September 20, 2024 Completing the Western Erie with a return to Brewerton, NY

 Friday  Sept. 20, 2024  Baldwinsville to Brewerton  31 miles and 5.5 hours

Learned Apres Sail was also headed to Ess-Kay Marina in Brewerton. Other boats on the wall either staying or headed west.  We decided to lock through and travel together for the day. Quick call to the lockmaster at E24 and he had the lock filled, prepped and gates open.  Easy drop down.   Weather has been wonderful for days and today was another sunny and clear day.  Hot for up here this time of year as we keep reaching into the 80's.  Should be cooler in the lower 70's.  It continues to look more fall like with colors popping on the trees - just not feeling very fall like yet.   Pretty easy cruising all day.  Wide rivers - Seneca and then Oneida.   Some slowing down for docks and boats.   

Back to nice clean waters and scenic landscapes

Plenty of wildlife along the river including this pair of swans

We picked up a couple more boats in our group as we approached Lock E23.   We had been informed several days ago that the annual lock inspections were going on and we might experience occasional delays.   Today was the day.  Locktender informed us it would be a little while before he could get us through.   We could see multiple people walking around the locks - just couldn't figure out what they were doing.  Unusual as they normally operate with just 1 or 2 people.  Seems they needed to kill all the power for the inspections, do the inspections, and then reenergize everything.  Since we weren't sure how long the delay would last, we idled for a while.  As the delay dragged on we opted to head to the wall. Got tied up and of course within minutes the gates opened up.  Just how it goes sometimes. We got secured inside the chamber and celebrated our final lockage of the trip. 

Smart boaters tied to wall at lock 23 while waiting for inspection to complete.

Brewerton is located just off the shores of Lake Oneida - a pretty decent sized lake.   We have not been able to run the engines up to speed for weeks now and decided it was past due.  So, we drove past Ess-Kay and out onto the lake and ran the engines through their paces.  You can see us looping out on the lake on our map.  Everything went as hoped and expected.  Hit our normal speeds at 1400, 2000, 2400 and 2900 rpm's.  No unusual vibrations so still keeping my fingers crossed that little issue trying to reach the town wall in Pittsford didn't damage my starboard prop.  Back to Ess-Kay where we'll put the bimini cover and radar arch back up, give the boat a well deserved deep clean and start packing up. Ultimate plan is getting the boat hauled at Winter Harbor Marina and put in indoor heated storage sometime next week.

Bimini and radar arch back in position.

Journey for Sept. 20, 2024

September 19, 2024 Back to Baldwinsville

 Thurs. Sept. 19, 2024  Seneca Falls to Baldwinsville  38 miles and 5.5 hours

Out the 3 Cayuga -Seneca Locks with ease.   Lockmasters were great and had the chambers filled and gates open.  Glad for that as I was ready to get out of this canal.  Not sure why but the water on it was just nasty.   Green algae colored water, polleny film on top, lots of floating weed patches, etc.  Engine stainers will require a thorough cleaning once we get docked.   

Leaving the nasty water and idle speed flatlands of the CS canal behind

Unlike the western shortcut we took coming in from the Erie canal, we took the eastern route out which had less stress-inducing deeper water.   Back on the main Erie canal the water quality settled down, and we had another nice cruising day.  Weather here has really been outstanding for boating - especially as it's getting late into the season.  Just weeks now without a hint of rain, warn temperatures, and fall colors which continue to increase on the trees. 

Last time we stopped in Baldwinsville was a Monday and we had the wall to ourselves.    Bit of a change today.  Total of 6 cruising boats along the wall tonight.   One of them another gold looper called Apres Sail.  We had crossed paths with them during our great loop travels.  Odd how small the boating community can be at times that you cross paths with people at the most unusual times.    Atomic Smokehouse was open and had good reviews so gave it a try for dinner.  Pretty decent ribs, large portions and some unique sides (roasted brussel sprouts in a white cream sauce??)  Then it was Bingo night over at WT Brew so had to check that out. Good crowd - OK beer.  Luck was not on our side with any winning bingo cards. Glad we stopped here on a normal weeknight on our return trip.  Town definitely much more alive than our last visit when the highlight was visiting the long dead in the historic cemetery next to the dock wall.  

