Date: July 30, 2013
Day on the Cruise: 106
From: North Tonawanda, NY Town Wall
To: North Tonawanda, NY Town Wall
Statute Miles: 0.68 SM
Time: .5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 2,282.0 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
We are still on the town wall in North Tonawanda, NY tonight, at the end of the Erie Canal. Tried to get a transient slip at one of the 2 big marinas in Buffalo for tonight and they either had none available or wouldn't answer the phone, so we decided to stay here in Tonawanda again.
We took the boat about a 1/4 of a mile this morning to get refueled at a place called Wardell's. I had heard horror stories about Mr. Wardell, but he was very nice and showed us his antique outboard motor collection. Fuel is very expensive up here, that's for sure! Highest we have paid yet on the trip. We also got a pump out.
We put the Bimini back up and the Isinglass curtains this afternoon and it was a job from Hell! The Bimini went up OK, but we had a terrible time with the zippers and snaps on the panels. One zipper had teeth missing and we never got it to zip. One corner we could never get to match up so that didn't get zipped. I think it will stay together.
We were worn out after the 3-1/2 hour ordeal, but we found a Rite Aid across the bridge and hauled some groceries back to the boat. I carried a 24 pack of water about three blocks from the store to the boat. Oh my aching back!
Tomorrow we will go through the Black Rock Canal and Lock to get to Lake Erie. Plan is to bypass Buffalo and get right into the Lake. Waves are supposed to be 1 foot or less so we will try to get to Erie PA if conditions allow.
Thanks for Reading!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29: Time to Put Sal in the Barn - We Reach the End of the Erie Canal!
Date: July 29, 2013
Day on the Cruise: 105
From: Medina, NY Town Wall
To: North Tonawanda, NY Town Wall
Statute Miles: 34.6 SM
Time: 5.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 2,281.3 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
We are on the town wall in North Tonawanda, NY tonight, at the end of the Erie Canal!
The highlight of the trip today was going through the double locks number 34 and 35 at Lockport, NY (another "port"). We traveled about 17 miles from Medina to Lockport. We first went under two lift bridges on the East side of town, then right into Lock 34. The Locks are right in the middle of town, bifurcating the downtown area. The upper gate on Lock 34 is the lower gate on Lock 35, and it is very tall gate. Each Lock lifts you up 25' for a total lift of 50'. These two locks replaced a flight of 5 locks that were called the Lockport Flight.
There were a ton of visitors at the Locks watching us go through. Looked like a youth camp had taken a field trip to the Locks. It was fun having all of the "watchers" and people waving at us.
We had met up with a sailboat from Scotland at our first lift bridge right off the wall at Medina this morning. They had come into the US from Canada through the Oswego Canal and they are doing the Loop on the same route as are we. We enjoyed chatting with this couple as we stopped for bridges and for the Locks. We both traveled at about the same speed so it was not a burden as the slow boat that we had to travel with a week or so ago became.
I just can't make much more than 8 or 8.5 mph in the narrow "ditch" portions of the Canal that we are traveling in right now because the waterway is so narrow and not real deep. The wake is strong as it hits the shoreline. With the narrowness of the Canal, there is no room for the wake to dissipate. We also have to slow down very frequently for boats tied up to docks along the Canal. So, at the end of the day,the slower sailboat really did not impede us all that much.
In Lock 34, it was "Blue Moon" and the Scottish sailboat "Scotia". The turbulence was stronger than in the other locks for some reason. We rose up to the Lock 35 level, and when the upper gate opened, there was a tour boat in Lock 35 that had come down. We and the sailboat passed the tour boat in the Lock and went right into Lock 35. Both of us were lifted up to the upper level, and bang, there was the town of Lockport and a bunch of kids watching us in the Lock.
With the completion of Lock 35, we had no more Locks to navigate in the Erie Canal! We also finished our lift bridges at Lockport, so this town was a milestone!
Susan and I had visited Lockport in 2011 when we came up to Buffalo to look at a Mainship trawler that was for sale. We wanted to see the Canal and Lockport was only a matter of miles from where we were staying, so we got a good look at the Canal, and a Canal town, and the two Locks. Our picture of what every Canal town was like was predicated on Lockport. It has been disappointing that we have only seen a handful of Canal towns that lived up to Lockport and it's neat layout around both sides of the Canal.
Leaving Lock 35, we only had 18 miles or so to travel before we were out of the Erie Canal. These 18 miles were a slow go as we had non stop boat docks where we had to crawl with no wake. The first several miles out of the Lock had us going under a very wide bridge over the Canal in Lockport, then through a man-made straight stretch that was blasted out of rock with high walls on both sides. The final three miles or so was all under a 5 mph speed limit, so we crawled into Tonawanda, NY, which is at the confluence on the Niagara River and the Erie Canal.
