09/09 - 09/16 - Erie Canal Cruise
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Wayne McCown
New member
FYI...
In July, my and wife and I did 110 miles in 3 days, on the western section of the Erie Canal. That included 4 locks and 24 bridges.
In July, my and wife and I did 110 miles in 3 days, on the western section of the Erie Canal. That included 4 locks and 24 bridges.
Rick from Maine
New member
Rich, thanks for those restaurant #'s. We'll be at the Varsity; that's the one we used last year.
Fred, you know how it goes, it will last as long as you want it to! However, my planning shows that we'll be in Waterford on Thurs afternoon with a Sunday start, assuming we travel every day. So, I'm planning on doing my car shuffle on Friday, since that will take a full day, then towing home on Saturday, give or take a day, depending on weather.
So, Fred it depends on how far you're going. Thursday afternoon you'll be in Waterford, which means you could be in Whitehall by Friday Night if ya start up the Champlain on Thursday PM.
Rick from Maine
Fred, you know how it goes, it will last as long as you want it to! However, my planning shows that we'll be in Waterford on Thurs afternoon with a Sunday start, assuming we travel every day. So, I'm planning on doing my car shuffle on Friday, since that will take a full day, then towing home on Saturday, give or take a day, depending on weather.
So, Fred it depends on how far you're going. Thursday afternoon you'll be in Waterford, which means you could be in Whitehall by Friday Night if ya start up the Champlain on Thursday PM.
Rick from Maine
I'd like to finish compiling a list of cell phone numbers for everyone to have. I have Rick, David, and Fred from last year. If your numbers have changed, let me know. Nate just sent my his number. I need Ken, Linger, Terry and Wayne to send me their number and e-mail address so I can send the list out. It helps when plans change or if someone gets lost.
Thanks, Dun
Thanks, Dun
Nate Leonard
New member
Hi all;
I have charts but don't own the cruising guide for the Eastern Erie canal. I'm having trouble figuring out speed limits. The Eastern Erie is faster than western as there is much more river running. Anywhere that is river more than 200' wide and has no boats anchored (and isn't posted less) is now 45mph limit. This will probably come into effect mostly Mohawk River, Herkimer area and east. Some, maybe not much, of the Seneca River may be faster. Not a race but the last day can be a pretty quick trip (are you hauling out before or after all the locks in the Albany area?).
There will also be significant favorable current in places. Water levels are already high and this weekend will bring heavy rains to Western, NY, probably not so much for eastern, NY - 1" or so there. (3-6"+ in western NY).
Not sure how useful that rambling was...
Best,
Nate
I have charts but don't own the cruising guide for the Eastern Erie canal. I'm having trouble figuring out speed limits. The Eastern Erie is faster than western as there is much more river running. Anywhere that is river more than 200' wide and has no boats anchored (and isn't posted less) is now 45mph limit. This will probably come into effect mostly Mohawk River, Herkimer area and east. Some, maybe not much, of the Seneca River may be faster. Not a race but the last day can be a pretty quick trip (are you hauling out before or after all the locks in the Albany area?).
There will also be significant favorable current in places. Water levels are already high and this weekend will bring heavy rains to Western, NY, probably not so much for eastern, NY - 1" or so there. (3-6"+ in western NY).
Not sure how useful that rambling was...
Best,
Nate
Wayne McCown
New member
Nate:
1. I have the NY Canal Cruising Guide on order. Hopefully, it arrives in the mail next week.
2. We are spending the weekend at our cottage. It is located on L. Ontario about halfway between Rochester and Buffalo, immediately contiguous to Golden Hill SP (which you can find on the map). I'll report how much rainfall we get there over the weekend.
3. We keep the C-Dory at the cottage (on the lake). I'll measure that Porta-potti and email you this evening.
Wayne
1. I have the NY Canal Cruising Guide on order. Hopefully, it arrives in the mail next week.
2. We are spending the weekend at our cottage. It is located on L. Ontario about halfway between Rochester and Buffalo, immediately contiguous to Golden Hill SP (which you can find on the map). I'll report how much rainfall we get there over the weekend.
