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

[Valkyrie]

Cruise update:

We had a spectacular weather day today - temps in the 80's and lots of sun. A real C-Dory day!

We left Brockport at about noon after the group caught up with us and we toured the town for a while and then headed west, stopping for lunch on board at the town wall at Albion. Coming into Medina we saw a C-Dory in the parking lot near the town wall. It was Terry (Last Dance) who came to visit again. We decided not to spend the night in Medina, but did visit with Terry for a while. We then continued on to Middleport, where we're at the town wall. This is a beautiful, quiet little town and our (Valkyrie's) favorite spot so far. Power, showers and rest rooms, too. Dinner was at the Basket Shop on the deck overlooking the canal. Wayne McCown joined us and it was good to finally meet him after more than a few emails and PM's. Terry stayed for dinner, as well. We also checked out Terry's boat, The Last Dance, whose interior is very nicely and thoughtfully appointed.

Local knowledge for the September group and Jim and Joan: There is no longer fuel at Pittsford, although the cruising books claim that there is. The same is true for Gasport; pretty ironic huh? Cruisers advised us to avoid Medina as some boats have been set adrift at night and this week a bicycle was stolen from a boat. When we pulled into Medina to see Terry, we witnessed a nasty (although not yet physical) altercation between two guys and a woman and we even called 911 because of its severity. The police were there in minutes. Another cruiser suggested that he had a bad feeling about Albion, which has both men's and women's prisons, and even mentioned it to a bridge tender. He responded that he lives in Albion and is a boater, but would advise boaters not to spend the night there. Yes, this is hearsay, so take it for what it is worth. I hope that both of these are isolated situations. We have felt secure on the canal.

Well, that's about it. Marcia and I plan on getting an early shower and breakfast and be on our way by 8:00. Our travels with the C-Brats have been outstanding and we plan on joining this group again.

Valkyrie out.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

[ffheap]

Hi Touring C-Brats,

I am sorry that the problems of Medina have not been solved.

When we went through there a few years ago with El and Bill, Terry, Dun and Becky, Rick and Carol and Dave (I hope i Didn't miss anybody ) I noticed a boat secured to the pier of Medina with a bunch of half hitches. That is when we heard about the "people of the night" who come down and let the boats go in the middle of the night. Because of that, I collected the phone number of the police, and passed it out.

I went to bed early and when I awoke, Dave Paxton's boat which had been docked behind me on the pier was anchored in the middle of the canal. I asked what had happened and was told that a couple of "thugs" had come down and started a fight. Dave had defended himself with his tube chair, and the cops were called. They showed up and took the "thugs" away.

Being upset that a beautiful city would have such a problem, I wrote a letter and sent it to the Mayor, Police Chief, Newspaper, and Chamber of Commerce. One night a few weeks later, the phone rang. On the other end was the Chief of Police of Medina who had a Nantucket story. Jose Alvaria was a Coastie at the Loran Station on Nantucket when he got out of the Coast Guard. He then became a police officer in Nantucket. The guys who knew him said that he was a great guy.

The Chief said that when I came back to Medina, he would protect our boats all night. I think I will take him up on it this fall.

Fred

ps. The problem is that all of the Industry has left upper state New York. Beautiful Cities remain, but the Commerce has gone out with WallMart. I suggest that you read "THE WEDDING OF THE WATERS by Bernstein. i purchased my copy at the bookstore at Lockport.

Fair weather and happy sailing,

Fred

[Wayne McCown]

We wish the "flotilla" a good last day on the Canal, and Valkryie a pleasant cruise back to Geneva.

We enjoyed dinner with you at the Basket Factory in Middleport.

Wayne and Darlene

[El and Bill]

So glad the canal cruise has been a dandy. We're with you in spirit (alhough physically in the San Juan Islands)

[teflonmom]

I am reading this post before breakfast and you are reminding me of dinner at the Basket Factory. Dinner with Terry at The Basket Factory, it doesn't get any better. Pat is making me an egg for breakfast-gotta go-HAVE FUN

Fred, Pat, and Mr Grey( the cat )

[Terry]

Rick and westbounders,,,Niagara River,,WHIRLPOOL JET BOAT TOURS,phone #---1-888-438-4444,,,,or,,,1-905-468-4800.
One Hellva ride.
Enjoyed last night.
Terry

[Valkyrie]

Valkyrie Cruise Update:

Yesterday morning we left the rest of the cruisers and headed east as they went west toward Tonawanda. We stopped at Spencerport in the early afternoon to explore the town. Marcia and I found a great ice cream shop, Abbott's, south of town and also a phenominal used book store (Book Centre) in the plaza, also south of town a few blocks. Nate on Clover surprised us as we found him docked near us. The three of us had a nice dinner in the pavilion near our boats and called it an early night.