The Canal widened as we got to Tonawanda, and we went under several bridges. We came to a nice downtown area with walls on both sides of the Canal. Another boater in front of us advised us to go to the North wall, which happens to be in North Tonawanda. So, we did, and we tied up along a very pretty low wall and nicely landscaped walkway along the Canal. As we tied up, the rain started, so we hurried to get everything covered.
Later in the afternoon, Susan finished cleaning the Isinglass panels that are part of the Flybridge. The plan is to put the Bimini and Isinglass back up tomorrow and then go about 12 miles down to Buffalo to a marina to stage to get out on Lake Erie on Wednesday when the weather is supposed to be good.
Dinner tonight was at a local Pub. Of course we had to have Buffalo Wings since we were in a suburb of Buffalo. They were good! We saw a old car cruise - in on the street here in North Tonawanda when we went to dinner. Hello Rod Siggers, who loves these cruise-ins. We thought of you!
Thanks for Reading!
Day on the Cruise: 105
From: Medina, NY Town Wall
To: North Tonawanda, NY Town Wall
Statute Miles: 34.6 SM
Time: 5.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 2,281.3 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
We are on the town wall in North Tonawanda, NY tonight, at the end of the Erie Canal!
 |
| North Tonawanda is about 12 miles North of Buffalo |
 |
| On the wall at North Tonawanda, NY |
The highlight of the trip today was going through the double locks number 34 and 35 at Lockport, NY (another "port"). We traveled about 17 miles from Medina to Lockport. We first went under two lift bridges on the East side of town, then right into Lock 34. The Locks are right in the middle of town, bifurcating the downtown area. The upper gate on Lock 34 is the lower gate on Lock 35, and it is very tall gate. Each Lock lifts you up 25' for a total lift of 50'. These two locks replaced a flight of 5 locks that were called the Lockport Flight.
 |
| The final Locks on the Canal....YEA! |
 |
| Lift Bridges coming into Lockport |
 |
| Then you see the Locks |
 |
| Canal Corporation Dry Dock at Lockport |
 |
| Campers along the Canal at Lockport |
There were a ton of visitors at the Locks watching us go through. Looked like a youth camp had taken a field trip to the Locks. It was fun having all of the "watchers" and people waving at us.
We had met up with a sailboat from Scotland at our first lift bridge right off the wall at Medina this morning. They had come into the US from Canada through the Oswego Canal and they are doing the Loop on the same route as are we. We enjoyed chatting with this couple as we stopped for bridges and for the Locks. We both traveled at about the same speed so it was not a burden as the slow boat that we had to travel with a week or so ago became.
 |
| Goodbye Medina, NY |
 |
| The sun was reflecting off this cross on top of a church steeple in Medina as we departed this morning |
 |
| Apple orchards are big in this part of New York |
 |
| The sailboat from Scotland "Scotia" |
I just can't make much more than 8 or 8.5 mph in the narrow "ditch" portions of the Canal that we are traveling in right now because the waterway is so narrow and not real deep. The wake is strong as it hits the shoreline. With the narrowness of the Canal, there is no room for the wake to dissipate. We also have to slow down very frequently for boats tied up to docks along the Canal. So, at the end of the day,the slower sailboat really did not impede us all that much.
 |
| Wake hits the rip rap along the "Ditch" |
 |
| A view out the front door this morning |
 |
| Interesting architecture along the Canal |
 |
| Interesting old home being restored |
 |
| Look at the size of this weeping willow! |
 |
| Orchards along the Canal |
 |
| Have you ever been right behind geese when they start to fly? It is hilarious! |
 |
| Chasing geese as they "run" on the water trying to get into the air |
 |
| Chasing geese |
 |
| Interesting old home along the Canal near Lockport |
In Lock 34, it was "Blue Moon" and the Scottish sailboat "Scotia". The turbulence was stronger than in the other locks for some reason. We rose up to the Lock 35 level, and when the upper gate opened, there was a tour boat in Lock 35 that had come down. We and the sailboat passed the tour boat in the Lock and went right into Lock 35. Both of us were lifted up to the upper level, and bang, there was the town of Lockport and a bunch of kids watching us in the Lock.
 |
| Coming up to Lock 34 |
 |
| In Lock 34 with the upper gate that goes into Lock 35 |
 |
| Ready for the gates to open into Lock 35 |
 |
| In Lock 35 looking at the upper gates |
 |
| Here we are up at the town level in Lock 35 |
 |
| Waiting for the gates to open to leave Lock 35 |
 |
| More campers watching us Lock through. Hi Kids! |
With the completion of Lock 35, we had no more Locks to navigate in the Erie Canal! We also finished our lift bridges at Lockport, so this town was a milestone!
