Bill and Brenda Russell
New member
This old bare foot Arkansas Country Boy regards any cruise on "Falcon" as a GRAND ADVENTURE. Our cruise on the Erie Canal to New York is definitely no exception.
My 14 year old grandson, Garrett was the captain. He goes to a Christian School and has arranged for his schoolwork. My son Rob will be the first mate. He is a chemist in a demanding job and has designated barley a week to this father son adventure. We may cut corners in order to reach New York in time for at least two or more days there. So I guess an old deck hand will climb aboard, it's his boat anyway.
September 19, 2009 we traveled to Niagara Falls, NY for a tourist type visit and then launched "Falcon" at West Canal Park, North Tonawanda, NY and headed east leaving our truck and trailer in the parking lot. Arriving at lock 34 & 35 after 5:00 PM, to late for lockage so we tied off to the spillway side of the lock for the night and a cool 41º night. The next day we cruised on to Holly, NY. a beautiful city offering free docking, water, electric, and showers but no free food. The next day we turned back west and loaded our boat for a dash to the Hudson River.
On September 22, 2009 we launched at Newburg, NY. at 1:12 PM for a 57.9 mile cruise into New York City and Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club across the river. We were tied off in slip E9 by 5:30 PM. Even though the marina is protected we still experienced big waves being produced by the water taxi traveling everywhere. Cruising into the big city (New York) was more concerning than Miami, New Orleans, or Key West. We visited The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and Battery Park all in one day. We were boarded by the Coast Guard one time and had to show our yellow slip another time as we planned to cruise up the East River finally turned back by the Coast Guard to the Hudson River for a cruise back to Newburg.
Note: On the Erie amenities were free but on the Hudson River we were the payees.
Brenda says "it is a mile to far" and will hold down the farm.
This father, son, and grandson adventure, it don't get any better than this.
Bill and Brenda Russell
My 14 year old grandson, Garrett was the captain. He goes to a Christian School and has arranged for his schoolwork. My son Rob will be the first mate. He is a chemist in a demanding job and has designated barley a week to this father son adventure. We may cut corners in order to reach New York in time for at least two or more days there. So I guess an old deck hand will climb aboard, it's his boat anyway.
September 19, 2009 we traveled to Niagara Falls, NY for a tourist type visit and then launched "Falcon" at West Canal Park, North Tonawanda, NY and headed east leaving our truck and trailer in the parking lot. Arriving at lock 34 & 35 after 5:00 PM, to late for lockage so we tied off to the spillway side of the lock for the night and a cool 41º night. The next day we cruised on to Holly, NY. a beautiful city offering free docking, water, electric, and showers but no free food. The next day we turned back west and loaded our boat for a dash to the Hudson River.
On September 22, 2009 we launched at Newburg, NY. at 1:12 PM for a 57.9 mile cruise into New York City and Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club across the river. We were tied off in slip E9 by 5:30 PM. Even though the marina is protected we still experienced big waves being produced by the water taxi traveling everywhere. Cruising into the big city (New York) was more concerning than Miami, New Orleans, or Key West. We visited The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and Battery Park all in one day. We were boarded by the Coast Guard one time and had to show our yellow slip another time as we planned to cruise up the East River finally turned back by the Coast Guard to the Hudson River for a cruise back to Newburg.
Note: On the Erie amenities were free but on the Hudson River we were the payees.
Brenda says "it is a mile to far" and will hold down the farm.
This father, son, and grandson adventure, it don't get any better than this.
Bill and Brenda Russell