Lily, A Dog's Life Aboard Moondance: St Johnsville

St. Johnsville, NY St Johnsville Municipal Marina July 9-10, 2016

We started off with a cool, overcast day but by the time late morning came along, we were in between light to heavy showers. Mom got to wear her West Marine rain gear which happened to match the NY Canal system colors of yellow and blue. Surprisingly enough there were two different groups of people standing out in the rain at Randall, Lock 13 with umbrellas to watch us… Valerie and Tom can you relate?

Coming into Lock 14, we saw a Golden Bald Eagle flying overhead of us…Awesome! Lots of trains run alongside the Erie Canal, (I'm guessing the train tracks follow the path the mules use to???) ...From really big 3 diesel freight trains to more streamline Amtrak. Mom and dad have always loved trains…we use to hear them in the distance from our Fairfield, OH house. Have to say not a big fan when you are parked next to them, trying to sleep and they come by every 30 minutes or so…that definitely took some getting use too!

Heard M & D say that since they are getting in early today. Since we will have water and electric…Mom will be catching up on her laundry.

It seems God is messing with us, Every time we got close to the locks, it really started pouring!!! ...Perfect, NOT SO MUCH! I stayed inside and kept dry...until mom gave me a bath...UGH!

With all the showers coming through it’s not like M & D can get the outside cleaned, but thankfully it’s gotten most of the salt off Moondance…from here until we get down the rivers we are in fresh water. Thankfully, mom and dad got our boat tied up and tanks filled and (unfilled) before the next storm hit! It looks like all the loopers may all be eating on our boats tonight unless these storms let up…No worries…I know mom and dad have plenty of food and drink!!! Today is a good day for naps…I'm always thrilled to have them join me!!!

St Johnsville Marina and RV Park

Views across from us when the sun came out before sunset

Their sign...too funny!

We had to go behind the fuel & pump out area

Illion, NY Illion Village Marina & RV Park July 10-12, 2016

Since we don’t have too far to go, all 3 boats slept in this am…for a change we enjoyed a nice breakfast in our salon before shoving off around 9 AM. We went through Lock 16 and met, Bosox, a little Jack Russell who was visiting the locks with his owner. It turns out his owner was the brother of the guy who helped us at St. Johnsville Marina. Small World up Here!

Just watched 3 WWII T28’s go over our heads. Mike shot those photos...

Have to say some of the dam temporary or guard gates that we pass under make us feel like we are going through a giant cheese slicer…not a comfortable feeling!!!

Sitting here waiting on Lock 17 to open, we are looking at a ruined house that must have gotten flooded out at some point and just left on the the other side of the railroad tracks…Sad…

Since a large 47’ Bayliner went through ahead of us this morning, we had to wait to go through Lock 17. It has the highest vertical rise in the Erie Canal, 41’

There is one in Canada that we will pass through that is even higher, 84’…scary but exciting too!

It was fun going past Little Falls, NY after Lock 17…It looks positively charming…we even had people waving at us from their windows!

Since it wasn’t that far, we got into Illion a bit after Noon…we were still tying up our boat, when Bob (Skinner off, Knot Sew Easy) came trotting around “Voss at the Marina”, (a little cafe that is 78 years in business) with an ice cream cone in hand…He did the same thing when we all docked with him at RiverLink…It’s like he can smell ice cream…It’s too funny!!!

After everyone paid and tied up, we all went to Voss for a quick lunch…we were chased into our boats by another heavy drizzle coming in along with cooler weather!

There’s lots of Pizza places in this town, so mom and dad are hoping they will deliver! We haven't had a fresh pizza in quite awhile!

We are really enjoying these marinas that are only charging 1$ a foot and many times that includes the electricity & water. YIPPEE! It's a really nice break from what we have been paying...

Tomorrow, we are so looking forward to spending time with Laura and Wade Stevens for our tour of Cooperstown and it's wonderful museums, the Baseball and Fenimore, to name but two! Even I get to come and stay at their house rather than on the boat...that will be a nice change of pace...no rocking and rolling...however, I must say since we have been on the Canal, we haven't had that so much!!!

Thinking of our family and friends who love their guns, the Remington Gun Museum is here in little Illion, NY...doubt we will make it, but Ben was going to try to get his photo in front of it since it is closed on Sunday. With all the rain we have had since we arrived...that's not looking like a strong possibility! Another great afternoon for sleeping...