First rainy day and the 'Waterford Flight"

Friday (the 26th) left the dock at Canajoharie around 8:30 and noticed that Blue Blazer was coming down the canal right behind us. This was our first full day of rain. We went through locks 13 to 9 with them. Had some excitement at a couple of locks. At one, the close overhead power lines played some havoc with our steering (because we happened to have the auto helm power on as it powers the GPS). Thankfully Don from the Blue Blazer tipped us off that was what was happening and turning it off solved the problem. At another, a large power yacht went in the lock just ahead of us and tied up on the same side we were preparing to so there was a last minute scramble to change the fenders. Our other mission for the day was to find a place to pump out and many of the places we planned to go to were closed. Finally we found a marina that was open and left feeling much lighter. Tied up on the wall before Lock 8 for the night and we were all asleep pretty early.
On Saturday we left as soon as the lockmaster was there at 7am. Christopher had his second sleep in day, letting Mom and Dad go though the lock on their own. He joined us before lock 7. Then we did the ‘Waterford Flight’, which are the last (or first) 5 locks of the Erie Canal, Locks 6 to 2. There is no stopping between them and they provide the biggest drop over the shortest distance of any canal in the world. After lock 2 is the Town of Waterford and a really welcoming Visitor Centre. The nice low floating dock with power was full so we tied up on the high wall. We decided to stay there another day before starting out down the Hudson. Did all the essential things like groceries, laundry, showers etc. On the Sunday there was a farmer’s market at the harbour. Also a number of the Canadian boats that we had seen along the way were leaving to head south so we were able to move to the low dock (with power, always a hit with all of us, especially Christopher). It was great to take a day to just enjoy Waterford. The end of another leg. Time to put away the Canal charts and guidebooks and find the ones for the Hudson River.