Out and About .....June 3,4, and 5 2016

We set aside June 3,4 &5 to be at the Albany Yacht Club. Being in the capital city of the State of New York would be a 1st for us. Although we lived in Pittsfield, MA from 1973-1978...an hour’s drive of Albany... we hadn’t ever ventured to this fair city. The marina offered diesel fuel at a reasonable price and accepted both the TowBoat US discount and the AGLCA discount. We needed 150 gallons... a half tankful... and our 30 gallon black water tank pumped out. Done and Done! Capt. Russ Clark, a long-time friend and waterway expert from Richmond, MA, promised he and Sandy would come visit us at the Albany Yacht Club. Shortly after we docked, they arrived. They had just completed an 8,300 mile road trip across the U.S.A. A great evening of travel tales was enjoyed by all!

Enterprise Car Rentals was within 3 minutes drive of the Yacht Club. With wheels we could drive to Longmeadow, MA and visit Aunt Van, newly turned 97 and her friend Fred, newly turned 91. So the next morning we were off and away. Unbeknownst to me, Wally had decided that it was time to poke around the far reaches of his memories involving flying airplanes into little-known airstrips. With the WAZE girl’s voice confidently giving us the turns, we found the tiny South Albany Airport where Wally and I had enjoyed many a Saturday Fly-in breakfast. The restaurant has been replaced with a lovely clubhouse, and Hangar Flying was well underway. Wally got to tell the tales of days gone by that most of the pilots congregated there didn’t know. We enjoyed the “reunion”.

Our next stop was the Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Famous for it’s airshows featuring WWI antique/vintage planes, this was an airfield that Wally had wished to visit “in the day”, but never did. We were one week ahead of the show season, but we got to watch several Radio-Controlled Model Airplane Clubs showing their stuff.

Following the back roads, we headed for the Springfield area and a great afternoon and overnight visit with Dad’s sister, Venessa and Fred. I hope we can all be so spry and alert in our 90’s!

Back in Albany/Renssellaer area late the next morning, we gathered up the provisions that would keep us well-fed for the weeks to come. Tomorrow, after returning the rental car, we will lower the mast and boom. That will give us a 14’4” height clearance for the low bridges ahead. It’s time to begin making our way west through 160 miles of the Erie Canal and then north 24 miles to Lake Ontario via the Oswego Canal. All of our “locking-though skills” gained in the Lake Okeechobee Lock System are about to be put to the test! Created by Darcy Campbell