Day 14 - Sat 11 Jun 2016
Docked – St. Johnsville, NY

[photo: family in the background and Loopers in the foreground enjoying the surprise birthday celebration]

We certainly were refreshed after about 10 hours of sleep and woke up at 0500 feeling great. The temperature was quite cool, but not raining, at least. I told Diane we would depart around 0745 to make the 0800 lock opening just a little ways down river. She saw another boat getting their electric and lines off at 0645 so I walked over to see what he knew that I didn’t. After a few phone calls and checks on the Internet, it was confirmed that the lock did not open before 0800 after all, so he was grateful I saved him and hour of circling at the lock.

The bad news for us, if you want to call it that, is that 3 boats left before us and all wanted starboard ties to the lock wall. We saw there was not enough room for us to do that also, so poor Diane had to switch over 3 fenders in short order as we approached the lock. We all got secured very well and locked up easily enough in the almost calm wind. When we exited the chamber, the first 2 boats took off at full speed toward the next lock. We could not stay with them if we tried and wanted to take it slower anyway, so we hung back with Red Ranger doing about 7.5 kts.

When we got to the next lock, those 2 had elected not to wait for us and convinced the lockmaster to get them through quickly. So we had to wait for the lock to recycle for us. That is not normal lock etiquette, but I understand their desire to make miles before the weather closed in and it only delayed us about 5 minutes. We traveled as a pair for about 4 hours with Red Ranger, enduring some really nasty, cold, rain along the way. Running the boat in that weather was not a challenge, but standing outside tending lines in the locks was not much fun for the Admiral.

By 1230, we were tied up at the lovely little St. Johnsville Marina. We docked right behind another power cat, Betsy Marie, and hooked up the electric to get the heater going. I made hot rum toddies to start and then grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato which really warmed us up. By 1300, we were toasty warm.

I had asked the dockmaster if they had a propane grill for boaters’ use and he said yes, so we defrosted a pork tenderloin and some hot Italian sausages to grill later. Well, when we got around to checking out the grill, I discovered there was no gas. Despite being a helpful guy, it did not appear that the dockmaster would have the time or inclination to get the tank filled so I put the food in the fridge for cooking on the boat tomorrow.

The funniest thing that happened was us leaving the boat about 1600 to take showers and then meeting this guy talking to the dockmaster. Within a minute we learned that Chris’s mom was turning 70 and the family had this surprise party all set up. We saw the huge tent and gazebo a few hundred yards away and all these people milling around. The guise Chris used was that there was this really cool boat at the marina she needed to come down and see. We offered to be that boat and he said that would be perfect.

So, Mom arrives a few minutes later and he introduces us. It turns out she visits Punta Gorda and that area each winter. She got a tour of the boat for a few minutes, but meanwhile all the people under the tent must be wondering what the heck is going on. As we exit the boat and start walking back towards the tent, the crowds starts cheering and then she realizes it is a party for her. We were very happy to have been a part of that.

Of course, the family could not have been more gracious (or insistent) that we come over for supper with them all. We hesitated, not wishing to intrude, but we and the recently-arrived crew of Building Our Wings, John and Sharon, came over by invitation, as well. The food was good and we enjoyed the live music and conversation with some of the family. It was the kind of thing that happens from time to time as you travel through small communities. You just need to be receptive to the contact, accept the courtesies extended to you, and hopefully reciprocate as you can.

After leaving the party, we caught up on a few things inside and then sat on the flybridge enjoying the gorgeous evening. By 2100, it was getting darker and much cooler, so we headed inside for a bit before turning in for the night.

If the weather forecast is correct, we will not be moving tomorrow. As of 0500 on Sun, however, the winds were completely calm. We’ll see.