Saturday, June 17, 2017

Little Falls NY



June 13:  Many boaters give Little Falls high marks as a cruising stop and we agree.  Dockage is a concrete wall we have become accustomed to pulling up alongside.  There are, however, floating docks for smaller boats. The setting, at Canal Harbor (again run by the municipality) is unspoiled forest across the waterway.  The marina office is in a modern addition at the front of an old ferry barge terminal, all in a sweet little park with brick pathways and a circular garden with a fountain.  There are picnic tables scattered around the property and the office has a nice front porch with comfortable seating and a library lounge with TV inside the building.  Dock Master, Mark, could not have been more accommodating.  He took Donna and the crew of HILANDRA for a driving tour of the area, dropping them at the grocery store and picking them up again. 

Little Falls is a gem of transformed and thriving old manufacturing town. Although a few manufacturing sites are still empty with broken windows, many have been transformed into apartments, shops and restaurants. 
Main Street is vibrant and the Canal Side district is charming.  One night we dined at Canal Side Inn and another evening joined Sue and Rich for “Art Walk & the Art of Food”.  The art was free and the food was $10.00 for a person.  This entitled you to sample the offerings of many restaurants along Main Street while enjoying the artwork.  There were a number of art activities for kids.  Although threatening to rain the entire evening, it was a great time and a great turnout.  One of the most endearing qualities of Little Falls is the universal sense of love and pride exhibited by the residents for their hometown.

Masonic Temple

Mohawk River, now diverted by Canal & Lock

Abandoned factory

Canal Place: shops, art studios and restaurants




1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza (white); and 1968 (blue)



Stone (Crushing) Mill

On the road to Little Falls NY


June 10:  We leave Waterford, reluctantly.  It seemed as though we got absorbed by the environs, but needed to "weigh anchor" or stay there; or maybe it was staring at that daunting Lock Door #2 for a week and wondering "what adventures lie ahead for SANTORINI"? It seemed like a bittersweet departure, but we called the Lock Master and asked him to open the door and let our passage begin "up the Waterford flight".  We were the only vessel to leave at that time, so we will do the Flight (locks) solo! 


Miss Clio reviewing Mommy's pre-trip and itinerary

It was a wonderful cruise up the Mohawk River, and locking-thru the "flight" was without drama or trauma.  Seeing how Nature, the glaciers, carved out the river was just amazing. 



We completed 6 locks after our departure from Waterford and found a quiet anchorage on a small carved out creek in Scotia NY about 1 mile east of Lock #8 and spent the night.    

  
June 11:  We leave our peaceful anchorage and continue our journey. We arrived in Amsterdam NY and decided to spend the afternoon and evening at Riverlink Park, a public marina operated by the City.  It is a charming marina in an expansive park setting, including a restaurant and a stunning pedestrain bridge over the river.  Soon after our arrival we helped another pair of cruisers, Sue and Rich, tie-up their boat at the marina.  It was their first journey away from their home cruising port on Lake Champlain on their Ranger Tug 27 named HILANDRA (after their two daughters). 


June 12:   After a leisurely morning coffee, we're off to Canajoharie NY, where Rich and Sue said the city has public floating docks and power outlets for we "Loopers."  These are views of our approach to Lock #12. 

Approaching Lock #12 ... need to climb about 20' up and over the waterfall

Inside and rising in Lock 12, and view of adjacent waterfall
Boater's Nightmare: Dead Heads ... navigational hazards for all vessels.  Saw lots of them in the Hudson, but not quite like these logs we passed in the Mohawk River


June 13:  It was a long hot and steamy night in Canajoharie NY.  The floating docks that we expected to find on our arrival were gone.  We discovered that they had been removed because the river was too high, so we and other boaters had to tie up to the town wall that is normally used by waiting tugs and barges.  Our planned 9:00 AM departure was delayed almost 2 hours because Lock #14 detained passage of recreational vessels for several tugs and barges that had priority.   As a result our flotilla increased in size from just two vessels, to several, with SANTORINI leading the procession.

Finally, we have company!