Stranded in Fort Edward by Irene!
This is an update to my last post. We are still at lock 7 of
the Champlain Canal. The canal reopened on Monday and then closed again on
Tuesday because of debris. However, another issue is the Federal Lock at Troy
that was flooded by Irene. We’ve heard there were boats and other debris sunk
in the lock. These boats etc, had gone over the top of the lock during the
flooding last weekend. In addition, the electrical system that controls the
doors and valves was under water at one point.
After we leave the Champlain Canal, we need to pass through
this lock in order to proceed down the Hudson. We are now being told we may
be able to proceed down the canal on Friday and the federal lock may
open on Monday. We will see what happens.
We have used the time mostly to do some visiting. We took a
few days to visit my mother and then took another few days to visit our friends
George and Jane on Long Island. We also toured Fort Ticonderoga with Lucy, one
of Jean’s friends from high school.
We are right next to a canal maintenance facility so I’ve
found it to be a good time to change the engine oil since they have a disposal
facility for the used oil. We’ve been doing other boat projects as well as socializing with
other members of the “Lock 7 Yacht Club”.
All in all, this has not been a bad place to be stuck. Most
of the stores etc we need are available and the lock personnel and canal
management deserve high marks for making sure we are protected, keeping us
informed and generally helping us any way they can.
We were fortunate we were not on the Erie Canal as the
damage there is pretty extensive and the word is that the eastern portion (lock
13 to Waterford) may not open again this year due to damages at the locks and
the dams. In some places the dams are so damaged that there is not enough water
in the system for navigation.
We hope all is well with everyone!
Steve & Jean
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