Journey for Sept. 19, 2024

September 17, 2024 We explore the final NYS canal Cayuga-Seneca

Tuesday Sept 17, 2024   Newark to Seneca Falls  33 miles and 6.5 hours

The NY State Canal system is composed of 4 canals.  The Erie Canal, Oswego Canal, Champlain Canal and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.   We've now done the first three (some twice) and decided we might as well close out this trip by traveling all 4.  So opted to make Seneca Falls our next destination which is down the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.   Needed an early start as the trip required going through a full 7 locks.  Locks 28B, 28A, 27, 26 and 25 on the Erie.  Then locks 1, 2 and 3 on the Cayuga-Seneca.   

Entering Locks 2 and 3 on the Cayuga Seneca Canal. 
Taking us up 49' to Seneca Falls 

For the most part a pleasant travel day.  Locks were generally easy. All the Erie locks were simple drops which always go smoother than a lift - no turbulence from filling, just a gentle lowering.  Also helped the lockmasters were communicating our progress to each other.  Must have been a slow day for them as most were waiting for us with gates open.   The Cayuga Seneca is fairly short lengthwise.   And not the most enjoyable from our standpoint.   Started off by using the western cutoff heading onto the canal.   Shallow water dropping to less than 2' under the keel.   Then a mile of super slow going through really swampy water with a shoreline of houses built on flatlands barely above the water level.  The water itself was a bit too "green" for me - lots of weeds, algae and filmy surfaces.   We finally made it to Seneca Falls and got tied up to their free dock right aside the Welcome Center.  Couple of other boats there.  Good facilities - all free. 

Pushing through the water on the Cayuga-Seneca canal 

First order of business - Farmers Market.  Found out the town's market was held a block away on Tuesdays from 12-4 pm, so less than an hour until it was over.  Certainly not up to the Fairport standard but they did have a few vendors with produce and a nice selection of Mennonite baked goods.  Finished the day with a walk around the Womens Rights Park then over to Parkers Pub for some very tasty smoked wings and a happy hour priced beer.  Unfortunately, Fall Street Brewing (the only brewery in town) was temporarily closed as they're in the process of moving across the street into a new bigger venue.  Good for them - bad for me.

Some of downtown Seneca Falls.  Canal runs behind all these buildings

Fair amount to do here so spent a second day.    Did a walking self-tour of historic homes.  Pamphlet was a bit confusing, but they did a nice job outlining the various architectural styles and dates of the buildings.  The grandeur of some of these houses attests to the wealth that was once here. Also interesting that such a diverse range of architectural styles - from simple to very elaborate - were so popular in a relatively short time period.

Federal

Italianate

Gothic

Tudor

Two Second Empire style houses side by side

This was the carriage house for one of those houses

Followed that up with a tour of "It's a Wonderful Life" Museum.   Seneca Falls touts itself as inspiring the town of Bedford Falls in the movie.  Frank Capra visited the area during the writing of the script and appears to have incorporated some local lore into the movie.  In particular the use of names of surrounding towns, prominent local family names and the use of the famous bridge scene where Clarence jumps in the river followed by Jimmy Stewart to rescue him.  The bridge in town has a plaque honoring Antonio Varacalli who in 1917 jumped off the bridge to rescue a woman who had attempted suicide.  He was able to save her but ultimately drowned himself.  The town citizens placed a plaque on the bridge honoring him that is still there today which states "Gave his life to save another".   

"It's a Wonderful Life" Museum housed in old man Potters Bank Building??

