Day 4
Begin: Guy Park, Amsterdam (Lock E11)
End: Waterford (Guard Gate E2)
Day 4 started off okay, but by the end of the day we were running from storms, ultimately stopping atop Guard Gate E2.
We woke up late; all the other boats were already gone but one. Overnight were some large thunder storms which kept us up. Having never slept in a storm on a river, I got up a few times to make sure the river had not risen. There was no issue, but better safe than sorry. Later in the trip we had learned better ways to tie the boat to the wall that kept the boat to the wall safely, even with fluctuations of the water level.
I got up and went to get fuel with our gas cans, not a fun job, but we need it and getting it from a auto gas station is much cheaper than the marinas, and that keeps our low budget trip on budget. While I was out Leila had made breakfast, so at least I was welcomed back with a ready meal. We called the lockmaster and she had the lock ready for us by the time we got the boat untied and ready. Before we locked through I snapped a photo of the remaining sailboat.
Sailboat tied up a Guy Park
We headed through the lock towards Riverlink Park and passed a large building on the south side with was seems to be a overly large sea (river?) wall, but I wondered how high the water had risen on it last year during the floods.
Large wall in Amsterdam
We then attempted to stop at Riverlink park to get some coffee for Leila, but unfortunately some people at the dock told us they did not open until 11, so we did not tie up. Leila was disappointed, but we made do; in hind sight there was coffee at the auto shop, but I did not think of it then.
We continued on through Lock E10, Lock E9, and Lock E8 with no real issue, the wind was picking up and it made some of the docking in the locks less than graceful, but nothing too embarrassing. We had talked with a lockmaster while in Lock E10 while waiting for a vessel coming from behind us. It is really nice how the lockmasters just do not raise and lower you, but also check on you, give suggestions and other info. They seem to always know the weather and always have good answers when asking about the upcoming amenities and their honest opinions of what to expect.
We made it to Scotia, and wanted go to Jumpin’ Jack’s for lunch. We first headed down the center channel before the bridge after seeing a local 17′ motorboat speed through at 20 knots. BAD IDEA! We only draft about 36″, but it was enough to hit bottom, and without a depth finder (another bad idea!) we were not sure of the depth. We were only going about 2 knots at the time, so no harm was done, but hitting bottom is hitting bottom. We then removed the rudder (deepest part of the boat) and motored out to the channel steering with the outboard. We then checked the rudder and headed east and were going to attempt it from the channel closes to the Scotia Dock. We entered VERY slow not seeing the bottom and made it to the dock, later to find out the depth was about 8′ at the dock and 10′ in the channel (a depth finder is necessary from now on!). Some jerk had their 17′ motorboat occupying the entire dock, so we had to get close, jump off, and then move thier boat, and then tie our up. We went to Jumpin’ Jacks and had a great meal, and then took a walk around. We wanted to make it to Waterford today so we were back motoring within an hour. One think that we did not like about this place were the motor boats who zip by at full speed at only 50′ from the boat. Their wakes rock the boat, slamming it into the dock.
Back on the canal, the weather was starting to turn sour. It was not raining, but you could see that it might. We headed east and made it to Lock E7 but it was getting HOT!!!, without any wind, and no AC we were not very pleasant. It is different being on the river in the heat versus the lake, it seems the lake keeps the air just a bit cooler, or at least keeps a slight breeze. Regardless, we felt that it was time for a swim. We anchored just before the route 9 bridge in Cresent and took a dip. It was very refreshing. We were not used to swimming in a river, and without noticing we were swept away from the boat and had a tough swim back to the boat. Leila had little problem as she is an excellent swimmer (lifeguard/swim instructor/part fish) but I am not a fast swimmer, so it took me a lot longer. Not wanting to get back in the boat, we grabbed a rope and some life jackets and just floated tethered to the boat.
After about 30 minutes in the water we noticed the weather may be turning for the worst, with dark clouds forming, so we got back aboard. By the time we got back aboard, dried off and pulled up anchor it was raining. We headed straight for the Cresent wall and by the time we got there it was pouring! We tied up and went under and played cards. The storm passed just as fast as it came in, and we walked over to Stewarts and got some food and supplies. I took the opportunity to get some more fuel and we went back to the boat. We had asked at Lock E7 if there was room at the Waterford Visitor Center, but the lockmaster said it was full (another great thing a lockmaster did for us). We decided that it looked clear enough to make it to the wall at Guard Gate E2, so we gave it a shot.
We made it there with only a sprikle, but had wasted time swiming and at the Cresent wall so it was just about dark and we had not had dinner. We got out the stove and started cooking, but unfortunately now the bugs were coming out. We had the screen up but bugs still found there way in. We ate, watched a movie and then got ready for bed, but the bug were aweful. We tried to kill them all, but we were in for a miserable night.