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!