Once in a Blue Moon: Saturday, June 29: We are Officially "Stuck Loopers"!

Date: June 29, 2013

Day on the Cruise: 75

From: Kingston City Marina, Kingston, NY

To: Kingston City Marina, Kingston, NY

Statute Miles: 0.0 SM

Time: 0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles: 1,874.5 SM

On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

So, we are officially "Stuck Loopers"!!! The Erie Canal is still closed for 128 miles from its entrance at Waterford, NY West. I talked to my contact at the Albany Yacht Club this morning where we were going to stay tomorrow night, and he advised against coming tomorrow. The river current is 10 times normal today and he said you could not get into the slips. He also said that the amount of debris in the river makes it dangerous to navigate. He had a boater leave this morning and go a few miles North to the lock at Troy, NY, and damage both props. We certainly don't need that!

Hearing this, I cancelled my reservations in Albany and set out to find an alternative. Luckily, there is a ripple effect on the entire river. Boaters are hearing of the conditions and wanting to stay put. This has allowed Kingston City Marina, where we are currently, to have an opening where we can stay for a week. We are officially here until at least July 6. I feel very fortunate to get to stay here, believe me, as I feared that we would be forced out in favor of follow-on reservations for this week. Whew! What a relief! Thank you dock master Chelsea!

We are looking at interesting things to do while holed up here in Kingston. What a great opportunity to take a look at upstate New York in a rental car! Stay tuned for some adventures.

I neglected to mention about a "small world" encounter last night in our Looper Docktail party. Yes, we met several Looper couples whom we had met before and also talked to on the radio. But, we also met a couple from the Ft. Walton Beach, FL area where I was stationed in the Air Force. They knew the apartments we had lived in and we had a lot in common. Most especially was the fact that she had graduated from Auburn as did Susan and I! The three of us broke out in a heart warming rendition of "War Eagle" as we serenaded the other Loopers. I am sure they were impressed :) !

This morning Susan went with another Looper couple in their rental car to a Laundramat and did laundry. It was a huge load of wash. I stayed on the boat and did travel agent work trying to get our Erie Canal issues worked out. I hope that by the time that we make it to the canal that there is still a canal there and all the locks are working.

There was a wedding reception this afternoon on a big boat tied up to our dock. The bride and groom arrived in their wedding garb as many onlookers along the wall watched. Everyone got on the boat and then it headed out to the Hudson for a cruise. There was a bagpipe player dressed in a kilt serenading the guests as they arrived at the boat. It was a beautiful afternoon and a beautiful setting.

Bride and Groom arrive for the reception

Guests going onto the boat

Guests gathering on the cruise boat

Serenaded by a bagpipe player in full kilt

There goes the cruise boat

After diner tonight at a Mexican Cantina in town, we walked along the wall and looked at all the boats that have come in for the weekend. People are partying on their boats. We are docked between two big bridges over Rondout Creek. The one to the West is a big suspension bridge built in the 1920's. It was a key bridge in the main highway from Albany to New York City back in the day. Now, there are better roads and the bridge serves mainly locals.