Plaque on Bridge honoring Antonia Varacalli

Signs on road leading to bridge show Clarence St on one end
and Bedford Falls Blvd. on the other side 

The town museum is housed in the welcome center building.   Does a nice job explaining how the town and industry grew around the falls but also was impacted by the construction of the expanded canal and introduction of the railroads.  A dam had to be built to allow for the 50' lock drop. An area of town known as the flatlands, which contained many working-class houses and several industries, was flooded creating a lake. Like many canal towns, Seneca Falls had a thriving industrial base making everything from fire engines, to pumps, to foundry items, to textile knitting.  Interesting fact on the knitting mill.  Dating back to pre-civil war times, they only knitted wool.  Owner refused to knit cotton as it was dependent on slavery. 

The old knitting mill now houses the National Womens Hall of Fame 

Town is well known for the founding of the Womens Rights Movement but was also heavy into abolitionist and temperance movements. Very progressive prominent citizens for the times. Tourism seems to be the primary push now.  Finished the day with a walk on the sculpture trail which runs along the opposite canal bank.

A large heron stands guard over the canal. The edges on the metal feathers were sharp!

Gould Pumps was founded in Seneca Falls in 1848 and still operates a foundry in town. 

Trying to determine if this is discarded scrap or art.

 

Sunset in Seneca Falls

Journey for Sept. 17, 2024

September 15-16, 2024 Back for another visit - Newark, NY

Sunday Sept. 15, 2024   Fairport to Newark   20 miles and 3.25 hours

Slow Sunday morning but not in a big hurry as we'll only need a few hours for today's cruise.  Figured we would leave around 10AM.  About that time we heard radio chatter from some eastbound boats asking the bridge to lift.  Figured it made sense to fall in behind them so we could all go through the couple locks ahead of us together.   They had been having issues with the lift bridge since after our arrival on Friday and it refused to work again.  We waited a bit but finally decided we just had to go.  About 20 minutes after we left we finally heard the bridge tender saying he was ready to lift.   By then we were hoping we were far enough away the lock tender at Lock 30 wouldn't hold us up waiting for them.    It all worked out fine for us.  Lock was already filled when we arrived and tender simply needed to open the gates for us.    Got the same quick lockage at lock 29.   Made for an easy cruise to Newark.   We're back into more back river type cruising rather than cut in canal. 

Nice day, easy cruising, good scenery

Decided to make today's stop Newark.  We had stopped here for a quick pumpout going west and it looked like it might be a good stop returning.   Very accommodating town dock with power, water, bathrooms showers and laundry.  Best of all its all free.  Even had 50AMP power which is extremely unusual on the canal but was very welcome as we were able to run AC on this hot mid 80 degree day.    Checked out Runaway Blue Brewery hoping they might have the Jaguars game on a TV.  No luck with the game which may have been just as well since they lost.  Fairly limited beer offerings but it was nicely varied and pretty good.   Took a stroll through town - some nice older homes - to reach the Wegmans grocery store about a mile away. Then a nice return walk using the canal side trail. I always think our Publix is a pretty nice grocery store, but Wegmans takes it to another level.  Not many restaurants in town open Sunday night so dinner on board.

This pair of homes caught my attention.
.  Made me wonder if a father built identical houses for his 2 daughters.

Not sure what the significance of this was but it was an interesting detail

Decided to spend an extra day in Newark. Having A/C on these mid 80's days is nice.  Spent the morning visiting the Hoffman's Clock Museum housed in the town's library.  Was surprisingly fascinating. Augustus Hoffman was a successful jeweler in town and an avid clock and watch collector. He donated his collection to the town upon his death back in 1945. Fascinated to see some early American examples were made using all wooden parts including delicate hand-made gears.  Only one arm was used on the face with marks for each 1/4 hour.  Slower times when people needed a rough estimate of time - not living minute to minute like today. 

Collection of antique Grandfather Clocks.
 Most of these from mid 1800's or earlier

Martha being overwhelmed by all the clocks

Had to stay until father time rang the bell on this one. 
They keep most of the clocks wound and running

Very ornate antique French clock 

Detail of the inlay on the clock. 
Clockmakers made mechanisms but cabinetmakers made the cases

Spent the afternoon doing oil and filter changes on the engines.   Checked my maintenance log and last one was on May 17th back in Elizabeth City, N.C. We were just working our way up the east coast. That feels like an eternity as we've been to so many places since then.  We've been lucky with a lot of trouble-free miles under the keel in those 4 months.  No mechanical issues in the log book.  Replaced that vacuflush pump back in June, cleaned weeds out of strainers a few times, and added a few scratches on the hull.  Hope our good mechanical luck keeps holding out.

