We moved less than ten miles today to Waterford, New York passing through our first lock, the Federal Lock at Troy. Skipper and crew dealt with it professionally with only modest white knuckle anxiety. The picture above has us at the terminal wall next to the Waterford welcome center. The dockage and pump out are free, something unheard of on the Chesapeake Bay. We were given a packet full of information on resources on the Erie Canal and in the town of Waterford. It is an all volunteer organization and very nicely done.

It was a ten minute walk up to the first lock where we bought a season locking pass. Another two blocks found us at a diner for lunch with a Laundromat across the street. The Laundromat was very clean and un-crowded so within two hours our ditty was re-stowed with clean clothes.

We met a couple on a trawler that was just coming out of the canal east bound and they filled us in on the best spots they found on their cruise from Oswego. If the weather cooperates we will move through 5 locks and stay at the Schenectady Yacht Club tomorrow. The next day we could reach Canajoharie, New York where there is a museum containing Winslow Homer paintings.