Here is my contribution to the trip reports of the past week. As part of the Hudson River Ramble, there were nine paddlers participating in a 3 day, 40 mile trip down the Hudson River/Champlain Canal. Most of you are likely familiar with the Ramble but in case you are not: the Ramble is in its 11th year and is a collection of great events and happenings in the Hudson River Valley from Albany to NYC - all during the month of September. You can check it out at http://www.hudsonrivervalleyramble.com/home.aspx It is brought to us by the same people that organize the Great Hudson River Paddle, the NYS Hudson River Valley Greenway.
This year the paddle was sponsored by the NYS Canal Corporation. It operates the NY Canal systems. It looks like they are beginning to see the value of promoting the canal system to small boaters, especially the human powered ones. We were told by one of their representatives at our departure, that their long term objective is creating a "Canal Trail". They would like to sponsor more events in the future and eventually would like to have a major annual paddle based on the GHRP. Their website at http://www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/index.html gives some information and the menu includes an interactive "trail" map that shows all the launching points on the canal system.
We all met at Peebles Island north of Albany on Friday morning. After shuffling cars, we set out on the Hudson at Fort Hardy Park in Schuylerville, NY. First day we followed the river until we got to the lock # 4 along which we camped for the night. The following day we went though 3 more locks and finished the day at Peebles Island in Waterford, NY. Here we spent the second night, followed by a third day of paddling ending in Albany. The final day brought us through the last lock (or first lock if going north) at Troy, NY. This is the only Federal lock. I should add that as human powered boaters we are not subject to the fee for passing through the locks of the canals.
A good time was had by all and to get a virtual tour of the trip look at my photos at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mofridlich/2010HudsonRiverRamble?fgl=true&pli=1#
Regards,
Mo
Because of my recent move to Florida, I was unable to participate in this year’s Hudson River Ramble. This is a second report on the event posted by another paddling friend, Mo Fridlich.. Unlike past years, this Ramble traveled from Schuylerville to Albany along the Champlain Canal. Here is Mo’s report.
Yackman
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Hudson River Ramble 2010: Mo's Report
Today’s Guest Blogger is Mo Fridlich
September 17-19 on the Champlain Canal
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