June 12, 2009 Charlie and I toured the Remington Arms Factory in Ilion, NY while we were on the Erie Canal. This site has been in operation since 1825.
Sunday, June 14, 2009 Day 312 Greetings from Sylvan Beach on the Erie Canal!
Freedom's Turn cruised the Hudson River at New York City to Albany, NY; a distance of 160 miles taking her four days. Two extra days layover in Albany, then a cruise of eight miles north to Troy, NY where Freedom's Turn entered the Erie Canal with a destination of Oswego, NY (will arrive there tomorrow)on the southeastern shoreline of Lake Ontario. This stretch equals a distance of 180 miles in eight days. Added up these distances and we get 348 miles for this blog. These are all statue (land) miles.
If we would have continued on the Erie Canal to it's end, we would have ended up in Buffalo, NY.
Charlie and I bought a ten day pass for $37 which will be more than enough time from June 9 to getting through the Oswego canal by June 15.
There are many free city docks and free lock walls as well as marinas along the way for us to choose to spend the night. Some have electricity and water, so do not. The marina prices are very reasonable compaired to New York City,the Eastern Seaboard, and Florida.
The time span for this blog is from June 3 through tomorrow, June 15.
After tomorrow, we will have gone through 31 locks on the Erie and Oswego Canals. Each one takes about 1/2 hour plus we travel at about 8 MPH (the speed limit is 10 MPH.) "Go with the flow" could take on a whole new meaning for some; for us it is our comfortable and economic cruising speed.
Last night Freedom's Turn enjoyed a free dock wall tie up in the town of Sylvan Beach on the Erie Canal. Today she is heading west for a 1/2 day cruise on Lake Oneida to Brewerton, NY (near Syracuse, NY) where she will leave the Erie Canal and go north on the Oswego Canal to Oswego on Monday. SEE MAP (Brewerton is not on the map but is roughly at the turn heading north on the map's black line)
We made a big black dot for Oswego because it is here where we will cross over Lake Ontario to Kingston, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday, June 16; signifying us leaving the U.S. for the next 4-6 weeks; the last leg of our trip! If you click on the map you can see the details a little better.
Once in Canada, Charlie and I will not have internet coverage with our Verizon aircard. Checking email and blog updates will depend on hot spots found either in a cafe or marina that provides wi-fi coverage. We will still answer our emails; we regret not knowing how soon we can make that happen! We will change our cell phones to include Canada, however, so feel free to call us!)
This blog has lots of photos because it is our goal to catch everyone up to the point of entering Canada by June 16. Since we are on the Erie Canal now, well start the blog here, then we'll move backwards to the Hudson River.
The Erie Canal
The Erie Canal was opened in 1825 at which time New York city was second in size to Philadelphia as a port and also as a city based on size. Ten years after the canal opened up, the Port of New York was larger than the Port of Philadelphia. The canal runs from Buffalo on Lake Erie across New York state to Troy and Albany, which are on the Hudson River. The exact location, size and depth have changed over the years but today the canal has an average depth of 10 feet. All locks are 44.5 feet wide and 300 feet long. even though it is called the New York Barge Canal system, there are very few barges on the canal. The overwhelming majority of boat traffic is recreational.
During the week, we have experienced one or two boats each time we have been through one of the 21 locks so far. Now that we are into the weekend, we have seen a slight increase.
From Troy, Freedom's Turn went up in elevation a total of 420 feet to Rome, NY and then will have descended 246 feet by the time we reach to Oswego.
Charlie and I had the pleasure of traveling with Hank and Ann of Queen Ann's Revenge continuing on from New York City to just a few days ago when they went past of us on the Erie Canal to go further west to Youngstown, NY. Their goal is to rent a car and drive to Iowa because their son is getting married in about a week from now! We did not say good-bye but see you in Canada or Michigan, we hope.
Entering the New York Barge Canal System
on the Erie Canal, June 9. The Champlain Canal leads boats north to Lake Champlain and to the St. Lawrence Seaway. Many loopers go this way and it extends the trip by a month or more.
Each lock has a sign
The walls are very rough and we have to wear sailing gloves and use plenty of fenders and hold the lines they drop down to us very tightly.
Canajoharie- We are tied up at a free dock but no power. We went out to dinner with Hank and Ann. Linda and Ann toured the fabulous Arkell Art Museum and library here. This town is where Beechnut gum and all other Beechnut products originated from. The factory is still in operation!
In Illion, Charlie and I toured the Remington Arms Museum as well the factory.
Freedom's Turn is at the Illion Marina on the Erie Canal for a two day stay. Town was very close. We both got our hair cut here!
There were many historical sites including Revolutionary War sites we learned about while on the Erie Canal. Although it was hard work at times going through the several locks and holding our boat steady, it was a very pleasant trip overall.
We found the Hudson River absolutely beautiful. There are numerous small towns dating back to the 17th century when the Dutch settlers were the first to come. We saw glimpses of these quaint towns as we cruised by them. Visitors from all over the world flock to here to enjoy the ski resorts, fishing and camping, wine tasting, antique ships and art galleries. Key attractions include the West Point Military Academy, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Historical National Site, and the the Vanderbilt Estate which we visited via rental car, once we got to Albany we drove back to some of the sights. We did not get to The Culinary Institute, to our dismay!
on the Erie Canal, June 9. The Champlain Canal leads boats north to Lake Champlain and to the St. Lawrence Seaway. Many loopers go this way and it extends the trip by a month or more.
