At times, all of us shopped at Rite Aid Pharmacy and Dollar General, the only two stores, to purchase things that we had forgotten to take with us. The items needed were too numerous to list; however, we all enjoyed showing our latest purchases and discussing why we didn’t think to buy that. Oh, well, tomorrow will bring another opportunity to shop as there was not much else to do. All of us had brought books to read and our laptops although no one had the ability to really concentrate at this point.
Sitting at the picnic tables outside the EMS Center having our evening cocktails, someone suggested that we form a yacht club. After much discussion, Joan came up with the name EMS YC standing for the Evacuated Motor & Sail Yacht Club. She offered to design the logo, burgee, and t-shirts. It was decided by all that Jim serve as the Commodore since he has served as spokesperson with the town officials, and Jim Brown of Water Dancer III was elected Vice Commodore, in charge of vice!! Also, the Canal authorities have been in touch with Jim, our Commodore, as they are aware of the stranded boats stuck. It appears that there were 35 boats at various docks on the NY Canal System. Our friends, Bob and Lynn on Legrace, were moved from the Visitor Center in Waterford up to Lock 3, and that group has formed the Locked in Lock 3 Yacht Club. Everyone asks how we keep our sense of humor but really what else can you do but make the best of the experience.
The water has receded back to a normal level by Saturday, July 1. The tree debris was everywhere with much caught under the boats and the sidewalks were covered with mud at Riverfront Park. We decided it was time for more shopping at Dollar General and Rite Aid!
Sunday, July 2 was spent hanging around the EMS Center reading the newspapers and, of course, walking down to check on the boats. Bill and Bob were down at Riverfront Park clearing debris and mud from the sidewalks and walkways.
Monday, July 3, Sue and I were driven by Amy, an EMS volunteer, to Fort Plain, NY to get manicures and pedicures. It seemed a relaxing way to spend several hours. It was still very hot and humid; however, we needed to get ready for our big outing. The EMS personnel were taking us to Fort Plain’s “Fourth on the Third” celebration which included food, bingo, and fireworks. Brian allowed us to use his “official” SUV but made Jim and Jim promise that they would not use the siren, blue flashing lights, loudspeaker, yelper (my Jim really wanted to use this to get cars to move out of our way), or radio. Sue and I just rolled our eyes!!! Paul Tonka, NY State Assemblyman, was introduced to us by Amy. Jim and Jim had quite a lengthy discussion with him about what help was needed to get us back on the water. The bingo was a lot of fun as we used bits of paper and rocks for markers and both Sue and I won prizes. The fireworks were incredibly extravagant for such a small village, and we learned later that the owner of a local car dealership had underwritten the expenses.
July 4 – 7 we spent at the EMS Center discussing when we should return to the boats as we could now get to them but had no power or potable water. All of us needed to replace the contents of our refrigerators as no one’s batteries had lasted that long. The Canal authorities stayed in contact with us and were not sure when the canal would open westbound; they had to remove the navigation aids as they were not in the correct places and remove debris from the dams. We also started having doubts that we could continue on the Great Loop schedule or make the July rendezvous in Penetanguishene, at the end of the Trent-Severn Canal in Ontario, Canada. July 7 marked our first anniversary of living aboard Palmetto Moon but we couldn’t celebrate on the boat!
Saturday, July 8, Jim called me and said, “bring your camera down here now” to take pictures because one of us, Water Dancer or Palmetto Moon, is going to have an insurance claim. I said “what”!!??. The Canal authorities had taken the water level down so far for repair work that Water Dancer III was aground and leaning at a 30 degree angle on Palmetto Moon. It was heartbreaking so see this and we now heard local people say “we have never seen the water this low; even in the winter, they don’t take the water down this low”. We went from extremely high water to extremely low water!!!! Will we ever leave Canajoharie?
Sitting at the picnic tables outside the EMS Center having our evening cocktails, someone suggested that we form a yacht club. After much discussion, Joan came up with the name EMS YC standing for the Evacuated Motor & Sail Yacht Club. She offered to design the logo, burgee, and t-shirts. It was decided by all that Jim serve as the Commodore since he has served as spokesperson with the town officials, and Jim Brown of Water Dancer III was elected Vice Commodore, in charge of vice!! Also, the Canal authorities have been in touch with Jim, our Commodore, as they are aware of the stranded boats stuck. It appears that there were 35 boats at various docks on the NY Canal System. Our friends, Bob and Lynn on Legrace, were moved from the Visitor Center in Waterford up to Lock 3, and that group has formed the Locked in Lock 3 Yacht Club. Everyone asks how we keep our sense of humor but really what else can you do but make the best of the experience.
The water has receded back to a normal level by Saturday, July 1. The tree debris was everywhere with much caught under the boats and the sidewalks were covered with mud at Riverfront Park. We decided it was time for more shopping at Dollar General and Rite Aid!
Sunday, July 2 was spent hanging around the EMS Center reading the newspapers and, of course, walking down to check on the boats. Bill and Bob were down at Riverfront Park clearing debris and mud from the sidewalks and walkways.
Monday, July 3, Sue and I were driven by Amy, an EMS volunteer, to Fort Plain, NY to get manicures and pedicures. It seemed a relaxing way to spend several hours. It was still very hot and humid; however, we needed to get ready for our big outing. The EMS personnel were taking us to Fort Plain’s “Fourth on the Third” celebration which included food, bingo, and fireworks. Brian allowed us to use his “official” SUV but made Jim and Jim promise that they would not use the siren, blue flashing lights, loudspeaker, yelper (my Jim really wanted to use this to get cars to move out of our way), or radio. Sue and I just rolled our eyes!!! Paul Tonka, NY State Assemblyman, was introduced to us by Amy. Jim and Jim had quite a lengthy discussion with him about what help was needed to get us back on the water. The bingo was a lot of fun as we used bits of paper and rocks for markers and both Sue and I won prizes. The fireworks were incredibly extravagant for such a small village, and we learned later that the owner of a local car dealership had underwritten the expenses.
July 4 – 7 we spent at the EMS Center discussing when we should return to the boats as we could now get to them but had no power or potable water. All of us needed to replace the contents of our refrigerators as no one’s batteries had lasted that long. The Canal authorities stayed in contact with us and were not sure when the canal would open westbound; they had to remove the navigation aids as they were not in the correct places and remove debris from the dams. We also started having doubts that we could continue on the Great Loop schedule or make the July rendezvous in Penetanguishene, at the end of the Trent-Severn Canal in Ontario, Canada. July 7 marked our first anniversary of living aboard Palmetto Moon but we couldn’t celebrate on the boat!
Saturday, July 8, Jim called me and said, “bring your camera down here now” to take pictures because one of us, Water Dancer or Palmetto Moon, is going to have an insurance claim. I said “what”!!??. The Canal authorities had taken the water level down so far for repair work that Water Dancer III was aground and leaning at a 30 degree angle on Palmetto Moon. It was heartbreaking so see this and we now heard local people say “we have never seen the water this low; even in the winter, they don’t take the water down this low”. We went from extremely high water to extremely low water!!!! Will we ever leave Canajoharie?
posted by Palmetto Moon at 11/21/2006 04:42:00 PM
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