Journey for Sept. 15, 2024

September 13, 2024 Return stop at Fairport

 Thursday Sept. 13, 2024  Bushnell Basin to Fairport.   4 miles and .75 hours

We want to spend a few days in Fairport but know due to its popularity it can be tough to get a spot on their wall at times - especially on weekends.  The main summer boating season is winding down here so we're hoping we can get a spot with an early Friday arrival.  We phone the Main Street bridgetender around 10 who says there's currently a few spaces that will fit us.  Quickly, we cast the lines and head over.  The bridgetender welcomes us back to town as he raises the bridge and lets us through the last of the lift bridges we'll see.  Nice spot on the quieter south wall.  We're secured by 11 AM.   With plenty of time to explore, we check out the Tool Thrift Store.  All manner of donated used tools at a thrift store manned by senior volunteers with proceeds going to senior services. Saw a drill press, small lathe and scroll saw I would have liked to take home but instead settled for a like new short-handled hammer and a rubber mallet for $4 total.  

Checking out machinery at the Tool Thrift Store. 

Getting hot so stopped at Moonlight Creamery for a treat.  Dropped the tools off at the boat and took a walkabout. No historic downtown Main Street here on the south side. Sadly, a victim of 1970's urban renewal.  All torn down and cleared out for a parking lot and new Commons Building. At the time the thought was the old necessity shops (grocers, butchers, banks, etc) were no longer used or needed so had to go to make way for the new nicety shops (restaurants, salons, yoga studios, etc.).  Off the main street many of the older homes are still intact and being well maintained and worth the walk.  Wound up at Fairport Brewery for a flight. Housed in a 1930's vintage gas station.  Great repurposing of a building but not our favorite beers.  We've now sampled beers from 3 of the breweries in town having hit 2 others during our westward stop here. 

City Hall is one of the few remaining historic buildings on southside Main Street

Saturday morning had us visiting the farmers market.  One of the better ones we've seen.  Loaded with true farm produce that was surprisingly fairly priced.  Apples, pumpkins, squashes and mums on display as the fall crops come to harvest.  Still plenty of summer stuff.  Tomatoes looked amazing!!  And speaking of amazing, Amazing Grains Bakery talked us into a local favorite called Salt Bread. Good saleslady - "Most people buy two - pull one apart and eat it in the car then still have one for the family when they get home.".  We only got one, but it was pretty darn good!   

Apple season is here. Big variety. And all locally grown

Mums and pumpkins of all sizes and colors on display

Spent most of the afternoon relaxing. Then took another walk over the bridge to further explore the north side.  It was the more industrialized section of town.  Only real remnant of that is the old American Can Co. building which has been repurposed. They produced the first cans for packaging beer here.  Now houses several restaurants, breweries, and Iron Smoke Distillery.  Having sampled most of the breweries in town, we opted to try a flight of bourbons while listening to live music.  That cask strength 120 proof had a kick!

Premium bourbon sampler - Regular, Single Barrel and Cask Strength

Founders last name is Skully - hence the interesting logo

The very short Journey for Sept. 13, 2024

September 12, 2024 No love at Spencerport or Pittsford - on to Bushnell Basin

 Thursday Sept 12, 2024  Holley to Bushnell Basin  34 miles and 8.25 hours

The day started out wonderfully.  Beautiful morning.  Sunny and warm.  We decide to take a hike to see the falls that are the main attraction in town.  Not too far away from the canal and the trail was well marked. It led down to a nice open grassy park for viewing.  Nothing very big but scenic.  The hike delayed our start a bit but shouldn't impact an early afternoon arrival to Pittsford. 