Susan and I had visited Lockport in 2011 when we came up to Buffalo to look at a Mainship trawler that was for sale. We wanted to see the Canal and Lockport was only a matter of miles from where we were staying, so we got a good look at the Canal, and a Canal town, and the two Locks. Our picture of what every Canal town was like was predicated on Lockport. It has been disappointing that we have only seen a handful of Canal towns that lived up to Lockport and it's neat layout around both sides of the Canal.
Leaving Lock 35, we only had 18 miles or so to travel before we were out of the Erie Canal. These 18 miles were a slow go as we had non stop boat docks where we had to crawl with no wake. The first several miles out of the Lock had us going under a very wide bridge over the Canal in Lockport, then through a man-made straight stretch that was blasted out of rock with high walls on both sides. The final three miles or so was all under a 5 mph speed limit, so we crawled into Tonawanda, NY, which is at the confluence on the Niagara River and the Erie Canal.
 |
| Going under a very WIDE bridge in Lockport |
 |
| It got dark as we went under this wide bridge |
 |
| Leaving Lockport in a narrow Canal |
 |
| This section of the Canal as we leave Lockport is very narrow and cut out of sold rock |
The Canal widened as we got to Tonawanda, and we went under several bridges. We came to a nice downtown area with walls on both sides of the Canal. Another boater in front of us advised us to go to the North wall, which happens to be in North Tonawanda. So, we did, and we tied up along a very pretty low wall and nicely landscaped walkway along the Canal. As we tied up, the rain started, so we hurried to get everything covered.
 |
| Welcome to North Tonawanda and Gateway Park |
 |
| The wall at Gateway Park in North Tonawanda |
 |
| The wall at Gateway Park at North Tonawanda |
 |
| That is Tonawanda across the Canal |
 |
| Bridge between Tonawanda and North Tonawanda |
Later in the afternoon, Susan finished cleaning the Isinglass panels that are part of the Flybridge. The plan is to put the Bimini and Isinglass back up tomorrow and then go about 12 miles down to Buffalo to a marina to stage to get out on Lake Erie on Wednesday when the weather is supposed to be good.
Dinner tonight was at a local Pub. Of course we had to have Buffalo Wings since we were in a suburb of Buffalo. They were good! We saw a old car cruise - in on the street here in North Tonawanda when we went to dinner. Hello Rod Siggers, who loves these cruise-ins. We thought of you!
 |
| Old car cruise-in on the main street in North Tonawanda |
Thanks for Reading!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28: Our Mule Sal Doesn't Like Rain on the Canal
Date: July 28, 2013
Day on the Cruise: 104
From: Brockport, NY Town Wall
To: Medina, NY Town Wall
Statute Miles: 24.7 SM
Time: 3.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 2,246.7 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
We are on the town wall in Medina, NY tonight, only 36 miles from the end of the Erie Canal!
This morning we woke up early, but it was spitting rain. The rain gradually got harder, and we decided to wait it out. We did not want to run our Canal mule "Sal" nor our Mate, Susan, in the rain!!!
The radar showed a line of storms moving Northeast through Buffalo toward Brockport where we spent the night, but clearing was following the storms. At 10:00 we thought it would be safe to leave. We shoved off from the wall and went through the lift bridge. The bridge tender gave me a stern warning about going under the lift bridge before the "green" light came on signifying that the bridge was "locked" in the up position. I had not noticed that there was a red light and a green light. Oh well!
We stopped at the bridge tender's tower when we got under the bridge and pumped our holding tank out, then headed West.
The trip today was literally through a 25 mile rip rap lined "ditch" that was the Canal. It was a very constant 100 feet or so wide and straight in many sections. There were long stretches where we were high above the surrounding countryside, meaning that the sides of the Canal were more levees than Canal banks. We even saw roads that went UNDER the Canal and one big creek that goes UNDER the Canal here in Medina.
The countryside turned into very rural and agricultural land. We passed many fields of "amber waves of grain" as well as many orchards. The farms along the Canal are magnificent.
There were 7 lift bridges that we had to wait for openings in order to pass through. Several of these bridges are tended by one operator. He opens one bridge for us, then gets in his car and meets us at the next bridge and opens it. We had one poor bridge tender that opened THREE bridges in a row for us!
At 16.1 miles West of the Brockport Welcome Center, we passed the Northernmost point on the Erie Canal. Here it is only about 7 miles to Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes. I wonder why they never connected the Canal to the Lake at this point?
Medina is another town with a free wall. We were met by a local who helped us tie up. The last bridge tender before Medina gave us the code for the lock on the bath house over the VHF radio! The cool thing about Medina is that we have broken the trend of staying at towns with "port" in their names!