Each lock has a sign
giving us information.
The walls are very rough and we have to wear sailing gloves and use plenty of fenders and hold the lines they drop down to us very tightly.
Some locks have a pipe or cable for us to loop our line to.
Our books tell us so we can prepare ahead of time.
Our books tell us so we can prepare ahead of time.
Canajoharie- We are tied up at a free dock but no power. We went out to dinner with Hank and Ann. Linda and Ann toured the fabulous Arkell Art Museum and library here. This town is where Beechnut gum and all other Beechnut products originated from. The factory is still in operation!
In Illion, Charlie and I toured the Remington Arms Museum as well the factory.
Freedom's Turn is at the Illion Marina on the Erie Canal for a two day stay. Town was very close. We both got our hair cut here!There were many historical sites including Revolutionary War sites we learned about while on the Erie Canal. Although it was hard work at times going through the several locks and holding our boat steady, it was a very pleasant trip overall.
We had two days of rain which is a bit uncomfortable standing outside while in the locks but we were grateful the rain was not extreme. In the spring of 2006, the Erie Canal was closed for 20 days due to extreme flooding and our fellow Great Looper boats and others were stranded in the canal!
The Hudson River
In 1609 Dutch explorer Henry Hudson sailed his ship the "Half Moon" from what is known today as the New York Harbor to Albany, New York on the great river that would later bear his name.
The Hudson River
In 1609 Dutch explorer Henry Hudson sailed his ship the "Half Moon" from what is known today as the New York Harbor to Albany, New York on the great river that would later bear his name.
History books tell us he was seeking a short cut from Europe to Asia but instead found a river that had lush, green highlands and plunging rocky cliffs.
Queen Ann's Revenge and Freedom's Turn were very lucky to see the official and exact replica of the Half Moon as she passed us on June 4 on her way south to New York City to be apart of the 400 year celebration of her maiden voyage up the river. Here is another view; showing her stern. It was a thrill to see her and to imagine, even if just for a moment, that we were back in her time.
We found the Hudson River absolutely beautiful. There are numerous small towns dating back to the 17th century when the Dutch settlers were the first to come. We saw glimpses of these quaint towns as we cruised by them. Visitors from all over the world flock to here to enjoy the ski resorts, fishing and camping, wine tasting, antique ships and art galleries. Key attractions include the West Point Military Academy, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Historical National Site, and the the Vanderbilt Estate which we visited via rental car, once we got to Albany we drove back to some of the sights. We did not get to The Culinary Institute, to our dismay! Historical villages are flanked by rolling hills where farming is still a major industry. There is a real town of Sleepy Hollow, where Washington Irving wrote Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! Everywhere we went, we felt the locals took pride in preserving the environment in the Hudson river Valley.
It was on this part of the trip we began to see and hear the cardinals again!
Charlie and Hank enjoying their cigar time at Norrie State Park Marina.
From the Hudson River valley, dense forests spring up in panoramic views. These include the Adirondacks, and the Catskills. Tourism took off in the Hudson river Valley in the mid 18th century with the steamboats bringing folks in to see the places they were beginning to see in paintings produced by painters from the Hudson River School, founded by Thomas Cole in 1815. Many of America's best landscape painters studied at the school. Winston Homer was one of them. Besides being a watercolor painter, Winslow Homer was an avid hunter and fisherman and many of his paintings reflect the scenes of and near the waters of the Hudson River.
One of my favorites of his painted in the late 1890's along the Hudson River; not typical of the large, romantic landscapes of the Hudson River school style but never-the-less, I just so happened to have a book about Winslow Homer on board!
We saw the Indian Point nuclear plant along the way.
A pretty line of sailing vessels at Norrie State Park Marina.
Our bathroom-shower house at the Norrie State park built in 1939!
Our beautiful cruise on the Hudson River; looking at views that Henry Hudson must have seen.
Queen Ann's Revenge going up to West Point Military Academy.
Many of those city slickers from New York City and other places have had country estates along the river for many a year.
We rented a car while in Albany and visited West Point by land. In their museum, we saw this crest bearing the army's motto: Duty, Honor, and County.
In the museum we saw this actual death mask of Cheyenne Chief Sitting Bull done by the government. Sitting Bull was the victorious chief where General George Custer was defeated and killed in the Army's Battle of Little Big Horn in the 1878. Sitting Bull died a few years later.
The Army's football stadium. The athletic teams at west Point are called the Black Knights.
A view from a mountain road along the Hudson River.
A Civil War Monument at West Point. It is overlooking the place on the Hudson where George Washington ordered a 68 ton large linked chain to go across the river to act as a hidden hazzard to any British ships coming up to West Point. It took 270 men to lay the chain across logs that were all just under the water's surface. The British found out about it and did not come up the river to here, thus the stronghold here on the river was preserved.
