PHOTOS... So the weather is never as bad as they predict...and this time they were way off. Rain that was suppose to start late afternoon didn't start until after 10PM... Heavy downpour wasn't...it was a nice gentle rain...gone by 8AM... So we headed north...saying goodbye to our new friend Bill, who is in line to babysit sweet Dakota....that line continues to grow!

As we came through lock 11...only one side of each lock door was working...and we didn't see anything there that we thought would have been a good place to weather wait....

Same issues at lock 12... And through the town of Whitehall...we are convinced we made the right choice to wait at lock 9...

On to Chipman's Marina, where we are docked in front of our Norfolk friends we often hear and travel with but have yet to get face to face time with....Jon and Lynn on ZENDO...across the dock at Norfolk at the Looper Rendezvous ..on the wall at Delaware city ( but they weren't really there) ...left with us to go to Cape May...but stayed at a different marina...traveled with us to Atlantic City...but stayed at a different Marina...pulled into NYC but were gone in a flash....left Waterford the day we arrived...we like to call this "looper Hopscotch....though sometimes it is mostly hop....here we are...finally enjoying docktails. They had a great guide book to the route north so we made a few copies of important pages...like the French to English translation pages!! We had a wonderful visit...once our sweet Dakota finally settled down....they will follow us up Lake Champlain and then plan to take a right turn at the St Lawrence and head to Quebec while we'll go left to Montreal working our way to Lake Michigan..so it was great while it lasted...but it didn't last long. I'm sure our wakes will cross again somewhere some how...that's how this boating stuff works!

We are waiting on the 40' sailboat that docked overnight on the fuel dock to leave so that we can fuel up (at American prices) before heading north..we had hoped to get away by 10 AM...that's not gonna quite happen....another night on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain, then one night on the NY side before we enter Canada. We got stung big time by Version on our last rip through so we will probably error on the side of caution this trip through...most all  of July will be spent in Canadain waters...and yes, we'll probably get to re-experience the Frenchie holiday travelers...what are we thinking???

Stay tuned to see how we fair in French speaking Canada...Hetty Bailey, we need you!

Saturday morning...called the lock, he said "come on over...but if you see a barge, you'll have to wait.".... So, of course, by the time we got there, we saw a barge. Waited ever so patiently for him to lock through...when another appeared behind us....we were thinking bad thoughts about having to wait again....and having to wait all day ...following them up the canal...when the lock master announced that he'd let the pleasure boat (that's us) go next...and oh, this barge and tow are not going far...just up the canal to get fuel and off load.

Woo hoo...it's our lucky day....but first we have to get by them...again, the narrowest, barge crowded, tow boats working area....makes me ever so glad I'm not the boat driver.

 In and out of lock 8...lock master never said a word.

At Lock 9, the guy was all about the weather...we commented on his lovely area ...he said it is usually busy with locals....and how where we were going wasn't the best place to be in high water....he suggested another place...as we exited, I got to drive while Captain considered alternatives. He didn't like what he saw...called the lock master at lock 12 who recommended we turn around and stay on the wall at lock 9... The highest point of the system...and a lovely open rural area.

Hey, we're good with that. Bill, the lock master, has become our new best friend. Offering to take us to town or whatever...but we are good....So 11AM...and here we are ...all alone on the wall at Lock 9... No electric...but descent tie up...and wide open running room for the crazy Dakota...so we'll run him several times today...cause rain is a-coming. They say 3-5 inches...serious downpour tonight and tomorrow....slacking off on Monday. Shouldn't be an issue when you are at the top of the system. Right?

Friday morning...June 26.... 8:45 Floyd and two friends took a taxi ride to hit West Marine when it opened at 9.... They were back on the dock shortly...where Floyd gave it two tries to fix the leak in the dinghy floor....didn't work so well....but since we have another kit and another idea, we thought it best to get on down the line.

Today we entered the Champlain Canal system.....67 miles and 11 locks...to Lake Champlain...then Canadain canal/locks to Montreal...Ottawa...Kingston...Trenton...etc...we had high hopes of going 37 miles today....6 locks...several 17' bridges...and spending a quiet night on a free lock wall in Fort Edward NY...said good-bye to Jorge and Barbara....Dakota's girl friends Mona and Lily...and off we went.

It was a calm, cool, clear ...beautiful...day to be boating...we've learned a thing or three about "locking thru"... And lock masters were courteous enough to be ready when we got there....and then....and then...we got a radio call from "BEAVER" (  though it sounded like Beva)... Seems he was a large empty scow headed our way...heads up! Of course we were in the narrowest, barge crowded, guard gate section of the canal...somehow, Captain found a small spot to tuck in and maintain while he passed by...still right on tap to make that planned destination.

