15 Miles on the Erie Canal

We left Waterford, NY last Monday and began a new phase of our trip.  Over the next few weeks we will complete dozens of locks.  Now we are on the Erie Canal.

Loopers visit and wait for the locks to open.

Heavy rains caused the upper locks to be closed for several days.  After a delayed start in Waterford, we spent several days on the locks, arriving at the end of the Erie Canal and arriving at Lake Oneida on Thursday.  For three nights, we tied up to the lock walls (just outside the locks) for the night.

As the lockmaster prepares the lock for entry, he lowers the water level inside, sending it out below the gates.  The first flight of locks, # 2 - # 6, come in quick succession, all five locks in two miles. King drives the boat and positions it inside the lock wall so that I can take the boat hook and catch a line hanging down from the top of the wall. I then cleat the line to the front of the boat, holding it steady inside the lock.  At that time, King quickly goes to the back (sundeck) and grabs a line with a boat hook.   He holds the back of the boat from swinging out too wildly as the water swirls in (or out).  It is reported that this is the highest rise in the shortest distance of any lock system in the world.

This lock has a guard gate, rather than doors that open and close.  We think this is for flood control.

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Here we are inside the lock.  We traveled with the tug on the right, Surveyor One for several days.  It is good to meet people and travel together and offer help to each other when needed.  

Going into the lock.

 Little Falls, New York, is a quaint town with houses built on the canal.

 We spent this night tied to a lock wall.  The tugs are Erie Canal working boats tied up for the night.  This was a very pretty and quiet night.

Blue Moon tied up for the night at Lock # 19.  Note the two antenna masts are lowered for bridge clearance.

Taking a nap.

Entering into Lock #22, to be locked down rather than up.  See the gate is at the far end of the lock. We had two other boats that locked through with us for several days.

The lock doors open and we exit the lock.  Boats leave the lock in the order that they enter the lock.

We filled up with diesel at Ess-Kay Yards and were pleased it was only $4.00 a gallon.  Fortunately, we only needed a third of a tank .  At 3 1/2 miles per gallon, we don't get very good mileage for a vehicle, but good mileage for a house.  Many boats in our class get 2 MPG, but they are faster.

We have many, many pictures of geese.  We don't see this many geese families in Austin.  

Last night and tonight we are at Brewerton, a town on the far west side of Lake Oneida.  Our plan for tomorrow is to go through eight locks to Oswego, NY.  We will wait there for a good weather day to cross Lake Ontario into Canada.

The last day on the Erie Canal.