Erie Canal

K

ken 120

New member
I spent five or so days cruising the Western part of the Erie Canal (Newark west)-great cruise- thinking of doing it again but am considering doing the eastern part-however I am under the impression that the eastern part is less scenic - would be perfectly happy doing the Western part again but would like to hear from Brats who have done the "whole" canal and their impressions of the Eastern part.

Thanks

Ken
 
We found the western part of the canal more interesting, mostly because the towns were closer together. The eastern part of the canal is good, too, though. We especially enjoyed our time in Waterford (the far eastern end of the Erie Canal). Then, head down the Hudson and get a whole 'nuther experience. Lots to see and do all along the canal; easy cruising, good restaurants in walking distance, history, interesting architecture, farmers markets, concerts, and nice people.
 
El and Bill said:
We agree with Jim - the eastern section of the canal is also delightful and well worth the cruise. We enjoyed the entire canal.

My family has a long association with the canal (my ancestors used the canal as an avenue in their migration to the west). Canal history is interesting. You might enjoy our essay, So Once Were They. http://cruisingamerica-halcyondays.com/eriesoonce.htm

Our halcyon days website has other Erie tales you might enjoy.

Enjoy your trip - and, as Jim said, a cruise south on the Hudson is a delight and we would suggest you consider a cruise north through the Champlain Canal to the lake. Our website has tales about those cruises that might be helpful and interesting to you.
Click to expand...
 
I'd like to second what Jim said about the Eire Canal, both ends. A great trip, wherever you goeth.

I spent 2 weeks in Waterford, waiting for the water to go down and for Judy who was waiting for a grandchild, back in LA. It's a great town, there's a great restaurant for breakfast, etc and there's an original section of the Eire Canal leading to Albany. Also, if you've missed Rome, they have a wonderful Eire Canal museum, which was going broke in 2002. Well worth a visit to understand what the first canal was like.

Don't forget Troy, home of Renessalier Polytechnic, which I used to visit when they were doing NASA studies for a Mars Roving Vehicle, back in the 70's and I was at JPL. Worked out well.

Also, you can head up through Lake Champlain from Waterford. Or join the Canadians headed down the Hudson. While they lower their mast somewhere on the way down, the C-Dories are a great river boat.We moored off New York for a couple of days, right near Central Park, on our way up to the Eire Canal.

Note that the 3 ea comments you have come from Texas, Colorado and California. Probably takes some distance to appreciate the Eire Canal.

Here's a couple of pics of the west end. First, lined up at the Waterford dock waiting for the water to drop, in June. Our Journey is the first in line showing how long it took for that kid to be born.
38_Waterford_waiting_001.jpg

Next is s hot of downtown Waterford, a very nice place.
40_Waterford.jpg

And finally (hold the applause,) a shot of the old canal, leading up from Albany. There's an old lock in the background.
39_1_Old_Champlain_Canal.jpg

Truly a great trip, Boris
 
Hi Ken,

We've done the Western Erie 3 times, and the Eastern Erie once. Although Waterford/Troy was nice, the eastern half isn't as much fun as the western for us. Though there is a family farm B&B named Halcyon on the eastern half (near Amsterdam) that was great. The Eastern half is also faster as there are fewer no wake/10 mph zones.

Of course, there is the Champlain & Hudson at the end of the eastern half. But, those are other cruises, not the Erie Canal.

I'm assuming that you include the Cayuga-Seneca Canal to Seneca Falls on the western half.

But, if you've never done the Eastern half, ya gotta do it once to claim you've done "The Erie Canal".

Doing the Western half a second time was more rewarding than our first time. Getting over the Lock anxiety, and knowing there is a town every two hours on the western half is comforting. The Eastern half towns are more spread out, and not necessarily close to the docks.

So, for what it's worth, our recommendation is do the western half again, before you do the Eastern half.

If you want company, let us know. We're always up for the western Erie.

Rick & Carol from Maine
 
We just launched today at Macedon, NY. We wandered in here kind of lost. Our original intent was to launch in Buffalo and go east. But there is a canal break east of Lockport, so to avoid the Buffalo traffic we came up through the Finger lakes country, and headed to the Canal office in Lyons, NY for the permit and asked where we might leave our truck/ trailer. They sent us to a marina in Macedon. When we drove in a worker looked at us and said: "Great, what we need is another C-Dory." There were two in the marina. That night the boat owners were holding a pot luck and invited us. Boy, did we get lots of great advice.

Our intent is to go west for a few days, come back to our truck, throw out stuff not needed, (Bill is right "Simplify, simplify) and head east for a few weeks. Number to be determined.

Chuck
 
Ken,
If you had the time I would think about launching at Liberty State park near the Statue of Liberty and heading up the Hudsen river to the Erie canal and head west to where you have already been and then head back to where you could grab a train back down to New York City to get your tow vehicle. Or just motor back down the Hudsen to where you started. Might be a great trip when the leaves start to turn.
D.D.
 
Hey Chuck:

As you travel do a couple posts of what you did and what you saw[as well as where you ate and drank]. Always interesting to see what other persons are doing.

Thanks

Ken
 
Hey Chuck:

As you travel do a couple posts of what you did and what you saw[as well as where you ate and drank]. Always interesting to see what other persons are doing.

Thanks

Ken
 
Ken, I won't try to keep up here. I'm doing a blog for family and friends. I only do a post once a week, so the first three posts were traveling across a very hot US using the boat as a camper, going to a history convention, and doing general tourist stuff. The last one, posted last night is week 4 here on the canal.

TwoBears2012.blogspot.com

Chuck
 
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