Was a beautiful weekend, unusually hot, up here in the frozen north ... around 85 degrees. Tug 44 was launched Monday and I took her for a short test cruise last night and all is well. She survived the nights of 28 degrees below zero! Friday, the New York Canal System will open on schedule, May 1. The canal is filled, the locks are all working, the buoys are in place and we're all ready to go. Erie Canal Lock E-6, at the top of the Waterford Flight, was blasted out and completely reconstructed this winter. The gates are in place and it's filled and working. There is still some cosmetic work to be done and the sidewalks are not yet in place and the tops of the walls are not completely finished, but it's up and running. Boaters should experience no problems there. Saturday, I bring the boat home, with an all-barmaid crew from the local Anvil Inn (Fort Edward, Champlain Lock 7) ... should be interesting. After all, there's a reason some of us guys got boats. And then I can go back to my long time dream of looking out my office window, at my boat sitting at the dock. And occasionally, I'll be able to take her out for another cruise. That'll keep me going a few more years til retirement. Life is good. Fred Tug 44