08/8 – 08/15 - Western Erie Canal Cruise

CTYankee · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject:

Hello Barb and Don,

The September crowd should be in Brockport on Wednesday Sept 23rd, but don't hold me to it, as our plans remain flexible depending on weather and the whims of accompaning C-Brats. If you'll give me your Cell number, I'll give you a call as we approach your area. Becky will be along, but will only sing if quarters are thrown into the cockpit, or a kareoke machine is set up on the dock!

Dun

Will-C

Dun,
Is anyone going to run the canal back east to Seneca Falls after you get to Tonawanda? We plan on meeting a friend in Tonawanda and he will take our boat back to Seneca Falls while we take his car home. We will return the following week to trailer the boat home from Seneca Falls. Just wondering.
D.D.

CTYankee · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject:

Dave, I don't know what other folks plan to do, but last time we did this, one C-Brat did the return trip from Medina in two days. Maybe Fred, or Terry will have enough time to accompany your friend.
Or, if we get to Tonawanda early, we can retrace part of the trip and pull the boats on the way back.

Dun

Will-C

Hello,
If anyone needs one I somehow ended up with an extra New York State Canal Guide. First pm gets it for free.
D.D.

Valkyrie · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:55 pm Post subject:

Hi Brats,

Valkyrie is just about ready to head out for the canal tomorrow morning. The cooler is packed with lots of block ice and good food for the trip. Her hull has been waxed so much I think I added another inch to the beam and is so slippery I hope she stays in the water when we splash her Thursday afternoon!

We should be in Seneca Falls for the evening and will have some friends vacationing in the area visit and probably go for a ride on Friday. Both Marcia and I are looking forward to meeting some new brats and reacquainting ourselves with those we have met before. It also looks like the weather will be on our side.

Regards,

Nick
"Valkyrie"

Terry · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject: Thurs. travlels

Nick,I'm thinking i might go to the Steam Show on Rt. 20/5 east of the City of Canandaigua on Thurs.---if so---I will travel a little further east to see if I can find you somewhere between the Geneva launch and Seneca Falls.
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED Wink

Terry

Valkyrie · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject:

Hey, Terry!

I hope we can get together. I've got some cold ones in the cooler ready for you.

BTW: I'm planning on taking our new camper and Valkyrie to the Keys for March and April. Hope you can come down there, too.

I'll PM my cell to you.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

JamesTXSD · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

Rick from Maine · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Nick,

Have a safe road trip. We'll see you guys Saturday evening.

Rick

Valkyrie · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

Sorry this is OT, so I'll keep it short.

The focus of the Keys trip will be fishing, so the amenities of the camper will be much better than Valkyrie's. We're flying to the Keys in mid-October to check out campgrounds with dockage. We have two in mind. We go to SC for Christmas with Marcia's folks every year and we'll probably take Valkyrie to SC and leave her there. Camper goes down in late Feb and it's a day's drive to SC to get Valkyrie.

Jim: your answer is lots of driving!

We'll now return you to your previous program.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

CTYankee · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

To all you August Canal trippers,

Have a great time, and leave some food for us! Especially since we now have Fred along. Remember, he loves his ribs! We expect pictures!

Dun

Will-C

Haylo,
The Canal cruising guide is spoken for. I hope the August Canal Cruisers don't give us all a bad name. Remember tipping is not a city in China. Nick check out this place just north of Key West, Geiger Key Marina. Ate there looked around looked pretty cool. www.geigerkeymarina.com/ They even had a studio apartment for rent for a grand for month. Seemed to be low key with all the right amenities, bar, food, showers, launch ramps no too far away. Decent fishing out front on the reef or beyond. Jim are you going back up to do the western section of the canal?
D.D.

Valkyrie · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

Dave,

Thanks for the info. We'll check it out in October when we fly down. Other options are always helpful.

Marcia and I are tied up to the Seneca Falls town wall and are enjoying a nice, cool evening. The drive went okay and we registered at the office for vehicle parking with the date that we expect to leave and got that squared away. Terry found us at the ramp and we were able to catch up a little.

Jim,

When looking for the ramp we ran into a guy who said, "Those Cape Dory's are great boats!" We just smiled and agreed, heeding your advice. He also mentioned that there were two people on a Cape Dory who were seeing Lady Liberty right now!

FYI: At the first lock they were out of ten day passes so we did the paperwork there and ran up to the Seneca Falls lock to buy ours. They only had one left after that and the lock tender mentioned that they are in short supply, with a number of locks out of them.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of you in a day or two.

Nick and Marcia
"Valkyrie"

teflonmom · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject: Western Erie Canal Trip

Hi Rick,

Here's hoping you have a good trip and fine weather. Keep a lookout for my old C-Dory. She is now called SNICKERS and driven by a very nice man called Jim. I will call him and perhaps he would join you for a few miles.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the cat)

Wayne McCown · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject:

Dear Rick:

I (and perhaps other lurkers) would like to know your planned schedule for the cruise...thinking I may be able to meet up with you at some point along the way.

Also, will you posting to this site daily reports on your progress?

Thanks, Wayne

PS: Yesterday, we ran from Lockport to Medina and back. We only saw five other boats moving in either direction during our five hours on the canal, and we never had to wait for a bridge lift. When we arrived in Medina, we were the only boat in sight; another arrived while we were there. There were five tied alongside the wall near the Middleport lift bridge, none in Gasport. At the so-called Widewaters public marina in Lockport (where we launched) there were only three boats. There are 20-30 slips there, and the first four days are free. Bon voyage!