We left early from Troy to get on our first Federal Lock. We arrived and told the lockmaster it was our first lock ever. We started the day ready to go!
I felt like Snoopy as we were headed into our first Lock...
Luckily we had the lock to ourselves.
All went well.
Ted found a pipe to tie around and secure us for the lock.
We raised up well and had success!
When we arrived to Waterford there were three boats on the wall and one sailboat that got in front of us. We were in the second of four locks and was the first one in. It's not always ideal to be first in because of the turbulence. We stayed at the first for most of the day. This is the lock as we are waiting to enter E2, the first lock on the Erie Canal.
We moved through lock E2-through E6 without incident.
Before heading into Lock E7, we were waked in the Erie canal by "Full Tilt" from New Jersey. Our experience in New Jersey was the first time we heard name calling and cussing on the Coast Guard monitored VHF channel V16. New Jersey boat drivers have a reputation. We spoke to the young man on Full Tilt who said it was their first time. He was perfectly delightful.
As we had entered Lock 7 we went really slow, especially because we had two extra boats. The large boat that came behind us asked us on the VHF if we were slowing down so they could pass us going into the lock. Ted explained that we were just going slow to enter the lock. We had also already seen that they had passed the second boat in our caravan and would have passed us if the lock hadn't come so quickly.
The lockmaster came around and told us there were mechanical issues and it would take a while before the lock would empty. We waited and waited, people circled, a police man showed up, they instructed him how to put on a life vest.
Then we stayed at Amsterdam Marina wall. When we arrived there wasn't a power pedastal nearby so we used our new extension cord.
Review Amsterdam Marina
Pros: Good location, Nice bathrooms
Cons: Not all spots have Power, Need code to get key for door that was difficult to see at night
Love the map that shows your location. Not being super comfortable with that part of the U.S. it really helps