Days Events:

Wx - forecast is 54/86, wds SW 7, sunny.

Travel - left Shady Harbor Marina at 10:00, after pumping out [the marina mgr, Nick, did a great job, and rinsed twice, which made big difference in the final rinse with scant color remaining, which should help for odor also; and then we added the Calgon softener/Tide mixture to try and control odor because it has worked in past], cruised 25 miles in 4.5 hrs [bit slower due to the freighter in front - see below], arriving at Waterford Harbor Docks at 14:30/2:30pm. A great pleasure boating day, with wind that almost disappeared as the day wore on, sunny, and an ebb current against us which wasn't too bad.

Were waked by a cruiser passing downstream, who also didn't slow down by a marina behind us, and was sharply reprimanded by boaters in that marina; he said he was in idle and couldn't slow down and they didn't exactly accept that excuse and told him to just take it out of gear, just as he would if docking; he said he couldn't so they said they were calling the next marina downstream and they would be 'prepared' for him!!

Went through the first lock at Troy; only took 5min for 14ft lift. Will have another 22 locks before we turn to go up the Oswego canal to L.Ontario.

Photos - a tow/barge at sunrise with its running lights visible;

-- one of the rather large freighter that pulled off the recycling business dock upstream from us just as we left Shady Harbor, with her tugs assisting, and had to go upstream to be able to turn around, and we followed her all the way to the Albany Turn Basin because the channel was really too narrow to pass, but she wasn't going that slow anyway [8mph] so we were quite peacefully gawking - we passed her stern as she was being turned in the Basin by the tugs, so she could return to presumably NYC.

-- a skyline view of the city of Albany and a gothic structure downtown; one of the lift bridge at Troy;

-- several at Waterford, where we docked for tonight; it is a municipal dock, with a nice Visitors Center with information about the locks, etc. Only had to pay for the power hook-up; and didn't need the key for the showers/toilets. Two other looper boats are here. You can only tie up for 48hrs.

-- one of the Lock 2, obviously right next door, which we will go through tomorrow at 07:30 - the first of another six.

-- Marg got a nice sunset off the aft deck.

Admirals (Wordy) Desk:

WORDY!!! PBTHTH!!!

Nice travel day.

Not much boat traffic except the doofus waking everyone. Glad someone blasted him on the radio. Our humor for the day.

Watching the ship being turned was interesting. Amazing power in those tugs.

Six locks tomorrow. We were a little rusty in the one today. It's been a while since we've been thru one.

It's lovely here. The evening light is definitely taking on a northern feel. The sun is setting earlier but there is a longer evening.

That's all for tonight.

Hopefully not too Wordy!!😁

Maintenance:

Steering - worked well, no problems, no leaks. Did add a bit more hydraulic fluid to the upper helm port because none was visible; that has made the turning more 'firm' and truly back to 'normal'. Will see tomorrow.

Oils, etc - all are good. Battery voltages good. Holding tank monitor = 'E' on both gauges!! The rinsing has to be helpful for the 'old' one [with the floating ball in the tube].

Covid - the staff at the Visitors Center are masked and the boaters have masks when going in.

Tomorrow - we go to the Schenectady Yacht Club, 17 miles, with 6 locks to go through, along the Mohawk River. Have to be ready at 07:30 for the first lock as they are only allowing westbound lock-through at 07:30 and 12:30, and eastbound only twice as well for the next week.

That's all for today.

Stay safe.