We were underway by 6:00, with Clover, a 16, leaving about 10 minutes ahead of us. And speaking of "ahead of us", when we got to the second lock a few hours later, we learned that Clover had cleared it an hour before we did! That boat was moving, as he had a 100 mile day ahead of him.

We pulled into Newark at about 2:00 and docked near Fan-C (Dave and Jan). About two hours later we were joined by Jim and Joan on Wild Blue who came back to the Canal to explore the western end. It was good meeting someone that I had been conversing with on-line for a few years. The six of us had dinner at The Corner, a nearby restaurant.

Marcia and I plan on leaving by 8:00 tomorrow for a 33 mile run to Seneca Falls, where we'll spend the night and then it's on to Seneca Lake on Sunday to haul Valkyrie and then it's time to head back to Ohio. Big sigh!

Once again, we enjoyed being with great C-Dory friends and hope to join this group for another cruise.

Nick and Marcia
"Valkyrie"

[Kathryn]

Hello! We are new (6-month) C-Dory owners, although we have been visiting and dreaming of C-Dorys (via web, brochures, and in situ) for at least a decade now. We live in Farmville/Hampden-Sydney, VA.
We just took our third one-week cruise, from Brewerton to Buffalo, about 5 days ahead of you guys. Lock operators would tell us that a bunch of C-Dorys would be coming through soon. I'm sorry we missed you--the western Erie canal was a great trip.

I don't know if it was the foam in Lock 34/35 or the logs/brush/innertubes/bottles/muddy water during the two nights we docked in Buffalo (after the Sunday/Monday deluges); however, our boat is filthy. We have tried lemon juice and clothes soap and dish soap--it is somewhat better, but certainly not clean. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?

[teflonmom]

I have had a lot of experience with Erie Canal brown stains on the boat. There is a product called Hull Cleaner (West Marine) it has a foul odor and burns your eyes. Be sure to cover your trailer with plastic or it will stain the frame. All that being said it will clean the brown stain with out any problem. Be sure to wax after treatment.

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

[CTYankee]

Try Davis FSR (fiberglass stain remover). It's a blue gel and works like magic. I wax after use. So far no downside to this stuff in many years.

Dun

[Rick from Maine]

2009 Western Erie C-Dory Cruise Gathering – A 6 Act Play

Caution: Long Play. Get comfortable and a beverage.

Production Assistance: Thanks to Mike & Bill. Without the C-Brat site our cruise gathering would not have happened.

Cast of Characters:
Core Group
Hunky Dory Carol & Rick Stambaugh
Widget Valerie & Dave Seaton
Alma’s Only Dayna & David Paxton
Clover Betsy & Nate Leonard
Valkyrie Marcia & Nick Rukavina
Nan – C Nancy & Doug Whitten
Cameo Appearances
Not Named Yet Steve, Jerry, Jerry, & Andy Johnson
Fan-C Dave & Jan
Sunflower Barb & Rich Priebe, Sharon & Bob Henry
Snickers Dave
Last Dance Terry Myers, Bonnie, Bill & spouse
Funhouse Barb & Don
Not named yet Darleen & Wayne McCown

Act I: Saturday, 8/8/09 – sunny
1. Arriving from Stage Left & Stage Right, 7 C-Dories dock at Seneca Falls and are greeted by Terry Myers & crew. David Paxton arranges a restaurant to take 16 of us at the last minute for our kick-off dinner. Introductions & Laughs follow.

Act II: Sunday, 8/9/09, cloudy initially, downpours, scattered thunderstorms
2. David Paxton tunes Hunky Dory’s balky engine. At 1000, seven C-Dorys head down the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. First Clash in lock CS-4: Non-boaters in a 40’ steel rental barge pull into lock and jump off boat without securing it. David Paxton courteously suggests appropriate action. Bargers reply with umbrage: “We have issues here! Our coffee maker is not working.” while their boat is adrift. David becomes forceful. Drugged out aged hippies turn to. Disaster averted. All hail David.
3. After viewing the Richmond Aqueduct, lunch on the lawn at Lock E-25. Rain starts. Do some locks in rain.
4. Next lock: drugged out aged hippies decide to lock thru with C-Dorys. Lockmaster says for them to enter after Dorys. Dorys request to enter after Hippies. Lockmaster quickly gets the picture and agrees. Disaster averted.
5. Heavy oil contamination in lock E-28B; EPA person shows up as the lock is opening to let Dorys out. EPA asks Lockmaster if he is going to let them out. He says : “Yes”. C-Dorys boogie quickly. Lock gets shut down for over 16 hours. Disaster averted.
6. Spend night in Newark where Sunflower with Rich and crew arrive from Stage Left. Scattered thunderstorms preclude joyous outside celebrations.

