August 26, 2006

GREETINGS!!!
Repairs have been completed on lock 10 and it opened to traffic early! We finished the last lock Wednesday August 23. The last 5 were about 30-35 feet of a drop each and pretty much back to back. I tried to video tape the last one ( a major feat while hanging onto a boathook and cable) and wouldn't you know my tape ran out just as we got to the bottom! However, for some reason the lock doors didn't open right away so I gave Bill the rope, ran below, got another tape, ran up, changed the tape and resumed filming just when the door opened!!! What a great trip!! We have had such great weather, a little bit of rain here and there but nothing major. The highlight of the last few days was Herkimer. You may or may not know the famous Herkimer diamonds come from this area. They really are not diamonds but rather a unique quartz crystal. We took a cab and went out to the Diamond mine and spent the entire day hammering rocks! Yes, I brought my rock hammer from my old geology days at UMM. What a great time we had and found a few really nice crystals too!
We are now in Waterford NY. On Monday we leave for the Hudson river and will haved the mast put back up. Soon we will be sailing by the Statue of Liberty.
More later, I am getting kicked out of the library as it is closing!!

8-11-06

Johesa is currently in Seneca Falls, the city where women are always right. We are anchored across the canal from the Seneca Knitting Mills which is the building on the left. There is a lot of history in Seneca Falls. It is the city where the birth of womens rights started and also the city that Bedford Falls from It's A Wonderful Life was based on. Cindy was able meet with some of the local women on one of our walks. Here she is with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomers and Susan B. Anthony. Cindy is in the middle.
On Thursday we rented a car with friends and toured the wine country of the Finger Lakes. We did several wine tastings and had lunch at Glenora vinyards.
Next we went to Watkins Glen to walk the gorge. There also was a NASCAR race this weekend so the town was gearing up for an onslot of rednecks. The gorge was amazing. There are over 800 steps that lead up to the top but it was worth the trip and we needed the exercise. We also stopped at the Taughannock Falls which is taller than Niagra Falls.
We've had a nice respite here at Seneca Falls and will be moving on in the next day or so. The New York Canal System officials are still saying that the canal will be open by Labor Day.