Saturday August 29: Lost on the Erie Canal

Lost on the Erie Canal? Well, perhaps 'lost' isn't quite the right word. We know exactly where we are - just can't remember where we've been! We know it's the canal because of the numerous work boats - all painted blue and yellow.

But the small towns that dot the waterway are pretty much the same.

Wonderful dock area along the canal - usually right next to the main drag of town - with power and water.

Yesterday we arrived at Brockport and decided to stay another night since it's Saturday and we don't really know how busy places are on the weekends.

Besides, it was time to sit for a day.

Since Clyde with it's VERY noisy trains we've been to Newark - really nicely painted visitor center which has restrooms, a shower and free washer/dryer, no trains - then on to Fairport.

Fairport (Guppy is circled in red) was a very busy port getting ready for their annual Music Festival and we had one of the prime spots! But it was only Wednesday and the festival didn't start until Friday. Plus we were told it really is crowded - often late into the night with lots of folks running around who perhaps had enjoyed the adult beverages just a bit too much! Didn't sound like our kind of scene ,,,,,  Plus not only were the trains back but they had to blow their whistles as the tracks ran through town!

Thursday the plan was to go to Spencerport (20 miles) but after an hour of off and on rain with threatening dark clouds we decided to stop at Pittsford (only 7 miles) instead. Good decision as the day was just not all that nice.

Yesterday we made the 23 mile trip past Spencerport (we'll stop on the way back) on to Brockport under sunny skies and cool temperatures. Perfect and way more fun than traveling in and out of rain. I sure do miss the miss the flybridge enclosure of the trawler ....

The Erie Canal itself seems to constantly change. Sometime we are traveling along areas with thick woods on both sides of the canal.

Then we'll be in an area with a highway and mowed median along the canal. Sometime the trucks will honk at us!

Parts of the travel remind us very much of the Trent - especially as we pass near Rochester. This part of the canal was cut through rock - very similar to the cut from Balsam Lake to the liftlock at Kirkfield.

Industrial buildings could easily be seen around Rochester.

And there must have been 30 bridges as the canal winds it's way on the south end of the city - mostly car bridges but some old train bridges as well that seemed to no longer be in use.

Probably the cost of removing them is not worth it.


There are still ducks everywhere and clearly fed by boaters and townpeople near the docks. And we actually spotted two turtles. Guess they are just hiding in the less accessible areas of the waterway.

Two casualties and repairs this week. Steve found a new rim for his bike (to replace the one that split apart in Lakefield) plus a new tire for the back rim. Good bike day!

Second was the cabinet above the sink fell down at one end.

No problem - take it all of the way down, drill some new holes, use some longer screws (the original ones were ridiculously short) and the job is done.

I'm surprised it even stayed up this long given how it was attached.

Nicely done, Steve!

Shortly after we pulled into Brockport yesterday, Steve was off on his bike to the local Wegmans grocery store.

A nicely timed strip to the store as the special of the day in the seafood department was lobster!!

The timed picture of our dinner last night was not so great but you get the idea :-)

Up early this morning with a quick shower at the welcome center and we were off to the Brockport Diner for breakfast.

In Fairport, we found the DeLand mansion built in 1876 - along with the church across the road.

The mansion is now the Green Lantern Inn.

For some interesting history, click here. Be sure to click on the arrow on the right hand side of the page for the complete history of the company and the DeLand family.

Here in Brockport is one of the original signs advertising Ivory soap - which also has an interesting history as to why it floats.

Click here to read about it if you are interested!

This particular sign is from the late 1800's and was restored in the 1990's.

We have been through more than a hundred locks this summer but this one on the canal has to have been the fastest release of water through the doors that we've ever seen! I would NOT want to have been hanging out very close to this :-)

Of course, if we were perhaps the lockmaster wouldn't have released it so fast!

Monday August 24: Clyde NY

We were off fairly early Sunday as the goal was to continue south on the Oswego River to the intersection of the Erie Canal - then head west.

The locks are much larger than those on the Trent canal - but still have leaky doors!

The travel is river travel so no checking of the weather to find out if the winds will allow us to go - just a question of how warm/cool it will be and what are the chances of rain. Or we just look at the sky :-)

We made a quick stop at Phoenix to pump out the holding tank. Do-it-yourself, free pumpouts are almost at every town here on the canal. One thing they have done right - make it easy and free and folks will use them.