On the town wall in Holley

Holley Waterfall

Several lift bridges to navigate today.  We hail the operator at the first one in Brockport for an easy passage.  Says he'll notify the Spencerport operator we're on our way. We arrive at the first of the Spencerport bridges called Adams Basin.  It's about 4 miles from the Spencerport bridge but we expect the operator to be in the control house since Brockport supposedly contacted him.   We radio on CH 13 as required but get no reply.  Politely wait a few minutes and radio again.  Still no reply.  We call the cell numbers listed for the bridge operator.  No replies there either.  We call the Brockport Operator to see if he knows anything.  Says he'll contact the operator.  We wait and wait and wait while keeping an eye on the parking lot below the control tower for a vehicle arrival. Nothing.  Call Spencerport numbers again.  Still no answer.  Call Brockport Operator -"Sorry for the delay.  I'll call them again".  He never has told us if he actually made contact with Spencerport which was odd.  We wait some more.  By now we have been idling at this bridge for well over an hour.   So much idle time that Martha gets the drone out and takes a few pictures.  We call the Spencerport numbers a third time.  Amazingly, someone answers.  It's the Spencerport Operator!!  His response - "Sorry, I was out cutting grass and didn't hear the phone.  Be there shortly".  Several minutes later a car comes wheeling into the parking lot and soon the bridge is up and we're on our way.  He meets us at the Spencerport bridge for a quick lift and we're finally moving again.

Martha's drone shot of us waiting at the Adams Basin Lift Bridge

Our idling track while waiting at the bridge 

Done with lift bridges for the day we now work our way to Pittsford which requires traversing locks 33 and 32.  Lock 33 needs to fill before we can enter which seems to take an unusually long amount of time.  He finally opens the gates and we get through.   Drop 25' and head for nearby lock 32.   Get the distressing message from lockmaster "Captain please hold your position.  We'll need you to wait a few minutes.  The Pittsford tour boat will be coming upbound, turning around and we'll have you go down with them."   So more delay on an already delayed day!  A half hour later we hear the tour boat captain stating he's headed to the lock.   We wait some more for the lower gates to close, fill the lock and raise him up. He does a quick circle in front of us and heads back into the lock with us following closely behind. We get locked through and finally make it to Pittsford.  

Tour boat Sam Patch circles around and heads back into Lock 32

More problems!! The south wall is the primary transient dock but no boats are there. Signs are posted along it "No Dockage Allowed until Sunday". Seems some sort of festival is starting and they need the waterfront clear.  There is a spot on the north wall that looks long enough for us but it's at the extreme western end of that wall.  We slowly approach.  Depths are reading good until they're not! We're within a few feet of the wall.  Then the alarm starts sounding and depths quickly disappear.  We're stirring up mud and I'm hoping that is confusing the alarm.  Nope. The bow thruster stops being able to push us sideways.  I'm assuming the stabilizer fin has made contact. Just then I feel the unmistakable sound of a prop strike and the starboard engine kicking off.  Thankfully, all this is happening at idle speeds.   We abandon the tie up and after a push off the wall by Martha using the extended boat hook pole, we are able to use the bow thruster and port engine to get away from the wall.  The starboard engine starts up fine.  It's getting late but we decide to push on to Bushnell Basin.  I remembered seeing the floating town dock there as we passed it heading west.  Seemed like it could have questionable depths but no mention of any issues there in any reviews.  It's just a few more miles down the canal.  The engines are running fine and I'm not feeling any vibrations. Once I can run higher rpms or get hauled for the winter we'll know if there is prop damage.  For now all seems OK. Approaching Bushnell Basin, we hear live music coming from a venue alongside the canal.  With the docks in sight but evening approaching, we see 2 canal boats coming the opposite direction and headed in.  We can only hope there is room for all of us as I'm not sure I've got a Plan C at this point.  The three of us do fit but fill the entire dock.  It wound up being a delightful night.  We headed down to the Aurora Brewery for a much needed drink and listened to the music.  Then enjoyed some Abbotts Frozen Custard from the shop at the docks before calling it a day.  And what a day it was!!

