THE ERIE CANAL / June 10-14 (Days 162-166)

To get from the Hudson River to Lake Ontario to cross into Canada, we had to travel the Erie & Oswego Canals.  The Erie Canal was a real engineering marvel in its day.  Construction of the canal began in 1817 & finished in 1825 & is 363 miles long running all the way to Buffalo, NY.  It connects the Hudson River with Lake Erie & the other Great Lakes.  Our route would take us 160 miles up the Erie Canal, through 29 locks, raising us to an elevation of 420' above sea level!  From there we would take the Oswego Canal through 7 locks & 24 miles, dropping to an elevation of 245' to cross Lake Ontario.  It was truly an amazing ride!

To get to the start of the Erie Canal we had to pass through the Troy Lock just north of Albany on the Hudson River.  Next to each lock is a dam (look closely to the left of the lock).  We hadn't passed through a lock since Lake Okeechobee in Florida, so we were a little apprehensive.  

 When you pass through a lock, you have to either tie a line from the boat around a cable on the lock wall or grab a line tied to the wall & hold it while the water level is either raised or lowered.  It is usually uneventful, but if you are not careful & a line gets stuck around a cleat, disaster can happen!

 

On Friday, June 10th (our 24th wedding anniversary!) we entered the Erie Canal.

Here we turned left (aka port) & came to the Waterford Welcome Center.  Waterford is the oldest incorporated village in the US & is about 15' above sea level.  There we met up with about 10 other Loopers, where we all gathered for docktails to talk about our journey up the canal beginning the following day.

Dave took the opportunity to drop the dinghy & explore the nearby islands.

The next day our adventure began at the first of five locks collectively known as the Waterford Flight.  An engineering wonder, the Flight features five locks where vessels are lifted or lowered the greatest height in the shortest distance of any canal in the world ~ 169' in elevation in less than two miles.  It took about two hours to complete, which was like a two hour workout!!  We were travelling with our buddies on Rowe Boat (Mike & Leann), who took this picture of us in the first lock.

This was our view leaving the lock after being raised 34'.

Nine locks & 37 miles later, we arrived in Amsterdam, where we tied to a wall to spend the night.  Our view at dinner was spectacular!

After a brief stay the next day at Canajoharie Riverfront Park, on Monday, June 13th we continued up the canal on a COLD, windy day.  Yes, that is a ski cap on my head!

The weather did not dampen the beauty of the cruise.  We followed Rowe Boat 20 miles to our next destination, Little Falls, NY.

The last lock of the day was Lock 17, which provides the largest lift in the canal system - 40.5'.  Most noticeable was the lock's lower guillotine door that raises & lowers rather than hinges like all of the other locks.

Home for the night, Little Falls, NY with other Loopers,

including our Longboat Key Club Moorings dock mates, Bob & Jeanne on Grayling.  We had a great dinner at a local Italian restaurant.

Little Falls had two golf courses so we took the opportunity to get in a round of golf.  We were marvelled by the beauty of the course & the fact that we were 420' above sea level & WE GOT THERE BY BOAT!!