We walked along several streets in Medina. Main Street has some neat shops. Medina is known for it's brown sandstone. The town was founded about the time that the Erie Canal went into operation, and probably owes its very existence to the Canal.
The weather gradually cleared as we went West. We did not get rained on, and it was actually cool and very pleasant. Maybe we can turn the AC off tonight and sleep with the windows open!
Tomorrow we plan to finish the Erie and overnight at Tonawanda, NY. It will be about 36 miles over to Tonawanda, which is on the Niagara River. I am looking forward to going through Lockport where there is a "double" lock that takes us up 50 feet. Stay tuned for this adventure!
Thanks for Reading!
Day on the Cruise: 104
From: Brockport, NY Town Wall
To: Medina, NY Town Wall
Statute Miles: 24.7 SM
Time: 3.5 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 2,246.7 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
We are on the town wall in Medina, NY tonight, only 36 miles from the end of the Erie Canal!
This morning we woke up early, but it was spitting rain. The rain gradually got harder, and we decided to wait it out. We did not want to run our Canal mule "Sal" nor our Mate, Susan, in the rain!!!
The radar showed a line of storms moving Northeast through Buffalo toward Brockport where we spent the night, but clearing was following the storms. At 10:00 we thought it would be safe to leave. We shoved off from the wall and went through the lift bridge. The bridge tender gave me a stern warning about going under the lift bridge before the "green" light came on signifying that the bridge was "locked" in the up position. I had not noticed that there was a red light and a green light. Oh well!
We stopped at the bridge tender's tower when we got under the bridge and pumped our holding tank out, then headed West.
The trip today was literally through a 25 mile rip rap lined "ditch" that was the Canal. It was a very constant 100 feet or so wide and straight in many sections. There were long stretches where we were high above the surrounding countryside, meaning that the sides of the Canal were more levees than Canal banks. We even saw roads that went UNDER the Canal and one big creek that goes UNDER the Canal here in Medina.
 |
| The Canal is more of a "Ditch" today |
 |
| Interesting tree right on the edge of the rip rap |
 |
| Canal banks are lined with big stone "Rip Rap" to protect the banks from erosion by wakes. See the orchard in the background! |
The countryside turned into very rural and agricultural land. We passed many fields of "amber waves of grain" as well as many orchards. The farms along the Canal are magnificent.
 |
| Orchard |
 |
| Beautiful farm with corn field around it |
 |
| My favorite of the day. Ready for plowing snow! |
There were 7 lift bridges that we had to wait for openings in order to pass through. Several of these bridges are tended by one operator. He opens one bridge for us, then gets in his car and meets us at the next bridge and opens it. We had one poor bridge tender that opened THREE bridges in a row for us!
At 16.1 miles West of the Brockport Welcome Center, we passed the Northernmost point on the Erie Canal. Here it is only about 7 miles to Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes. I wonder why they never connected the Canal to the Lake at this point?
 |
| Looking North to Lake Ontario. We believe the line of clouds on the horizon is along the Lake. |
Medina is another town with a free wall. We were met by a local who helped us tie up. The last bridge tender before Medina gave us the code for the lock on the bath house over the VHF radio! The cool thing about Medina is that we have broken the trend of staying at towns with "port" in their names!
 |
| Coming in to the town wall at Medina, NY |
 |
| Medina, NY from the Canal |
 |
| "Blue Moon" on the wall in Medina, NY |
We walked along several streets in Medina. Main Street has some neat shops. Medina is known for it's brown sandstone. The town was founded about the time that the Erie Canal went into operation, and probably owes its very existence to the Canal.
 |
| Welcome to Medina!!!! |
 |
| Canal Mural on side of building |
 |
| Another Canal mural on the side of a building |
 |
| A third mural |
 |
| Downtown Scene. An eclectic selection of architecture on the storefronts! |
 |
| Downtown street scene |
 |
| Detail over the windows |
 |
| Details on the facade' |
 |
| Interesting facade' |
 |
| I thought this sign was a representation of a by-gone era |
 |
| Sandstone exterior, a material for which Medina is known |
 |
| Hello to my friend Jack Rogers!!!!! |
 |
| Street scene in Medina |
 |
| There are many interesting store windows. Susan liked this one. |
The weather gradually cleared as we went West. We did not get rained on, and it was actually cool and very pleasant. Maybe we can turn the AC off tonight and sleep with the windows open!
Tomorrow we plan to finish the Erie and overnight at Tonawanda, NY. It will be about 36 miles over to Tonawanda, which is on the Niagara River. I am looking forward to going through Lockport where there is a "double" lock that takes us up 50 feet. Stay tuned for this adventure!
Thanks for Reading!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)