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!!