Layed To

Lock 4, Stillwater NY,N42 56 W73 39(10/16/05) First thing this morning Fred Mueller joined Pete and I. Before setting off we listened to the weather forecast and I got a big surprise. The forecast said heavy winds with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. Category one hurricanes blow at 70 mph so that got my attention. Tarwathie does not handle well under motor power in heavy winds. The wind can turn the bow and neither the motor nor the rudder can control her. I would feel safe under sail with 70 mph but not under power.

I changed the plan to go to Troy today. Instead we went down to lock 4 in Stillwater. There is a sheltered canal here next to the lock with a big concrete wall to tie up against. I plan to spend the night here and continue tomorrow.

The voyage went well. The wind was gusty but not overpowering. I regretted one thing though. As we approached lock 4, we saw a dock adrift in the river and I saw the owner standing on shore looking forlorn. I briefly considered going to aid him but I thought that the wind would blow the dock to the far shore and he could fetch it later. Later in the day Pete and I were walking and we saw that dock caught at the edge of the dam. The water will wreck it in a few hours. I felt guilty for not trying to help that man when we had the chance.
Pete and Fred had to go home and Libby came back to rejoin me.

Three big sailboats from Quebec came through the lock and I talked with the captains. For once, these people could speak good English and they seemed very pleasant. My favorable reaction had absolutely nothing to do with their remark -- "Nice Westsail 32" :) However they did not want to spend the night anyplace that did not have electricity and water. I smiled and thought how different Libby and I value comforts compared to them.

FLASH: breaking news. Just as I finished writing the above, the three Quebec sailboats came back. The river water was so high that none of them could pass under the next bridge downstream. They came back and tied up on the wall in front of Tarwathie. Two of them had to raft to make room for the third.

I helped them to tie up and I must say that all 7 of those Bequers impressed me as very nice people. I was glad to have met them.