Albany to Fort Edward, NY

Leaving the dock with Debi, Adam and Ayla

We did well today.  Adam, Ayla and Debi rode along for the first couple of hours as we went through a lock and explained how it all worked.  We turned in at the Waterford Visitors Center and dropped our guests off there.  Tom brought the car to come meet them and they were on their way.

We continued up the Champlain Canal and went through 6 more locks.  We traveled with a Gold looper boat and Mazel Tug and found the locks to be no problem.  They are significantly smaller than the locks on the Ohio, Tennessee and Alabama Rivers, but the locks use ropes dropped from above to control the visiting boats, and the process is somewhat messier. 

Adam gathering mineral water

Guest blogger Ayla reports that they visited the mineral springs at Saratoga Spa Park.  They also went swimming and for a bike ride along difficult trails.  They saw large groundhogs.  They kids brought back fine mineral water.  This was the best park they have stopped at so far on the trip.

Tonight we are staying at a free dock wall at Fort Edwards Yacht Basin - a nice little city park with restrooms, free electricity and available water.  Since it is pouring rain we probably won’t take advantage of the park or the town tonight.

Ayla landing at the Waterford Visitors Center

Spaghetti and meatballs with sausage for 6