Runyak for Liberty Days 92 thru 94

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Runyak to Liberty Days 92 to 94
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Runyak for Liberty Day 92, June 25, 2015
Before 7 am I arrived back at Lock 9 in Rotterdam Junction. The Mohawk looked nice, kayakable, not like when I left it 38 days ago.

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As I cabled and locked Swiftee to a dock ladder I saw the lockmaster. I went to him to let him know I'd need a lock down about ten o'clock. Lockmasters always like to know their canal traffic in order to have water in the locks up or down. Early as it was he was already locking a tug down as I approached him.

Few hours later when arriving back on foot I entered Lock 9 and was lowered 15-ft. #9, the first of single digit lock numbers. Yeah!
On my way to where the van was, Freeman's Bridge Marina, I also passed through Lock 8.

There was a boat launch at Freeman's Bridge Marina, but better yet, for kayaks, a rollered ramp. They seem to be getting more popular. Slowly though, this is only the second I'd seen on the entire canal. The only other one I've ever used is near my home, the Heritage Park Launch on the Cass River in Frankenmuth, MI

Day 92 - 7.25 run, 8.8 yaked

Runyak for Liberty Day 93, June 26, 2015
Today is Hope and my 44th anniversary. No, she's not back in Michigan. She traveled with me although not kayaking. We are staying at a Comfort Inn in Albany. I left her a little after 6:00 am and headed back to the launch, Freeman's Bridge Marina in Schenectady.

The Mohawk in the 10 miles kayaked today was the most beautiful I've seen on the river, since first encountering it back in Rome, NY. Still cutting through the Adirondacks, banks of limestone was seen much of the way.

The wise man built his house upon the rocks.

I stopped near one walled bank and enjoyed a delicious imperial stout. It was from Two Roads Brewing Co. of Connecticut. A brewery I'd never heard of and doesn't distribute in Michigan

 Just less than halfway to my kayak destination of today, Lion's Park in Niskayuna, I came upon a mansion atop a hill. Probably the biggest mansion I'd passed since Grosse Pointe on Day 32. I have no idea what NY millionaire lives there.

In a couple miles I entered Lock 7. Swiftee and I shared a lock down with the Valkyrie and its captain, Leif Peterson. Before hearing the Nordic name I figured he was of Scandinavian descent by the name of the boat and asked to be sure. He said that he was, but born in Canada, and now living in Guilford, Connecticut.

Less than two miles later the pleasant day of paddling on the Mohawk ended. The final 2/3 mile was pure Mohawk Mayhem.

Let me go back a few hours...When arriving at Lions Park where I'd start my run and end the kayaking, I looked at the landing. The mayhem area, where I now must navigate, laid before me. It was all aquatic vegetation, and I saw no opening. Yet, the kayak landing was listed and mapped by the NY Canal Corp. To not use it meant maybe a 15 plus-mile run. I decided I'd muddle my way through the vegetation.

Blue line represents off river vegetation navigated on Day 93. Red on day 94. 

I veered of open river into the mire and got only a hundred yards before getting bogged down and unable to paddle. I had to exit the kayak and wade the swamp with Swiftee in tow. I might have tried paddling a little further if I hadn't seen how far I had to go. In the far off distance I could see the park where the van was.

When out of the kayak I had to stay close to the reeds where it was shallow enough to tread the mire on the bottom. My sandals kept getting stuck in the muck so I had to take them off. Fortunately I was wearing socks that gave me some, but not enough, protection.

This video gives a idea of the intense labor I went through for a half mile.

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This face shows the grief I went through.

Well, I did make it to the van, but wondered... what about tomorrow, when I want to get out of here and back onto the river?

My white socks. No really they were.

My feet suffered the worst. Not sure what I was traipsing over in the swamp but I had maybe a hundred tiny slivers in my soles. Worried about infection I rubbed antibacterial on the bottom of my feet. I went to sleep wondering how I was ever going to be able to run ten miles the following morning.

Day 93 - 7.75 run, 10.0 yaked

Runyak for Liberty Day 94, June 27, 2015

If today is successful I will finish the Erie Canal. After prepping Swiftee at Lion's "Swampy" Park in Niskayuna, I drove to Waterford, NY where the canal ends. I began running from Waterford Point Boat Launch at the confluence of the Mohawk and the Hudson River. My feet, from tiny slivers, didn't hurt as much as I thought they would.

The first several miles were on streets of Waterford and the town of Cohoes. The last few miles were on the Mohawk Hudson Bikeway. 

While on the bikeway, and drawing near where the river was impregnated with vegetation, that I endured yesterday, I overheard bikers saying how beautiful the vista was. I wanted to give them my opinion but they pedaled onward out of my yelling range. 

After running 10.5 miles I arrived back to Lion's Park and found Swiftee where I had hid him.

When paddling began I could avoid the weeds much of the way (see red line in Google Earth map). Only at the far end did I have to paddle through weeds for about a quarter mile.

When back on the true Mohawk I was again a happy paddler. 

I few miles later I paddled under the impressive I-87 bridge which hours before I ran beneath it.

In another four miles I came to what most consider the beginning of the Erie Canal, since the numbering starts at Waterford's, Lock 2 and goes to Lockport's Lock 35.  The beginning (my end) consists of a flight of five locks all in 1.5 miles distance. I exited the Mohawk, and was truly in a canal again, rather than a river. I even had to call a "gatemaster" instead of a lockmaster to have Gate 2 and Gate 1 opened for me to enter the canal.

In a canal. Between Gates 2 and 1. Gate 1 in photo.

All 5 locks would drop me more than 33 feet apiece. Since Buffalo, I've descended 554 feet and in the last 1.5 mile I was lowered 170 feet (that's 30% of the total drop). Obviously, besides rapids, there must be some waterfalls these locks go around.... I did pass this waterfall during my morning run.  

The first lockmaster in the flight of 5 locks was named Tom.

 Lockmaster Tom

He asked about my expedition when seeing Swiftee's sign. Of all the lockmasters of the past 34 locks, I never had one get as excited about about what I was doing than Tom. Like myself, when I get too excited, he began stuttering.  

 Going down.

At the bottom

When exiting the final lock #2, I could see the Hudson River 600 yards away. What about Lock 1? It would be nice if the Canal Corp. renumbered the canals to where they made since. Lock 1 is not called by number and is not even on the canal. It is over 2 mile down the Hudson and is not under the authority of the Canal Corp., but operated by the U.S. government and called the Federal Lock. Similarly back in Buffalo before entering the canal there is the Black Rock Lock on the Niagara River that is not numbered. That would make a total of 36 locks, of which 34 are in the canal.

So, locks of true Erie Canal start at 2 and end at 35. Making it more confusing is there is no Lock 31 but two Locks 28 (28A & 28B). You follow me? If not just forget about it.

Out from the last lock I found a sign identical to one I passed when entering the Erie Canal back at North Tonawanda

Canal entrance sign - Waterford, NY                               Canal entrance sign - North Tanawanda

I stopped for a moment to commemorate the occasion by drinking a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA.

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I landed at the boat launch right where the Hudson and Mohawk rivers conflow, just before it began to rain. How lucky was I? I'd runyaked the Erie Canal in 37 different days, and never did I get rained on while paddling. 

Day 94 - 10.5 run, 17.7 yaked