2021 DA reconnaissance mission in western Erie canal

[tribologist]

Were out checking out western Erie so we can be sure Dessert Albin is having a good trip and is happy when we meet up with them later this summer. We started in Oneida lake at 43 North Marina in Brewerton, NY. Its a nice full service marina with diesel and a good ramp with plenty parking. (For a modest fee). Picture is from Brewerton Lock E-23. We left home in Connecticut at 9am and got the boat in at about 2pm. Stopped for the night at Coopers Marina in Baldwindsville. Nice showers and restroom and a restaurant right across.

[DesertAlbin736]

We're looking forward to meeting up at some point a few weeks later. We're still at home in hot, smokey AZ now. Hope to be on the canal a month from now. So far it's been a crazy summer on the canal. Lots of rainy weather, temporary closures and delays of locks due to high water flows, and other maintenance issues.

[tribologist]

Second day took us from Baldwinsville to beautiful Seneca Falls with its fantastic double 25ft lock. Great little town with free clean showers and we get to drive by DA’s previously used ramp in the north end of Cayuga Lake. Saw a nice Albin 36 on the way down.

[tribologist]

From there we went to Palmyra, this might have been our best day on the Canals. We med a Rookie Lock operator in Lock 28A, Jim, that had dreamed of being a lock operator his whole life and finally he got to be one at the age of 63. He was a also an amateur historian and a member of the Palmyra historical society. He set us up for a tour of the hydroplant at loch 28 B and then he met us up at the nice little free dock at Palmyra and gave us a tour of the town and its interesting history. Thats where the Mormons got started among other things. Just fantastic person.

[tribologist]

Third day took us from Palmyra to Spencerport. On the way we filled up 10 gallon in Macedon at Mid lakes marina. (Only diesel between Oneida and Tonawanda) . When we were asking about their ramp they said, “no problem Don Cartwright launches his Albin all the time”…. I just stared at them…. I took some pictures. Very cool roof. Albin25 Coupe! Nicely done. Lunch break in Fairport and then stopped for the night in Spencerport. Lots of rental canal boats from Midlakes marina were there. Awesome boats and not to expensive to rent for anyone that like to do some canal tours.

[tribologist]

From Spencerport we took us to Middleport. Very cool part of the canal. At parts one are up in the treetops and we even crossed over a road! Stopped for the night in Middleport.

[DesertAlbin736]

I briefly dated an older Mormon/LDS gal while on leave from the Navy. I was 18 and she was 23 & from upstate NY but home on vacation from teaching school in Heber, UT near Salt Lake City. She took me to see a Hill Cumorah pageant near Palmyra in 1970. They're held every spring, around Easter if I recall. Interesting spectacle. That's about 4 miles due south of town. Did you dock at the little cutout basin marina while in Palmyra?

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[DesertAlbin736]

Newark is another neat stop if only to check out the murals on the building's walls. Good place for laundry & showers too.

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[DesertAlbin736]

Another interesting sight on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal was this African Queen replica steamboat.

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[tribologist]

[quote=DesertAlbin736 post_id=89895 near Palmyra in 1970. They're held every spring, around Easter if I recall. Interesting spectacle. That's about 4 miles due south of town. Did you dock at the little cutout basin marina while
[/quote]

Sure did! Really nice basin. Terrific breakfast joint next to it. We might stay there again going back.

[tribologist]

Another interesting sight on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal was this African Queen replica steamboat.
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Lots of cool boats!

[tribologist]

Today we made it from Middleport around bouy #1 and back to Middleport. A good 60 mile and we still got time to enjoy the Flight of five in Lockport and fill the tank in Tonawanda. We filled 10.35 in Macedon going west and 9.6 today so it used exactly 20 gal to do the trip including a two hour detour to Seneca Falls so its essential to fill in Macedon…. We also took some ramp pictures for DA:-).

[WillieC]

That is going to be a fun trip. Great pics.

[DesertAlbin736]

Got a text last night from Ulf (trilbolgist), He had to stop & dock at Midlakes Marina & get a ride back to his truck & trailer & haul out at the Midlakes Marina ramp. Heavy rains & high stream flow forced the Canal Corp to close locks E24 &E25 "until further notice" & until the water levels & current flow subsides. So that ends his cruise for now. We're 3 weeks out from our launch on the canal & our sailing friends just got through the Soo Locks in Michigan yesterday & spending tonight there working on engine issues & catching up with provisions & laundry before continuing on 60 NM to their next stop at Detour Harbor near the top of Lake Huron. Not expecting their arrival in Tonawanda until at least August 11 to as late as August 17. Hoping things on the Erie Canal get back closer to normal by then.

[tribologist]

Took us from Middleport at 7:45 in morning to beautiful Fairport in one run. The bathrooms were under the police station and was managed by them. Love the mirror…

Arrived in Fairport and got to meet up with Don C. And his awesome A25 coupe special. ”Coey” SN 1025. Original Ad-21. Had a few hours of great chatting with Don before calling it a night. Next day we went to Macedon, a short 1.5 hr hopp and met David Conroy that used to own Flicka. He showed me his beautiful steam boat that we saw two years ago in Waterford below the flight there. We stayed the night and this morning we pulled Driftless out heading towsrds Connecticut. Total of 304 miles on the water and 55 ich hours on the tacho, about 24 gal of fuel. Albin 25 is cheap fun!