5:45 PM...We round the bend, slip under two 19' bridges....to be greeted with the town carnival, tents of vendors and music...

yep, seems it is Heritage Days in Fort Edward....so much for peaceful night on the free dock. It was like being in the middle of Fredonia Homecoming without the parade...Riverfest Wichita at its finest...we joined two other boats who seemed to be there on purpose....had the best spot for people watching and scouting out the action...music was to our liking and not too loud...and then someone mentioned fireworks at 10...people people everywhere. Floyd got to answer lots of questions about how you get a boat this size outta Kansas, where we'd been, where were we going, etc....while I scored 2 purses, 3 headbands  and a tie-dyed t-shirt for the lil man...

10PM...right on schedule...the fireworks fired up...

loudest we'd encountered in quite some time...Dakota headed below...we oooohhhhed and aaaahhhhhed appropriately....and then poof, people are gone...music is over....carnival is quiet....

We plan to leave between 7-8AM on Saturday...weather the next couple of days is full of serious rain...we want to be tucked in safe and sound.

By Wednesday evening the wall in Waterford is once again full...lots of boaters turning left to go up the Erie Canal...oil change and chores are complete...so we are on tap to visit grocery store on Thursday and then head up to Lake Champlain on Friday morning....

Oops....just a little hic-up...as Floyd was testing the dingy he noticed a leak in the darn thing...of course, this was just after a man had asked him if he'd ever had any trouble with it...what a jinx! After a little time on google, he located a repair kit at a West Marine store 8 miles away....so an expensive taxi ride to get a cheap repair kit...we still plan to be underway sometime Friday. 

Jorge and Barbara, on DIADEMA, arrived Thursday afternoon...so Dakota got to play with Mona and Lily...and we got to enjoy their company once again. We part ways here as they too are headed up the Erie.

We keep counting days, measuring miles, re-thinking plans....someone is having a baby first of September...and she thinks her mom should be there! Imagine that?? 

Floyd says we've got just over 1000 miles to go...it's the locks we worry about ...but even then, we've got plenty of time...keep us in your prayers!

Weather can be so unpredictable! So, yes, the thunderstorms came...in the night...and by 10 AM skies where we were had turned blue and sunny....skies where we were going didn't look so good. Captain Floyd predicted that would change for the better by the time we got there...so off we went!

It was a smooth...but rather hot and steamy ride up to Troy. Even though the Erie Canal had opened earlier today, it seems that the free boat dock at Waterford was full up. With clouds gathering we managed to find a "character" marina....really a barge with a couple of floating docks...by it had electricity and a courtesy car...and the price was right! ....and the thunderstorm missed us! Dakota didn't care much for the grated walkway or the extreme lack of grass....but it's all temporary!

Wednesday morning, using the courtesy car and begging, we managed to get sweet Dakota to a veterinarian to update his kennel cough vaccine and a quick trip to the local WalMart for supplies. Back to the boat and underway before noon for the four mile run plus one lock into Waterford....where there had been mass exodus of boats. We are parked for a couple of days in the shade of a lovely bridge...grass everywhere...all for $10....

We have some boat chores to do...change oil, etc...and plan to head up the Champlain canal on Friday! (60 miles and 11 locks)....oh, joy, no floating ballards!

This day truly reminded me that I love this life.....late morning special breakfast .... Uneventful departure....the ride on the Hudson was so smooth I managed to give myself a manicure...gas/pump out and docked before 2....short walk to town for liquor and a few grocery items...a pleasant swim with small children involved (but they weren't mine!).....dinner on the aft deck...and early to bed.
Thunderstorms are predicted so we probably won't be going anywhere on Tuesday....lightning is not our friend.

Not really much here...but the town is pretty cute...big cats everywhere...and decorated cleverly....Dakota wasn't impressed!

so it's Father's Day and Dennis' birthday...we should celebrate....I take Floyd to a highly rated Italian restaurant just up the street for dinner...my night to cook...and just before our meal is served......boom, the electricity goes out...in the entire restaurant...for the entire block of downtown...so we had a bottle of wine, salad, bread sticks and salted caramel gelato... drinking our dinner works. The cute bartender, Audrey, was Jenn Bates' (Channel 12 news) twin...and just as nice. We had a blast...giggled and left satisfied if just a tad toasted and maybe hungry. Tomorrow I get to sleep in...and then we are off to Catskill...and, guess what!!! the blog is all caught up!!!!