Act III: Monday, 8/10/09, sunny, hot – A Record Day
7. Recognizing that a new Northeast C-Dory Cruise Gathering record has been set, i.e. 8 boats and 22 people, herd cats and do group photo (Newark Mob in album). Rich is missing, of course!
8. Short cruise to Palmyra’s museums, shopping, food, shopping, geocaching, and shopping. C-Dory drafts increase.
9. Pleasant cruise to Fairport where the record is broken: 9 boats and 21 people as Snickers and Toyman show up. New record warrants wine reception hosted by Nan-C with local NY wines. Flock of rowdy C-Brats dine together in pub. Doug & Rick do a geocache. Finale of day is sunset photos.

Intermission: Take a No-Doze and refill your mug.

Act IV: Tuesday, 8/11/09, sunny gorgeous cruising weather
10. While cruising to Pittsford, pass first boat heading east. Jubilation! Over 2 days before seeing another boat in middle of the Erie Cruising Season! Only 8 boats are passed during the whole play.
11. Pittsford yields 2 geocaches and many shopping bags. Greek lunches and hand made ice creams. Boat drafts increase further. ( In Album see Hunky Dory Mustache photo to see where waterline ended.)
12. Dodge debris fields in Genesee River in Chocolate Milk colored water from 7” rain in area.
13. Get gas from grumpy redneck at Allen’s Canal Side.
14. 4 boats do B&B at Adams Basin and 2 overnight at Brockport. Use Alma’s Only and Bicycles to shuttle to dinner in Spencerport ( same place that Lisa arranged in 2005; still good).

Act V: Wednesday, 8/12/09, Sunny, Gorgeous cruising weather
15. After short stop in Brockport, drafts of boats further increase. No room for Widget to sleep in Vee berths.
16. Barb & Clayton put up greeting sign and sing her “Gem of the Erie” ditty as 6 C-Dorys parade. Boatside lunch at Albion. More shopping. Big Victoria’s Secret bags. Alas, no lingerie show. More draft.
17. Stop over Culvert road where road goes below canal. Take Widget’s photo, but they don’t follow Hunky Dory’s recommendation.
18. Quick stop in Medina as others warn of problems there. Nick dials 911 to report dispute in parking lot. Cops come. Lowlifes make Medina untenable so move to Middleport. Disaster averted.
19. Cool shady grassed picnic area in Middleport, perfect for the last cocktail hour with the core group. Then Terry and the McCowns bring their boats by trailer so it’s 8 boats again! Group dinner at Basket Factory short walk down the canal, then more sunset photos.

Act VI: Thursday, 8/13/09, sunny gorgeous
20. Another perfect day for cruising. Rick’s hat escapes hostage situation. Valkyrie & Clover exit Stage Right. Group of 4 vanquish the BIG debris in Lockport Locks. Brown foamy water makes dirty hulls (see Hunky Dory mustache in Album).
21. Arrive at West Canal Park to get rental car to retrieve tow rigs. Three wives take Alma’s Only on to N. Tonawanda center for more shopping and dining while hubbies do shuffle.
22. Enterprise rental only has 5 seats for 6 humans. Nancy volunteers to be the return shuffle driver. Pack 4 in back. Every time Dave Seaton breathes in a window opens until window lock is finally deciphered. David says rosary for 2 hr trip to Waterloo and promises to do a novena if Alma’s Only survives the lady’s trip.
23. A last round of hugs & goodbyes for another year.
24. By 2000 all 4 boats are loaded and headed off stage in all directions.

The End of another wonderful C-Dory group cruise gathering with 12 boats and 33 people involved over the course of the Play.

[Valkyrie]

Cruise addendum:

Fantessy, the demolition derby rental canal boat returned to Seneca Falls late this afternoon and their boat handling skills have NOT improved! Marcia and I were walking past as the rental guy was doing a debrief and we heard the Demo Man say, "And we didn't even break anything."

Marcia looked at me and mumbled, "He must not be counting lock gates."

Nick
"Valkyrie"

[teflonmom]

Congrats on a good cruise. Pat and I sure enjoyed hearing of your travels.

I was wrong about one thing. I expected that the rental canal boat crew would improve by the end of the week. Looks like I was wrong.

I was glad to hear that my old boat now called SNICKERS was with you. The new owners name is Jim Whitney and he lives near the canal in Macedon. He sure loves that C-Dory and has made some nice improvements.

Thanks again for sharing.

Fred, Pat, and Mr Grey(the cat)

PS I have told Jim to call me if he ever wants to sell.

[JamesTXSD]

We saw a C-Dory in the marina near Macedon as we went by today; docked right next to a Nimble Nomad. Good lookin' boat. When we pulled into Fairport this afternoon, another boater told us, "You missed the big bunch of C-Dorys!"

Yeah, we know.

Sounds like you folks had a great time.

Best wishes,
Jim B.