This is a nice stop that we have passed by numerous times - seems like the timing for stopping here is just never right. Positioned very close to the junction of the Oswego canal (goes north to Lake Ontario) and the Erie Canal (running east and west between Buffalo and Waterford), it is too close to other places we'd  rather stop.

The Erie Canal has been invaded by hydrillia - a non-native invasive water plant. Many places along the side of the canal (with minimal boat traffic) have been taken over.

It's very thick (we saw herons standing on the plants) and grows very quickly.

This is the same plant that was so pervasive on the St. John's River in Florida. Not sure what will be done to keep it under control. For more info in this invasive plant, click here.

There's tons of blue herons, the usual number of ducks and sea gulls along with a few swans.

Strangely we've not been able to spot a single turtle in the miles we've been on the canal so far. Not sure what that's about. Seems to be plenty of habitats that would appear perfect. One beaver hut as well.

And of course the elephant in the someone's front yard that seemed to really amuse Steve :-) Weirdly out of place if you ask me!


Two immature bald eagles and one adult that just sat very still so we could take it's picture. Such beautiful birds - it's nice to know that they are making a comeback in some of the northern state areas.











The only other animal sighting was at the Baldwinsville Diner - want to ride the Champion Horse? Leather saddle and all! I was tempted but it said you were riding at your own risk. Seemed like I should just pass :-)

So we stayed last night at Baldwinsville. Five dollars for power was the total cost. We are definitely going to get spoiled traveling here.

The small towns all have a town dock - almost all with power and water - almost all free. Some have showers and a laundry (free also) as well.


Up and out for breakfast with a quick ride around town. Nice little place - similar to all of the small towns in the north it seems.

And of course it seems there is also a requirement for at least one building with a mural. With a riverboat. And other illustrations of the days past.

These towns seem to get their identity either from the canal or from one or more large industries that for the most part have now moved on to other areas or have just gone out of business.

After a nice morning we moved on another 15 miles to the town of Clyde. Interesting sights along the way ....

including what appears to be an old bridge abutment. I'm sure there is a story behind this but I thought it was pretty neat looking.

It was a nice town complete, again, with power and water. Both free. Next to a well kept park.

The downside: the train tracks which ran right along the canal on the other side. The upside: they didn't blow a whistle but there must have been a dozen trains throughout the night - and they sounded like they were right next to us!

All in all a good night though.

The homes in the area ranged from this huge 1800's home that is haunted and has tours to a home of what would appear to be the same vintage.

It may truly have been haunted!

Not terribly well kept up. Not even sure if it was still being lived in - although the grass is mowed.

The usual central park along with a nice WWI memorial.

I always find it interesting that WWI is often referred to as the "Great War" on these memorials. Who knew there would ever be another world war?

Topping off our bike tour of the town was the Hillbillies Paradise Diner. We decided not to have breakfast there although, honestly, it probably would have been just the kind of place we like :-)

Tomorrow? Another 20 miles or so west on the canal to another of the small towns that dot the next hundred miles or so to Buffalo.

Saturday August 22: Crossing Lake Ontario - Back to the States

Once again we had a plan. Set the alarm for 7:30 am, take the red route to Brighton, fuel up and continue on to Oswego.

And also once again, the plan changed that fast. The alarm went off at 7 am - obviously an error on Republic Wireless rather than user error (first rule of being wrong: find someone (thing) else to blame :-)  )

The driver that took me back to the marina from Enterprise went into Brighton Marina - once. Bent both props in the middle of the channel.

Not sure what to do. Was he really out of the channel? Is it really that shallow? The warning on Active Captain warns of rocks by the fuel dock. What to do.

Since we had awoken early, the decision was made to travel the yellow route, stopping at Belleville (10 miles from Trenton) to top off the fuel tank - we carry 120 gallons and in theory had enough to cross the lake to Oswego. Neither of us thought it prudent to chance it.

With our flags wrapped and strapped with velcro we headed out.

Travel in the Bay of Quinte was perfect. We were cruising at 20+ mph and making good time.

Shore was never very far away - a very pleasant ride.

