Day 4 - Schuylerville to Crescent Boat Club

 

Schuyerville to Crescent Boat Club

31.8 miles  7:48 rowing

10 locks

We enjoyed a glassy downstream run for 22 miles on the Hudson; 4 boats passed us in 6 hours, virtually no one on the shore enjoying the water or a Friday afternoon … almost Covid-like quiet. After reading more about the PCB legacy on the Hudson, I wonder if folks are still reluctant?  

We turned the corner into the Erie, finally heading west, and one must climb ‘the flight’ of 6 locks within 2 miles in order to get to the Mohawk. Now it will be an uphill climb to Herkimer, as the Mohawk’s current will be against me until I get to the ‘classic’ Erie Canal, not influenced by the Mohawk’s torrent. The buzz is that the M’s water is high right now, so I’m anticipating a slog until then.  

 It was great having Bob along for two days. He’s a strong rower and goal oriented, and only family obligations pulled him off the water tonight. Tina delivered a quart of chocolate milk to me when she picked him up, and that softened the blow.

 I’m curled up at the Crescent Boat Club, a lovely facility where I’ll have access to running water … the most important amenity!

 If the Hudson’s PCB past still haunts it, the Mohawk – at least this early section – is bedeviled by aquatic weeds; many docks are plastered in by 50 yards of the densest vegetation … invasive, I wonder? It simply seems out of control – totally dominant – and occasionally one rows past a gargantuan Zamboni-like device, water-going, of course, that simply clears a channel to open water. As I sit here at this lovely club, looking out at the river, it seems that in places half its breadth is painted green.

200 yards to shore - that's water chestnut

Was it always this way? Are these non-native invaders? If so, was or could anything have been done? What does the future hold … will open water on the Mohawk someday be a rarity? What will I see further upstream?  

So much to learn …

 My, how nature has her way … unless we interfere!

I’m so lucky to see this, to be doing this, to hope that at least my granddaughters will someday read this.

Gotta fight the tent before dark; have you ever watched Snoopy and the lawn chairs?

 Same thing -