie from Albany to Buffalo.    We did not get her name, but she was from New York City.   She said she had put her apartment up for a sub-lease, and decided to take a new turn in her life....by rowing across the state!!  She thought it would take 3 weeks.   I asked her if she had rowed before.   She said no.   She started just 4 days ago when she started this little trip to Buffalo.   Crazy

Good Luck.   Notice the damage behind her as the water poured over this wall

It is well worth the trip.   This is some of the prettiest part of our country.   The Mohawk Valley basically runs east to west from Albany to Syracuse.   The Canal was completed in 1825 a made New York City the key port in the US, and the canal opened up trade to the interior of the US through the Great Lakes.   Then came the railroads, which still run at the canal's edge.  Now I-90 is on the other side of the canal from the rail line.  All in all, a perfect combination of the old and the new.  

The Canal as it winds through Upstate New York

The Interstate crosses the Canal

My favorite time of the day:   Dawn

Ahh, Cool Air

We are back on Rock Chalk in Brewerton, and it is cool here.   Cool as in mid 50's in temperature last night, and a high of 80 today.   Umm,  Nice.    After a month in Texas where we saw daytime high's every day over 100, this air feels good.

We enjoy our time at home because it gives us a break from the boat, but more importantly, a chance to catch up with all the family.   And we did.  Our daughter, Shana, organized a gathering of all the brothers and sisters and all their kids in Austin over a long weekend.   Including Shelley and I, that makes 15 in all.   Plus Shelley's sister, Sandy flew in from Denver and stayed with Shelley's folks.   Now we are at 18 strong.

Remember Max and Leo??   It is Football time in Texas

 Football practice started this week for Leo, and Max will start next week.

Daughter in Law, Cait and grandson Luke from California

There were so many of us in our small villa, with neighbors nearby, that we had to give them fair warning of 6 grandkids playing football (with a few adults) in the back yard.  It was a great time, and we really needed the time with all of our kids, and grandkids.   Even in 106 degree heat we managed to have a great time with all of them.

But now we are back on Rock Chalk and preparing to move south to Florida.  We have some "Honey-Do's" to complete here at Winter Harbor Marina first before we start down the Erie Canal, but we should be on our way shortly.  We plan to go slow as there is an 80' yacht on the hard here at Winter Harbor getting all new shafts and props.  It hit a submerged car in the Erie Canal last week!!!!   Yikes, that is scary.   I wonder what else is out there from all the floods waiting to wreck havoc with my boat??

I will have more pictures of the family weekend.  But for now, its back in the cool northern air.   Feels good.   Marc