Finally we made the turn that put us on a straight heading for Oswego.

By this time our full exposure to Lake Ontario was cut to about 45 miles. Definitely different than the 70 miles on the red route.

In the end, it took us an extra 45 minutes. Trawler speed would have taken us an extra 2 hours :-) I love this cruising thing :-)




Shortly ater 12:30 we pulled into the Oswego harbor. The wind and waves had picked up some as we neared the southern shoreline but still a great run.

Checking back into the US was very easy via videophone at the Oswego Marina.

Plus we topped off the fuel tank again. Nice to be paying $3.76 a gallon instead of the $5.30 a gallon at Bellevue (ok - granted. This is $4.30 converted to US currency but still the US price is a welcome change.)

It was still early by the time we transited the first lock and tied up. I needed a nap! Early morning and long travel even though we were cruising.

Ended up that we just stayed :-)  Steve walked around and checked out the area. I slept and read.

This is such a nice place to stay for the night. Very quiet. Park right next door.

Surprising how many folks walked by - everyone saying hi.

Steve made shrimp on the grill (it really wasn't this wild of a fire!) - nice dinner.

Add a nice sunset and we are good for the night :-)

Plus our phones now all work as does our Verizon hotspot. Definitely we're spoiled by being back in the States!

Off tomorrow for - not sure where but someplace on the western end of the Erie Canal.

Friday August 21: Road Trip to Parry Sound

Wednesday bright and early we picked up a car in Trenton from Enterprise for the trip to Parry Sound.

Everything was packed for a quick 2 day trip to visit Symmetry and Deja Vu. The weather was not going to permit us to cross Lake Ontario until at least Friday so it seemed a good time to visit friends.





The drive north was strange as we passed over the Trent canal a number of times. There would invariably be a sign stating "Trent Canal" as we passed over a bridge.

A very momentary thing with a glimpse at the lock above Simcoe Lake and at right a quick sighting of the lock and dam at Port Severn.

Signs to turn here for Big Chute, the marine railway. Or turn here for the Kirkfield Lift Lock - all of the places that we've traveled through over the past 2 months.

As we neared Parry Sound (on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay) the cut through the granite along the roads was amazing.

It is the same rock that the waterways pass through! It's no wonder it seems like there are rocks everywhere in the water - they are all over the shore as well :-)

We were definitely spoiled with our accommodations on Symmetry in the front berth.

First time in three months that we haven't had to crawl into our bed! (Our bunk in Guppy is under the dinette - not much headroom :-))

I don't know more hospitable folks than Jim and Linda and Peter and Cheryl (who always has coffee ready in the morning - just cross the dock to Deja Vu!) It seemed we would lunch on Deju Vu and have dinner on Symmetry or visa versa.

Lois (Cheryl's Mom) drove up to Parry Sound as well to travel on Deja Vu for a few days or so. It was really great to see her again - yet another wonderful person we have met on our travels!

Jim and Linda - picture on right.

A final get together on Symmetry for breakfast this morning before we headed back to Trenton and Guppy. Cheryl, Steve, Lois, Peter, Jim and Linda. What a group!

The Plan: leave by 9 am. Arrive Trenton by 1 pm. Move the boat 10 miles to Brighton to a marina with fuel (Trenton's fuel pumps were being replaced - no fuel for us!), fill up and be ready to cross Lake Ontario first thing Saturday morning.

The reality: left by 9 am. Slight detour to Wyvale to drop Lois's car off at Peter and Cheryl's home (keys are above the visor :-)) and then we thought of stopping at Bobcaygeon - only 15 minutes out of the way - to go to the bakery!! What a brilliant idea!


And then the realization that we have to drive right past our favorite Chinese restaurant on the whole Trent system in Fenelon Falls - on the way to Bocaygeon and it was right at lunch time!

So needless to say the trip back home to Guppy took a bit longer than we envisioned :-)

It was 3:30 until we made it back to Trenton and 4 pm until I was back to the boat from returning the rental car.

Guess we'll just stay in Trenton another night and leave from here ... weather still looks good for crossing the lake.

The rain clouds were rolling around all day on the trip back and by the time we were arriving to Trenton, the clouds where here as well.

No problem - Steve took the opportunity to wash Guppy. A well needed wash job for sure!