3. We keep the C-Dory at the cottage (on the lake). I'll measure that Porta-potti and email you this evening.
Wayne
Nate Leonard
New member
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st ... yID=375561
Above is story about the first run on Mohawk River at 45mph speed
Official word:
What is the speed limit on the Canal System?
Where NYS navigation law dictates it is 5 mph.
Lakes- no speed limit.
Rivers- 45 mph.
Landcut/rockcut-10mph.
(From - http://www.canals.state.ny.us/faq/index.html - NYS Canal website
Best,
Nate
Above is story about the first run on Mohawk River at 45mph speed
Official word:
What is the speed limit on the Canal System?
Where NYS navigation law dictates it is 5 mph.
Lakes- no speed limit.
Rivers- 45 mph.
Landcut/rockcut-10mph.
(From - http://www.canals.state.ny.us/faq/index.html - NYS Canal website
Best,
Nate
Almas Only
New member
Please include Alma's Only on the reservation list for Saturday's dinner. Looking forward to seeing you all.
david
david
Rick from Maine
New member
Great Dave, Glad you can make it.
Yeah Fred, I plan to stop at every opportunity like last year. Do you realize that last year we cruised for 6 days and Carol & I only had 1 meal that we prepared on our boat ( Picnic lunch at a lock on Monday noon). All the rest of our meals were with others at restaurants!
It looks like there aren't as many places with all the dockside services on this end of the canal. I sent Dun a spreadsheet of possible stopping places for each night, that he will forward when he gets everyone's e-mail address. I used Fred's strategy ( I know that's scary!) of going further on the first 2 days. It ends up that since there are fewer places it is best to go further the first few days. The itinerary uses 10 mph for the whole canal. If we get to go faster on the river, good but it won't change how far we go in a day by much since we spend so much time getting started and tieing up.
Rick & Carol from Maine
Yeah Fred, I plan to stop at every opportunity like last year. Do you realize that last year we cruised for 6 days and Carol & I only had 1 meal that we prepared on our boat ( Picnic lunch at a lock on Monday noon). All the rest of our meals were with others at restaurants!
It looks like there aren't as many places with all the dockside services on this end of the canal. I sent Dun a spreadsheet of possible stopping places for each night, that he will forward when he gets everyone's e-mail address. I used Fred's strategy ( I know that's scary!) of going further on the first 2 days. It ends up that since there are fewer places it is best to go further the first few days. The itinerary uses 10 mph for the whole canal. If we get to go faster on the river, good but it won't change how far we go in a day by much since we spend so much time getting started and tieing up.
Rick & Carol from Maine
Hi Folks,
Sounds great. At this time (Labor Day ) my crew is coming. We plan to leave Hingham on Thursday AM, Go to Seneca Lake State Park, Launch, and go up to Seneca Falls. Anybody on the same schedule? Last year Alma's Only was there before me. The reason for early is so if I run into problems, I will not be late. ( Sheila says that I am always an hour early to the Nantucket-Hyannis Boats, she just barely makes it.. Less stress for me.)
Rick, your schedule sounds just Hunky Dory.
Has everybody signed up by now? I see we have some new boaters. The more, the merrier. Boy are we merry.
Fred
Sounds great. At this time (Labor Day ) my crew is coming. We plan to leave Hingham on Thursday AM, Go to Seneca Lake State Park, Launch, and go up to Seneca Falls. Anybody on the same schedule? Last year Alma's Only was there before me. The reason for early is so if I run into problems, I will not be late. ( Sheila says that I am always an hour early to the Nantucket-Hyannis Boats, she just barely makes it.. Less stress for me.)
Rick, your schedule sounds just Hunky Dory.
Has everybody signed up by now? I see we have some new boaters. The more, the merrier. Boy are we merry.
Fred
Have a great time! Here's a place for all the pictures.
Wayne McCown
New member
Dear C-Brat colleagues:
We trust you are having a great cruise. We enjoyed our time with you in Seneca Falls!
