42 47.16 'N:73 40.69'W
We made the 53 nautical mile trip up the beautiful Hudson River from Pollepel Island to Catskill, NY on May 14/17. It was a very chilly 8 degrees with wind directly on our bow. The fishing for striped bass (stripers) seems to be as popular on the Hudson River as it was in Chesapeake Bay.
We arrived at Riverside Marina on Catskill Creek in the early evening. The weather forecast was for extremely windy conditions the next day so we took advantage of the calm evening to take our headsail off the boat. The next day was windy as promised but we put in a full shift making preparations for taking the mast down. Paul had to design and build the supports to hold our mast on deck as we transit the canal. Our mast weighs 1200 pounds so the supports need to be strong!
On Tuesday May 16/17 the day was calm and we were ready to get the mast down and on deck. Well we were ready but the whole process wasn't without some anxiety on our part. There's something about that big stick dangling by a rope from a crane over top of your boat that is a bit nerve wracking. That can't be helped and in the end things went pretty smoothly. Paul spent the afternoon securing the mast to the supports with strapping to prevent movement in any direction. We had taken the dodger and bimini off the boat and happily they fit back in place over top of the mast so we would still have some shade for our trip.
By noon we were ready to switch docks with Dagny so they could move into place under the mast crane and get ready for their mast to come down.
Bev and I walked the 2 mile hike to get some provisions that afternoon and by the time we got back both boats were ready to go. We had a little pizza party on board 2 Outrageous with Dagny and Anglesarke that evening.
We departed the marina the next morning as a motorboat. The temperature was hot at 30 degrees! As we passed by Albany, NY we encountered at 60 foot bridge. Paul was at the wheel and I could hear him getting kind of concerned about the clearance under the bridge. I was able to tell him that he really needn't worry about the clearance 60 feet should be more than enough! Ha Ha after all that he forgot the mast was on the deck! We both had a good laugh over that one.
We passed through the Troy lock mid afternoon and were very surprised to arrive in Waterford and find space on the town dock. Paul had called the Erie Canal lockmaster that morning and he said no way would we find a spot. Well we did and we are here, right on schedule waiting for the canal system to open. In the meantime we are just enjoying the historic town of Waterford and the camaraderie with the crews of the other nineteen boats here waiting with us.
Dagny is here now but will depart early on Friday morning to head a little further north to the Lake Champlain canal system. Allan and Bev have been great travelling partners and we will miss their company.
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