Saturday, July 27: Another "Port"

Date:                           July 27, 2013

Day on the Cruise:      103

From:                          Fairport, NY Town Wall
                                       
To:                               Brockport, NY Town Wall

Statute Miles:              32.2 SM

Time:                           5.25 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       2,222 SM

On Board:                  Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Tonight we are in Brockport, NY, after a 32 mile ride from Fairport. Brockport is West of Rochester and only 10 miles South of Lake Ontario.

Brockports is West of Rochester

Ten miles from Lake Ontario

We got an 8:00 AM bridge opening in Fairport and headed West bright and early. The Canal trail ran right along the waterway and the early weekend morning had dozens of people on the trail, walking, running, and biking. We waved to everyone that we passed.  Again this morning, the weather was very Fallish.

Goodbye Fairport

Early morning on the Canal

We traveled on sections of the Canal today that was elevated high above the surrounding countryside. We also traveled sections that were barely 50' wide with trees overhanging the water. There were also sections that were like being in a concrete walled pool. We transited two locks and only have two locks remaining to pass through on the Erie Canal.

Canal above surrounding farms

Beautiful farm

Two men out for a morning row in a wooden canoe

Aqueduct - like walls along side the Canal

Narrow section of Canal

Canal trail on the right bank

Pittsford

Pittsford

Close that Lock door a little tighter!

MAJOR leak in this lock door!

A family watches us lock through

We passed right next to a major runway at the Rochester Airport. The trees and foliage hid the runway, but the low flying jets coming over the Canal just above our heads told us that we were back in civilization.

When we came up to the Genesee River that crosses the Canal and runs into Rochester, we were stopped by a small boat that was patrolling the waterway working a rowing regatta. The woman in the boat yelled at us over a bull horn and told us that we could not cross this river until the Regatta ended 2-1/2 hours from that time. The hair bristled on the back of my neck. I yelled back and told her all I wanted to do was cross the river and that would take all of 30 seconds. Cooler heads prevailed when her partner suggested that she could not prohibit traffic on the Canal, and they let us cross.

We passed through a town called Spencerport. They had a neat wall there and today was a big festival along the wall and in the town. We were delayed for a few minutes to wait for the bridge to open while people crossed the Canal. A big surprise in Spencerport was seeing the Canal Corporation Tug "Urger". This tug is captained by a woman named Wendy. The Tug is part of the public relations group and travels to events along the Canal all year long. This is a very old vessel. It was built in the early 1900's and was originally steam powered. It now has a big diesel engine and has been restored. I only wish that we could have stopped and toured the Tug.

Spencerport Festival day

Enjoying the festival in Spencerport

Folks waiting for the bridge in Spencerport as we go through

Festival in Spencerport

Band playing

The Tug "Urger"

Tug "Urger"

Finally we arrived in Brockport after over five hours in route. We averaged a tad over 6 mph today by design. We traveled in fuel saver mode again today.

They have a Welcome Center on the South wall at Brockport, and we are tied up here tonight. They have power and water and a nice bath house and laundry only steps from the boat. The wall is also low enough to be able to get on and off the boat easily. There are only 3 boats here tonight.

Looking East along the Canal at the Brockport Welcome Center

Brockport Welcome Center

"Blue Moon" on the wall at Brockport

Ranger Tug at Brockport

We are on the wall at Brockport, NY

We walked around the town and it is a neat old town. We saw the Episcopal Church and some neat shops on the main street.

St. John's Episcopal Church in Brockport

Looking West along the Canal

Street scene in Brokport

Street scene in Brockport

Street scene in Brockport

Mural over the bookstore in Brockport

"I've got a mule, her name is Sal. Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal"

Old building in downtown Brockport

Brockport is a very old manufacturing town. McCormick Reapers were manufactured here in the 1800's and five or so other agricultural equipment manufacturers made Brockport the largest manufacturer of farm equipment in the world in the 1800's. General Electric and Black and Decker also had manufacturing plants here. Small appliances were built in Brockport until the plants closed. Brockport has also had a big lumber industry as well as being a center for warehousing frozen food. We passed several big frozen food warehouses along the Canal on our way into town.

So, we have enjoyed our short stay in Brockport. Not sure where we will get to tomorrow. It is supposed to rain part of the day, and we may have to cut the travel short because of having the Bimini top down, unless we drive from the lower station. I would like to get to Lockport, which is about 40 miles to the West.

Thanks for Reading!