Construction Zone...

Nice long showers, some breakfast, and then it was time to move on. This section of the canal could be best described as a construction zone; we passed quite a few state work boats... dredges, cranes, tugs, and more. There was also a lot of debris in the water. The canal intertwines with the Mohawk River in this area.

We covered 36 miles and went through 5 locks. We’re currently tied off just west of Lock 13. Our motor is mis-behaving... cutting out above 2500 RPM. Just before we got to the lock, I pushed the throttle forward to try to beat a thunderstorm that was sneaking up behind us. Yeah, that didn’t work. So, we tied off to the lock wall and we’ll spend the night here, amidst the lightning, thunder, rain, and wind. The lockmaster did come out to the boat to check on us and said that we could come into the pump house if the weather gets severe.

I checked over a few things before the rain really hit, but couldn’t find anything obviously wrong. While Joan and I hurried to get tied off before Mother Nature let loose on us, a half dozen Amish folks came over to admire our boat. They disappeared when the rain got heavier.
In the meantime, we do have an internet connection, so I’ve asked for some diagnostic help for the motor... we certainly have the time to research it. No TV reception (whoda thunk that in New York State?).

One of the locks we went through today (Lock 17) is different from all the rest... the door to this lock goes up and down, instead of opening from the middle; the door opens up and you go under it. It’s also the largest single step on the Erie, at 40 feet. It was impressive. Joan said she felt like she was in prison as we lowered into that tall lock.