Saugerties to Lock E2 of Erie Canal, Waterford, New York

 We left our cozy creek anchorage and continued up the Hudson River planning osn stopping at Hoponose Marina for fuel where the first cruisers we met after we retired kept their boat. No fuel there so we continued on to Donovan's Shady side Marina which was a great spot with excellent service for diesel, water, pump out and garbage. We were then on our way to Troy and the first Corp of Engineers Lock 1 on the Erie Canal. It had poles that you looped a line around midship. Our first lock was smooth and by ourselves as we then went on to Waterford where we met a crowd of boats. The free floating docks were under construction so we wedged ourselves into a small spot on the wall. We had visited here on a car trip so the Welcome Center was familiar and we walked to the E2 Lock and watched a boat go through late in the afternoon. You have to go through the first fight of five lock together as there is no spot to stop. We walked the short distance to the closest McGrievy's Pub for a beer then got a pizza to at Bella's. It was hot and plenty of locals down at the waterfront until dark.

Freighters passing us on the Hudson River

Lighthouses acting as red or green markers

Not your ordinary red nun marker

Looking for green markers in the trees

Masts being destepped and put on the deck as we entered low bridges

Albany waterfront

Troy Lock #1

Welcome to Waterford, New York

Glad to have made it through first lock

First lock of the New York Canal System

We watched from the wall

Here is the space on the wall we left behind