The Eastern Erie Canal- Waterford to Three Rivers

A typical lock & dam

Erie Lock #2- our first Erie Canal lock

Inside a Waterford Flight lock

Lock #4, ready and waiting

Guard Gate #1

We spent one night in Waterford. It was raining early the next morning, so we decided to not leave and enter the canal until the rain let up. The forecast was for light showers off and on all day long. Conditions were not the best, but we also knew that major storm activity was not predicted. We cast off our lines around 0930 and entered Lock #2, the second of 35 locks we would transit. There are five closely space locks (#2-6) and two Guard Gates (#1 and #2) near Waterford that are referred to as the Waterford Flight. Each lock rises or falls about 34 feet, so in a distance of approximately 2 miles you are raised or lowered around 170 feet. This is twice the elevation of the entire Panama Canal! We entered the first lock and were secured to a rubber coated cable (similar concept to the pipe) when it started raining. Since this was our first lock, we had to process some paperwork to purchase a canal pass. The lockmasters are the greatest and walked our paperwork between the office and the boat so we wouldn't have to go through the rain (not that this made any difference because we were already wet!).

Some debris NOT floating in the water

Cruising down the Mohawk River

Because we were the only boat locking through at this time, we transited the Waterford Flight in a very short time, then went through four more locks and around 30 miles before arriving at Amersterdam, NY. Here we tied up to a municipal dock for $1/foot which included electric, water, showers, and a laundry. After we were secured, we met Rich & Carol Nick aboard Salt 'n Sand home ported in Cape May, NJ. We decided to all have dinner at the restaurant at the dock, and it turned out to be a fabulous meal with fantastic company.

A happy little girl wearing our Mardi Gras beads

Bavarian Cream visits Canajahorie

Relaxing at the Canajahorie dock

Getting ready for the next lock

We toyed with the idea of spending an extra day in Amsterdam. We needed to do laundry, and a day of rest would be welcomed. However, after talking it over, we decided to move on after the laundry was done. Coming out of our last lock the day before, we hit a submerged tree and brought it to the surface. Immediately we had a bad vibration at mid rpms and figured we dinged a prop. We figured it would be better to move on in case we had to have the boat hauled and a prop repaired in a boatyard in the Finger Lakes. We didn't want to waste time if we had to spend extra days for repair work. We finished the laundry and headed on very close to noon. We had around 24 miles and 3 locks to transit to make it to Canajahorie, NY. The run to Canjahorie was uneventful and we arrived around 1530 and tied up at the free dock. Not only was the dockage free, but electric and water were provided at no charge. One could really get used to Erie Canal cruising. Jane talked to some park visitors to find out about the town. A young woman that she spoke with said that she worked at a very nearby restaurant called the Elephant Bistro and that tonight was mexican night and she was the one who made the nachos. So, when it came time to eat, we found the Elephant Bistro and had nachos and a combination platter that was really delicious. We went back to the boat and crashed for the night.

The next morning we got ready to go another 24 miles and 5 locks to Ilion, NY, home of Remington Arms (the gunmakers). We called for reservations at the Ilion Marina and headed out. The trip to Ilion was uneventful. We passed through 5 locks and, according to the gps altitude had risen to 357' above sea level. We came to the famed Lock #17.

The lift gate of Lock #17

This is the largest lift of all the Erie Canal locks (40') and is unique in that there are not lock gates to pass through but a gate is lifted over the canal and the boats pass under the gate which is then closed. Supposedly there is only one other lock like this in North America in Canada. It was pretty impressive.

The gate closes on Lock #17

The Ilion marina was reallly first class, perfectly manicured, clean, and really helpful service. We enjoyed our brief stay here. The next morning we headed for Sylvan Beach, NY. Sylvan Beach is on the eastern shore of Lake Oneida and is a lively resort area with a good sized sand beach, a 1950's amusement park, and all of the eating and shopping establishments that come with typical resort community.

Rock climbing by Lock #17

At this point on the Erie Canal we have departed from the Mohawk River and are running in man-made ditches.

Debris removal on the canal

Today we would pass through 4 locks, two up and two down. We made it to Sylvan Beach and tied up at the free dock on the terminal wall.

Happy hour on Joysea

There ahead of us were loopers Steve & Linda Franks aboard Yesterday's Dream and Indianians Dave & Joyce Johnson on Joysea. We all had happy hour aboard Joysea and had dinner on our boats. Later, Jane & Capt. Larry walked into town to pick up a few items at a small grocery. When we got back to the boat we watched another of Todd's movies and crashed into bed. The locks are taking their toll....

Crossing Lake Oneida with looper boats

Lookin' good!

Getting ready to be worked on

The Wal-Mart run

The next morning we left with the other two looper boats and headed across Lake Oneida. We had an easy day planned and decided to stop at a marina in Brewerton, NY and have Bavarian Cream hauled out to see what here bottom side looked like. If we needed any hull or running gear work, this would be a good place to have it done. At the very least we had traveled almost 2,800 miles and figured she should at least have here bottom washed. Most boats don't get that many miles in 5 years. The marina staff was really great and accommodating. We borrowed the courtesy car and made the obligatory Wal-Mart run and waited for the boat to be hauled the next day. The boat was hauled and to our relief, the props were in great shape. Is Capt. Larry one helluva skipper or what? We did have a cutlass bearing that had slid halfway down the shaft and was resting on the shaft zinc, and the thought was that might be causing some vibration at certain times. Also we had a loose port prop nut that was only finger tight and considered ourselves really lucky that we hadn't lost a prop. These repairs were done and new zincs and a pressure wash and we were back in the water. It amazed us how good the bottom looked.

Turn right for Canada

The next day we continued westward on the Erie Canal, heading for Baldwinsville. We came to Three Rivers which is where the Erie Canal, Seneca River, and Oswego River join. Capt. Larry told Jane that a right turn would take us to Canada and this was here last chance, but she had her mind made up to run the rest of the Erie Canal. We went through two more locks and finally berthed at the Baldwinsville terminal wall. What a great place. Electric, water, great company with other boaters, and all of this for $5 a night. We had dinner on the boat, talked about where we would head to next, and sat through a pretty good thunderstorm. All in a day's play.....