Erie Canal Part 1

From Tonawanda we had 18 miles until we would reach Lockport and our first big locks. These are the only adjacent locks on the Erie Canal and each lock drops us 25 feet. These used to be a series of 5 locks. We also had to purchase our canal pass and stickers. People are watching us and taking our picture. The lockmaster helped us on the first one and the second we acted like we knew what we were doing. I am smiling but it takes work to keep us off the lock walls as we descend and hold the line.

Here is Dale when we are done.

The western part of the canal is unique. There are no locks until Rochester. We pass many small towns. Each town has a wall with tie ups, some charge a fee and others do not. Each town also has a lift bridge that you radio to and they lift. Usually 2 towns share a bridge tender, so after they let you through, they get in a car and drive to the next one you will be going under. They are all really nice and will help you tie up sometimes. Some walls come with water and electrical and others do not.Many have pretty gardens nearby or gazebos.  Everyone is so nice. In Middleport, I was searching for a store and asked a couple of locals. They offered to drive me, but I don't just go with strangers so I declined and mentioned it was mostly bananas I wanted. That evening, the gentleman and his daughter brought us some bananas. In Spencerport, we spoke with a couple who used to sail and their son and daughter-in-law. Next thing you know, we were invited to dinner and rides. It is really small town hospitality and history thrown in to the mix. The pace of the canal is slow and calm, only 10 mph wake at times. There are not many boats. We are traveling with a solo sailor from England much of the time. He now lives in the south of Spain and sails here in the summer. Another couple we met were from St. Augustine, and others from Sarasota that come up for the summer. These are just a few examples. We found out we clear the guard gates and the bridges with a couple feet or more to spare. The depth is always 13-15 feet. We see more herons than I knew existed. When they fly by they are huge. Here are some pictures from our travels East.

Me navigating, kind of scary.

We passed Orangeport, then Gasport, named because some Polytech Students (Reneslaer) discovered natural gas there in 1826.  The first night we tied up at Middleport. Orangeport is a 4 corner town. They used to have the train depot, but Gasport was the recipient of it when the gas was discovered. Story goes the men of Gasport came for the depot building and were pelted by eggs from the women of Orangeport. Not sure where the men were! I leave you with Middleport pictures.