After leaving Seneca Falls, we headed west, back to our launch site at Seneca Lake State Park. Having passed through the lock, we noticed a nice dock on the north side of the canal, turned around and stopped for a tour of Waterloo.
What a pleasant experience! The canalside (town) park is lovely. It's a short walk (2 blocks) to Main Street (= Hwy 5 & 20). At the corner, we were warmly greeted by a local businessman, who directed us east to the downtown area; he also gave us an (unsolicited) recommendation for "a good place to eat." It was a good recommendation!
Connie's Diner is located about three blocks east of the downtown area, on the north side of Main Street. It is truly a Diner, in the 50s style, the best we have seen or experienced. Walking back through town, we met another local carpenter restoring a beautiful old home; he too engaged us in an extended, friendly conversation.
Don't bypass Waterloo on your way home!
We will be following your itinerary this week, and look forward to seeing the report and photos of your cruise. Maybe next year, we can squeeze out a bit more time.
Cordially, Wayne
We trust you are having a great cruise. We enjoyed our time with you in Seneca Falls!
After leaving Seneca Falls, we headed west, back to our launch site at Seneca Lake State Park. Having passed through the lock, we noticed a nice dock on the north side of the canal, turned around and stopped for a tour of Waterloo.
What a pleasant experience! The canalside (town) park is lovely. It's a short walk (2 blocks) to Main Street (= Hwy 5 & 20). At the corner, we were warmly greeted by a local businessman, who directed us east to the downtown area; he also gave us an (unsolicited) recommendation for "a good place to eat." It was a good recommendation!
Connie's Diner is located about three blocks east of the downtown area, on the north side of Main Street. It is truly a Diner, in the 50s style, the best we have seen or experienced. Walking back through town, we met another local carpenter restoring a beautiful old home; he too engaged us in an extended, friendly conversation.
Don't bypass Waterloo on your way home!
We will be following your itinerary this week, and look forward to seeing the report and photos of your cruise. Maybe next year, we can squeeze out a bit more time.
Cordially, Wayne
Hi guys,
This is Dun using Terry's computer from Lock 20 Canal Park near Rome, NY. We're having hors d'oeuvres and cocktails and having Pizza delivered. Life is good!
We crossed Lake Oneida this morning in 20 kt winds. C-Dorys handled the square waves great. We had to say goodbye to Nate and Betsy this morning as they had to get back to work. Wayne and Darlene stayed one night with us and had to go back to work as well. Almas Only, Crescent Girl. Hunky Dory, Inn the Water, Island Trader, and The Last Dance are continuing east to Albany and maybe beyond.
Pictures to follow.
Dun and Terry
This is Dun using Terry's computer from Lock 20 Canal Park near Rome, NY. We're having hors d'oeuvres and cocktails and having Pizza delivered. Life is good!
We crossed Lake Oneida this morning in 20 kt winds. C-Dorys handled the square waves great. We had to say goodbye to Nate and Betsy this morning as they had to get back to work. Wayne and Darlene stayed one night with us and had to go back to work as well. Almas Only, Crescent Girl. Hunky Dory, Inn the Water, Island Trader, and The Last Dance are continuing east to Albany and maybe beyond.
Pictures to follow.
Dun and Terry
Pat Anderson
New member
Wish we could be there! One day! Looking forward to the pix, Dun!
Terry":2625uc2w said:
Wayne McCown
New member
Dear Terry and all:
It sounds like you are having too much fun!
What are "square waves"? We have camped with our fifth wheel trailer twice on L. Oneida. It is a beautiful little lake, but it can get rough, esp. on the east end.
I would love to do the next leg of the cruise with you. The Mohawk Valley is an exceptionally beautiful piece of real estate.
Well, we are following along with you, and enjoying the cruise vicariously!
Cordially, Wayne
It sounds like you are having too much fun!
What are "square waves"? We have camped with our fifth wheel trailer twice on L. Oneida. It is a beautiful little lake, but it can get rough, esp. on the east end.
