September 2, 2024 Go West Young Man! We head onto the western Erie Canal

 Monday Sept 2, 2024   Brewerton, NY to Baldwinsville, NY   21.6 miles and 3.2 hours

Had a good stop at Ess-Kay Marina. Wound up staying an extra day to participate in the Sunday Labor Day picnic.  Primary reason we stopped here was to drop the arch and bimini to get under the shorter bridges of the western Erie Canal.  Weather just wasn't cooperating. Kept getting rain showers.   Finally got the bimini canvas off during a dry period on Saturday. Then Sunday afternoon provided good weather for the balance of the job. We must be getting better at lowering the assembly.  Went quicker and easier and no pinched fingers. 

Received this picture via NEBO as we headed out.  
Radar arch and bimini lowered always looks odd to me. 
Can't have too many fenders when locking - or so I've been told!

First part of the trip today was just backtracking back to the Three Rivers intersection with Oneida, Oswego and Seneca rivers.  Ducked under a few bridges and into Lock 23.   Lockmaster seemed glad to see us saying it had been a very slow day so far. Once past Three Rivers the cruising was pretty routine river cruising.  The canal has a 10mph speed limit so just slow going most of the time.  Lots of dropping down to idle as the shoreline has spots of development with houses, docks and boats.  Then more slowdowns for the numerous fishermen in their bassboats.  Made it to lock 24 and Baldwinsville.   Had to wait a few minutes for the gates to open but another easy passage.  Several boaters at Ess-Kay told us it was a good first stop going west.  

Old town Cemetery was right next to canal wall

Town has a long floating dock with power and water so very accommodating to boaters. Unfortunately, being a holiday and a Monday most everything in town was closed.   We still did a walkabout, a surprisingly big new amphitheater is on paper mill island between the canal and river.  Interesting old cemetery next to the lock wall.  Lots of tombstones from the 1800's.  Town was quite prosperous in its heyday based on the size of some of the monuments. 

Journey for Sept. 2, 2024