West Point Military Academy was founded in 1778 and is the oldest continually garrisoned post in the U.S. army. Distinguished graduates include Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Douglas MacArthur.
Charlie and Hank enjoying their cigar time at Norrie State Park Marina.
From the Hudson River valley, dense forests spring up in panoramic views. These include the Adirondacks, and the Catskills. Tourism took off in the Hudson river Valley in the mid 18th century with the steamboats bringing folks in to see the places they were beginning to see in paintings produced by painters from the Hudson River School, founded by Thomas Cole in 1815. Many of America's best landscape painters studied at the school. Winston Homer was one of them. Besides being a watercolor painter, Winslow Homer was an avid hunter and fisherman and many of his paintings reflect the scenes of and near the waters of the Hudson River.
One of my favorites of his painted in the late 1890's along the Hudson River; not typical of the large, romantic landscapes of the Hudson River school style but never-the-less, I just so happened to have a book about Winslow Homer on board!
We saw the Indian Point nuclear plant along the way.
A pretty line of sailing vessels at Norrie State Park Marina.
Our bathroom-shower house at the Norrie State park built in 1939!
Our beautiful cruise on the Hudson River; looking at views that Henry Hudson must have seen.
Queen Ann's Revenge going up to West Point Military Academy.
Many of those city slickers from New York City and other places have had country estates along the river for many a year.
We rented a car while in Albany and visited West Point by land. In their museum, we saw this crest bearing the army's motto: Duty, Honor, and County.
In the museum we saw this actual death mask of Cheyenne Chief Sitting Bull done by the government. Sitting Bull was the victorious chief where General George Custer was defeated and killed in the Army's Battle of Little Big Horn in the 1878. Sitting Bull died a few years later.
The Army's football stadium. The athletic teams at west Point are called the Black Knights.
A view from a mountain road along the Hudson River.
A Civil War Monument at West Point. It is overlooking the place on the Hudson where George Washington ordered a 68 ton large linked chain to go across the river to act as a hidden hazzard to any British ships coming up to West Point. It took 270 men to lay the chain across logs that were all just under the water's surface. The British found out about it and did not come up the river to here, thus the stronghold here on the river was preserved.West Point Military Academy was founded in 1778 and is the oldest continually garrisoned post in the U.S. army. Distinguished graduates include Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Douglas MacArthur.
There are 16,00 acres of training grounds, playing fields,and buildings constructed in the Military Gothic style. The lifestyle while here is very rigorous.
The Academy's Chapel. Catholic and Jewish services have their own places of worship. Everyone is required to attend special events here from time to time.
Inside the chapel, there is a row of seats reserved for the MIAs only. A perpectual candle burns, waiting for them to return.
The chapel and a dormitory.
The Congressional Medal of Honor was displayed in the museum. The West Point Museum is the largest Army Museum in the world.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
National Historical Site
Winston Churchill
"Freedom From Fear" monument, below. The two figures in the center are made from actual pieces of the Berlin Wall and were made by Winston Churchill's daughter.
Burial place of F.D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor is in their beautiful rose garden on their Hyde Park, NY estate known as Springwood.
Springwood Estate
This is the boyhood home of F.D. Roosevelt and when he married Eleanor, his mother Sara gave the couple the house as a wedding gift. This was their primary residence. But then Sara moved in with them! There were other residences for the Roosevelts as well but Springwood was their primary one.
Springwood Estate
Here is the Vanderbilt Estate known as
the Hyde Park
We ran out of time to go inside the Vanderbilt "Hyde Park" mansion. Charlie is on the front porch. We walked through their Italian gardens. The extensive gardens were in full bloom!
After sightseeing by car for a twelve hour day, we were happy to get back 'home' to our boat at Albany Yacht Club and settle in for the night. The next day would be our first day on the Erie Canal.
The Academy's Chapel. Catholic and Jewish services have their own places of worship. Everyone is required to attend special events here from time to time.
Inside the chapel, there is a row of seats reserved for the MIAs only. A perpectual candle burns, waiting for them to return.
The chapel and a dormitory.
The Congressional Medal of Honor was displayed in the museum. The West Point Museum is the largest Army Museum in the world.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
National Historical Site
Winston Churchill
"Freedom From Fear" monument, below. The two figures in the center are made from actual pieces of the Berlin Wall and were made by Winston Churchill's daughter.
Burial place of F.D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor is in their beautiful rose garden on their Hyde Park, NY estate known as Springwood.
Springwood EstateThis is the boyhood home of F.D. Roosevelt and when he married Eleanor, his mother Sara gave the couple the house as a wedding gift. This was their primary residence. But then Sara moved in with them! There were other residences for the Roosevelts as well but Springwood was their primary one.
Springwood Estate
Here is the Vanderbilt Estate known as
the Hyde Park
We ran out of time to go inside the Vanderbilt "Hyde Park" mansion. Charlie is on the front porch. We walked through their Italian gardens. The extensive gardens were in full bloom!
After sightseeing by car for a twelve hour day, we were happy to get back 'home' to our boat at Albany Yacht Club and settle in for the night. The next day would be our first day on the Erie Canal.
