Day 80 & 81-Catskill, NY to Waterford, NY to St.Johnsville, NY

Saturday & Sunday June 14-15, 2025

Saturday

We pulled away from the quaint village of Catskill under a gray, drizzly sky. Rainy travel days aren’t our favorite—especially with the recent high water and floating debris—but we pressed on. Just north of Albany, we entered the Troy Lock, our first of the day, and rose a steady 14 feet. From there, we turned into Waterford to take on the legendary Five-Step Locks—an impressive series that lifted us 30 to 35 feet at each stage. It’s like stair-stepping through history! After a long, steady climb, we found a peaceful stretch of wall just beyond the final lock and tied up for the night—grateful for calm waters and a quiet spot to rest.

After a cozy dinner of leftover beef stew (which totally hit the spot), we set out for an evening walk. Along the way, we met a woman and her two daughters who introduced us to their Bengal cat—a first for us! This stunning feline had the wild look of a miniature leopard, but the personality of a total sweetheart. Incredibly friendly and clearly intelligent, it strutted along on a leash like a well-trained dog. We were fascinated! Definitely not your average evening stroll.

Sunday

We were up early and right into the first lock of the day the moment it opened. It was a marathon run—eight locks total! While we did see some debris along the way, most of it had been scooped up and stacked neatly aside. The lock crews have clearly been putting in serious hours over the past few weeks, and thanks to their hard work, the canal is open once again. We wrapped up the long day tied along a peaceful wall—tired, but so grateful to be back in the groove.

We ended our day on the marina wall in St Johnsville, NY with 3 other looper boats.