The damage to Lock 11 (above Amsterdam) by Hurricane Irene in 2011. Photo courtesy of Google

The crew departs Schenectady, NY and has a short, pretty day passing through three locks - 8, 9, and 10 - to Amsterdam, NY (14NM). We spend the rest of the day and overnight along the Canal wall/marina. Amsterdam is a sweet little town still trying to recover from the devastating effects of hurricane Irene in 2011. If you visit, be sure to use the newer pedestrian bridge leading to the South Side as this is the part of town to spend time. In addition, if you arrive by boat, you may want to check with your fellow boaters for reports of people untying boats in the middle of the night (as we had been warned when we were in town). We say goodbye to Jim and Julia Lennon the next morning and return to our core crew of four. We transit locks 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 smoothly and tie-up at St. Johnsville Marina (26NM). We may have to spend two nights here as the winds are picking up and the tallest of the locks is just two up. Lock 17 has a forty foot rise….so stay tuned!!!

Looking back at Lock 8 as the doors close

There is so much debris along the Erie Canal from the huge run-off and high water upstream

A map of our path toward the Oswego Canal

Jim takes his union mandated break between locks

There are many abandoned mills and factories along the Erie Canal from days long past

Couldn’t resist posting a picture of the creative advertising used by this Optometrist in Amsterdam, NY

Actually had to lock up the boat tonight. We used the anchor chain from the tender and a pad lock…good grief!

There is a different map of the Erie Canal at each little town you stop at