Erie Canal

The Erie Canal was a very unique boating experience, unlike anything we had experienced on the Loop. The Canal was completed in 1825 (almost 200 years ago), it’s between the Hudson River and Lake Erie, and was the first navigable waterway to connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. The Erie’s peak year was 1855 when 33,000 commercial shipments took place, but this traffic declined in the latter half of the 20th century due to competition from trucking and the 1959 opening of the larger St. Lawrence Seaway. Today, the Erie Canal is mainly used by recreational watercraft. It is 363 miles long and took us 9 days to complete. We travelled through 36 locks (which raised us a total of 564 feet) and under 14 lift bridges. The largest was Lock 17 which raised us 40 feet. Most of the locks had ropes that you hang on to as the waters rise or fall (vs. floating bollards on the inland river locks) and we ended up liking the rope system better (as long as you had a good pair of gloves to wear!). The lock operators are quite efficient and often know that you are coming so the locks were much quicker than on the rivers. There were a few marinas along the canal but we mostly tied up to walls that were available in many of the towns…..having to pay a small fee for electricity. We stayed in 8 different towns along the way: Schenectady, St. Johnsville, Ilion, Brewerton, Baldwinsville, Newark, Spencerport, Middleport and ended at North Tonawanda (just north of Buffalo). One of the interesting things about traveling the canal is that there were many towns that were lower than the canal – you were looking down at the town from your boat as you passed by. We met up with Joe and Lynn from No Rush in Schenectady and ventured through the canal with them leading the way. It was fun having a buddy boat to venture the canal with, especially to hang out with in the evenings. While in N. Tonawanda, we visited Niagra Falls and took a ride on “Maid of the Mist” which takes you into the middle of the falls. It was a riot…..we did not think we would get so wet! Lake Erie here we come…..hoping to see our friends Tom & Lisa Hunt in Cleveland and attend a Gardians game while we are there.

A map of the New York Canal System - includes Erie Canal, Champlain Canal, Oswego Canal and Cayuga-Seneca Canal

1st lock on the Erie Canal - in Waterford

Entering Lock #3

Often times dams were right next to the locks

Each lock had a sign like this.....they were very informative

Exiting a lock

It was nice and calm in the canal - didn't have to worry so much about windy weather like on the Great Lakes or Atlantic Ocean

Tied up to the wall in St. Johnsville with No Rush (front) and Inner Tube (behind us)

Robin holding on tight to the rope! Lock buddy No Rush is right next to us!

We went thru many of these guard gates - they were always up but in the event of a break in a canal wall, they can be lowered to prevent water from long stretches of the canal being released.

Our wall in the evening at Ilion Marina

Heading into another lock

Beautiful view down the canal

Decision point for many Loopers......go right to the Oswego Canal and Trent Severn (Canada) or go left to the Western Erie and Great Lakes

Lock 24 in Baldswinville

These are what all of the lock controls look like on the Erie Canal - pretty simple!

Someone sitting along the canal took this picture of our boat and posted it on the Great Loop Facebook page

A rainy day in Newark

Another view of the canal - sometimes it got quite narrow

Waters are rushing out of the lock as they lower the water so we can enter

We saw of few of these boats on the canal. You can rent these houseboats on the canal.....it would be a great way to experience the canal and locks.

Lift bridge in Spencerport

Lift bridge in Spencerport - just high enough to go under!

Lift bridge behind our boat in Middleport

Tied up on the wall at Middleport - not much in town to do! But we did find the Irish Pub!

Our last day on the Erie Canal

Entering the step lock (#34 & 35) in Lockport - each lock goes up 25 feet

Almost done with the locks!!!! Yahoo!!!

Going from lock #34 into lock #35 - this was a cool experience!

The last lock sign! PS. We did not do the Black Rock Lock - we were able to stay on the Niagra River to enter Lake Erie.

School children waving hello at our last lock as we drove by!

Niagra Falls - the tall buildings on the right are on the Canadian side

We did the Maid of the Mist tour with Joe and Lynn

The falls created very strong winds - I couldn't keep my hat on!

The American Falls

Wall of water in the Canadian Falls - we were right in the middle of it

We got drenched!!!!! Mainly because I was trying to take pictures!

Joe and Lynn did not get as wet as they held their hoods over their heads!

Another view of the American Falls

The Canadian Falls - just above the "X" is a tour boat - that's where we were!

Another Niagra Falls view

A picture of us on the bridge to Canada - we tried to go but the line was too long so we didn't!

We spent 2 nights here on the wall in North Tonawanda - next day we hit Lake Erie and Moonshadow II was excited to go fast - or maybe it was her Captain!