Journey for Sept. 12, 2024

September 11, 2024 Chased away from Albion we stop at Holley

 Wednesday Sept 11, 2024  Gasport to Albion to Holley   31 miles and 5.25 hours

Wound up making a very full day of it today.  Left Gasport and Seas the Dream behind with an early start to get to Albion before noon. Big plans for a bike ride to see the Cobblestone Museum. But first a quick stop passing through Medina for a pumpout.  Wound up being one of the best pumpouts we've used.  Quickly got the gauge to a rare "Empty" showing on the gauge. Albion is having the lift bridge on the western side of town replaced.  It was pinned in the up position so easy to get through and we settled in on the south wall. Construction equipment lined the north wall - 2 barges, a tug and a crane. As we were preparing for our bike ride, we heard a westbound call from a tow and barge to the second lift bridge on the eastern side of town.  Some discussion about whether there was enough room for him to get by us with those barges on the other side. As he approached, he told the bridge operator "Lift it up and let me see.  I'll let you know if I can make it".  Decided to give it a shot. Deckhands on the front of the barge on each side giving hand gestures of clearance to the captain as he slowly squeezed by.  Sorry, no pictures - too busy watching., 

Primary reason we stopped here was to bike over to the Cobblestone Museum in Childs about 2.5 miles away.  Our little folding bikes got a good workout as did we on the rolling country road! Cobblestone is an interesting artistic feature on buildings.  Stone buildings with 12" thick rough stone walls then had a facade put on with similarly sized smooth rocks. Mostly done in the period from 1820-1860 but seemed to have died out during the civil war period.  It's unique to a region within about a 100 mile radius of  Rochester. It's not an architectural style since it was done to all sorts of buildings - barns, shops, schools, churches, homes. Very labor intensive for collecting all the stones which were abundant in farm fields here.  But then the stones had to be sorted by size and shape. Masonry work was slow as only a few tiers could be done each day before allowing time for the cement to cure.

The museum is housed in the old Universalist Church

The old schoolhouse

Residential home 

Detail above the schoolhouse doors

Elongated stones were typically used with just the smaller ends showing. 
This provided a thicker and more solid facade

Corner detail on the schoolhouse

As we were getting ready to leave on our bike ride the bridge operator met us and informed us we probably didn't want to stay on the wall for the night.   Most of the bridge construction is done overnight from 7PM to 7AM.  Lights, jackhammers, etc.   Told us we needed to get moving by 4:30 to get through the bridge before she closed for the day.  On our bike trip we discussed alternative stops for the night and decided Holley would work - only an hour or so further down the canal.

After returning from the museum I headed downtown for a quick walkabout.   One of the best preserved collection of canal era main street buildings.  Most in decent shape but lots were empty.  Some lawyer offices as this is the county seat.    Nice example of Medina sandstone church with 175' spire.   There is another Universalist church in town that was funded by George Pullman of the Pullman RR Car Co. who was originally from Albion.  Contains 50 Tiffany stain glass windows.  Missed seeing it as the afternoon was winding down and it was time to go but pictures looked impressive. 

The Pratt Building had a large opera house on the 3rd floor

175" tall spire on this Medina Sandstone church

Interesting building - now a lawyer's office

Medina Sandstone was often used for roadbeds

One of the other things Albion was known for was resident Charles Howard (1896-1966).  He created the first "Santa Claus School" here in Albion in 1937 to teach the proper appearance and demeaner of Santa.  He was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa for 18 years until his death in 1966.  

Statue commemorating Charles Howard as Santa

Once my tour of town was done we fired up the engines and headed east.  Several more lift bridges to get through before the bridge tenders quit for the day.  Made it to Holley.  Very nice town wall and park.  Power, Water, bathrooms, etc. all free.  Short walk into a small downtown area.  Cute, couple shops, pizza place and ice cream shop.   Stomach satisfied, back to the boat.  

Right side of downtown Holley which was built around a town square
 rather than a Main Street on the canal front.  

 

Journey for Sept. 11, 20204