Again, copy and pasted from my FB blog...
Today we didn’t go too far, but saw and learned a lot. First, because of more rain this morning, we decided to leave Lyons and may stop there again on the way back to do some more sightseeing. We only cruised about six miles, but through three locks. The first lock, number 27, was within eyesight of the dock we spent the night at. While mentioning docks and walls, what’s really neat about the Erie Canal is all the free docking space! While there are some marinas along the canal, there is plenty of “free” wall space. There is no charge for staying tied up to these walls or docks. The walls are cement walls that line the canal on both sides of locks, and in many of the towns. The walls tend to be a little high for our boat. To get off the boat, we’d have to step on top the gunnel (for you non sailor types, that’s the side of the boat) and then climb up another 3 or 4 feet. Great for the bigger boats that sit a lot higher on the water! Docks on the other hand are mostly floating wood docks that are only a foot or two off the water, so we can easily step off our boat onto them. Then many of these places also have water and electricity available, sometimes at a nominal fee ($5-$10/night depending upon rather you need 30 amp or 50 amp service. We only need 30.) And some places it’s completely free. And then bathrooms and showers may be available also. At Lyons, I think I mentioned earlier, we could access the bathrooms and showers at the local fire station, just above us at the dock. Today, here in Newark, there is a Chamber building we check in at just above the wall and dock that has bathrooms, a shower, and laundry facility. All free. I should also state that up till five years ago, there was a permit fee required to boat on the Erie Canal. I don’t remember what it was, but still very reasonable. They dropped the fee five years ago to celebrate the existence of the Canal, and have continued to extend the moratorium on the fee. The next lock, only another mile, was lock 28A. The lock tender there, Jim, gave us an excellent tour and history lesson on that lock, and the dry dock right next to it. Several of the New York Canal tugs and barges were in dry dock for repair or maintenance. To bring the boats in there, they open up the dry dock gate to let water in. Once the boats are in, they drain the water, and the boats settle in on numerous cradles or platforms. A lot of the dry dock work is done in the winter months, when the canals are shut down and some drained. We also got to see the lock workings up close. The mechanical equipment that opened and closed the valves that let water in or out, and the equipment that opens and closes the gates. Also the electrical panels that provide electricity to run all the motors. The next lock, 28B was about four miles. After locking through there, another canal worker, Matt, gave us a tour of the old power house at the lock and then across the street, old lock 59. Matt really had an interest and some extensive knowledge of the history of the locks, particularly the older 59. To see the detail of cutting of the rocks that went into the making of the locks, would put some modern woodworkers to shame. And to think that New York said they’d build these canals in 10 years, but only took a little over seven. It was only a few hundred yards more to the wall and dock here in Newark, so Rosanne walked the path to take some photos of me and C-Traveler coming up the canal. Many more murals here in Newark. And more rain…. One more day of a rainy forecast, and then it should dry out again for a while. Colby
Mural as we were leaving Lyons
New York Canal dry dock facility at Lyons
I think the lock tender at 28A likes to keep his valve and gate control levers clean!
Good idea to give a little room when approaching from the lower end of a lock. Looks like the water valves release the water into the canal right below the lock.
Lock problem flow chart!
A few more dry dock facility photos
Mural on the back side of one of the maintenance or office buildings at the dry dock facility. Just below is a description of the mural.
Right across the street from lock 28B, is the old set of locks 59.
This photo shows the stepped pathway that the lock tenders used while pushing the large poles that swung the wood gates open and closed.
Our tour guide, lock tender Matt, sharing the history of this old lock with Rosanne
C-Traveler tied up on the wall just above Lock 28B, while Rosanne and I were getting the tour at lock 28B's old power house, and the old lock 59.
Me piloting C-Traveler from the cockpit helm. Easier to dock or position in the locks, and it was a very short distance from lock 28B to Newark. Otherwise, I have been using the main and driving from the main cabin helm.
Not too busy on the Newark wall. C-Traveler and a canal boat are the last two, and on the floating dock.