I would love to do the next leg of the cruise with you. The Mohawk Valley is an exceptionally beautiful piece of real estate.
Well, we are following along with you, and enjoying the cruise vicariously!
Cordially, Wayne
Wayne McCown
New member
BTY...
I got at least one photo of each of your C-Dory's, as you were leaving the dock at Seneca Falls.
I can (a) post them to the Event page on the C-Brats website, and/or (b) email to each of you the pic(s) I got of your boat. Let me know your wishes.
Wayne
I got at least one photo of each of your C-Dory's, as you were leaving the dock at Seneca Falls.
I can (a) post them to the Event page on the C-Brats website, and/or (b) email to each of you the pic(s) I got of your boat. Let me know your wishes.
Wayne
Nate Leonard
New member
Hi All;
Well our C-Dory 16 cruiser ran with the big dogs even with an engine that hadn't been run in two years. Thank goodness Dave was along to tweak the tuning. Betsy isn't used to boats yet so I am just as glad we returned before pounding across Oneida Lake. It was great fun even if only for two nights.
We decided to overnight Monday and ran back all the way to Newark where there is an excellent boaters facility (toilet, shower, washer/dryer all 30' away!). Kind of funny there - you have to call the village police department for the key. After 5:00 the phone rings into Wayne County 911 - the emergency being we wanted a key to go to the toilet. 10 minutes later a young officer came running down the dock all apologetic for taking so long!!! A side note - we had asked about porta pottis and decided on the little Coleman. We had trouble with a leaky cap on the holding tank which isn't fun in any boat much less a 16... I will discuss this with Coleman.
Newark also has a 50s diner and nothing has been changed - maybe a few things should be but still an interesting experience.
Tuesday we ran back around to Seneca Falls State Park - 8 locks in the day. Better practiced now at handling. Wednesday rain so happy to be home (we don't have the camper back (yet). Great shake down cruise and we will be ready for future runs.
Running down the canal (river) at high speed with 8 boats looked like a James Bond movie!
Best,
Nate (& Betsy)
Well our C-Dory 16 cruiser ran with the big dogs even with an engine that hadn't been run in two years. Thank goodness Dave was along to tweak the tuning. Betsy isn't used to boats yet so I am just as glad we returned before pounding across Oneida Lake. It was great fun even if only for two nights.
We decided to overnight Monday and ran back all the way to Newark where there is an excellent boaters facility (toilet, shower, washer/dryer all 30' away!). Kind of funny there - you have to call the village police department for the key. After 5:00 the phone rings into Wayne County 911 - the emergency being we wanted a key to go to the toilet. 10 minutes later a young officer came running down the dock all apologetic for taking so long!!! A side note - we had asked about porta pottis and decided on the little Coleman. We had trouble with a leaky cap on the holding tank which isn't fun in any boat much less a 16... I will discuss this with Coleman.
Newark also has a 50s diner and nothing has been changed - maybe a few things should be but still an interesting experience.
Tuesday we ran back around to Seneca Falls State Park - 8 locks in the day. Better practiced now at handling. Wednesday rain so happy to be home (we don't have the camper back (yet). Great shake down cruise and we will be ready for future runs.
Running down the canal (river) at high speed with 8 boats looked like a James Bond movie!
Best,
Nate (& Betsy)
Well Folks,
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
After a great dinner on Saturday night, we left on Sunday, September 10th, and made it to the Hudson River on the 14th. Moved trailers on the 15th, and I am now in Hingham writing this note.
The trip was great. New friends were made. Great food was eaten. (Don't buy pizza in New York. They ruined the pizza like they ruined the Clam Chowder.)
More info coming from others and me.
Fred
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
After a great dinner on Saturday night, we left on Sunday, September 10th, and made it to the Hudson River on the 14th. Moved trailers on the 15th, and I am now in Hingham writing this note.
The trip was great. New friends were made. Great food was eaten. (Don't buy pizza in New York. They ruined the pizza like they ruined the Clam Chowder.)
More info coming from others and me.
Fred