A bit of a delay getting internet access and unfamiliarity with the blog editing have put me behind. Libbey and I launched Laughing Gull on Tuesday 8/4 in Troy NY and commenced our circumnavigation of the Great Loop. We crossed the Hudson and immediately entered the Erie Canal's first flight of 6 locks. By the end of that we pretty much had locking through dialed in. We anchored for the first night in Niskayuna in a broad reach of the river with just a few houses in the distance, very green shores of hardwoods and of course somewhat green water.




The lack of development along the shore is a pleasant surprise. There are signs of industry here and there but most of the old mills are derelict or repurposed as antique malls or office buildings. Our only shore landing was in Little Falls, just after transiting Lock 17, a monster lock with 40' of vertical rise.

A mostly futile attempt to post blog and Facebook posts at McD's but a nice Reuben at a nearby diner was some consolation.

The lock keepers are all very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. We did have one friendly young guy who was really keen on us tying up to the free dock in town for the night because there is a McDonald's right across the street

Today is day 4, slow traveling with a 10mph speed limit. The boat has a sweet spot in the fuel consumption curve. She will deliver 6mpg at 7 mph. Accelerate to 10mph and economy drops to 3 mpg. I'm not interested in halving our mpg for 3mph.

We will make Lake Oneida later this afternoon. Its literally the high point of the Erie Canal. From there its downstream to Lake Ontario on the Oswego River

Day 5 Spent last night anchored on Messenger Shoal because a lock keeper said the fishing would be good. No fish but a fine evening on big open (and very green with algae) lake. Turns out the last 2 locks before Oneida were down locks so we started down a bit earlier than expected.

Took the boat to Oneida Marina to have the small engine's all too delicate carburetor repaired on recommendaton from a discussion board colleague. Ran the lake down to the Oswego River and first lock. Pretty anchorage by Walter Island below Phoenix.

Day 6 (Sunday) Locked through to Lake Ontario. Ice in Minetto while waiting for repairs to Lock 5. Met with Rob(DEBF) son Garret and friend Mike. Good fishing advice. Anchored in Sandy Pond-heavy boat traffic early then quiet

Day 7 Sandy Pond to Sacket Harbor for supplies and no internet. Hot and humid weather drove us back to Laughing Gull .Slow fishing for King Salmon-no strikes. Breezy forecast for tomorrow so we found a secluded anchorage on Back River Bay. The young eagles are learning to fly and we've watched several practicing soaring.

Day 8 Wind bound at anchor. Books and gear maintenance, idle and unsuccessful fishing.


Day 9 Back River Bay to Quintze Bay (80 miles). NW wind easy to evade except for one cross wind slog at 6 knots. Saw swans at two locations (mediocre photo to follow) We're working on a bird list for the trip and I'll share that soon

Day 10 At marina in Trenton Ontario and finally have good internet access. Showers, laundry and ethnic food fill out the plan for the day

We'll launch at Troy NY, cross the Hudson to the Erie Canal. We'll follow the Erie to the west to Three Rivers. From there we'll take the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario. After we cross Ontario we'll transit the Trent Severn waterway to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. We'll cruise Huron and Michigan and exit the Lakes at Chicago. We'll follow the Illinois to the Mississippi, then down river to the Ohio River from there we'll cruise the Tennessee Tombigbee waterway to the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile Alabama. We'll winter over in Florida and head up the Atlantic ICW in the spring.