The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

Hi Wild Blue,
Barb here (Don, the Spenc. bridgetender's wife). I've so enjoyed reading about your travels. Your photos are great. If you stop in Brockport, I'd like to come down to the dock and introduce myself. If that doesn't happen, at least I'll try to welcome you with an appropriate C-Brat greeting as you cruise by our house.
This is prime time for our local fresh produce. I dare say Western New York peaches rival those from Georgia. If you are interested in any fresh veggies or fruit, the most accessible farm market I can think of in this area is in Holley -
Lori's Market Basket
46A State St
Holley Ny 14470
585-638-7113
Open June ~ November
It is a fairly short walk/bike from the canal park in the village of Holley.
http://villageofholley.org/content/
If you'd like more info, let me know.
Happy cruising to you,
Barb
 
Hi Barb,

I was working on some photos late this afternoon when I read your post. We immediately got the bikes down and pedaled to Lori's! Thank you for the recommendation.

Was that you and Don in the canal today? I saw an enthusiastic wave from a couple by a houseboat... we were already past, when Joan said, "I think that was Don. That must be the lady who wrote the song." You are becoming famous. :D

Here's what I was working on when I read your post...

--------------------------

We enjoyed our stay at Spencerport. It was a bit of a walk to the showers, and you had to go through part of the shopping district... not something you want to do in your robe and slippers.

This morning, we rotated Wild Blue and went all the way across the canal... time for a pump-out. With that crappy job done, we headed west; under two more lift bridges and a whole 13 miles to Brockport.

LiftBridgeE_001.jpg

Brockport is an interesting town, very cruiser-friendly. It is $6 to stay on their dock with power and water. They also have “free” bikes... well, you can’t keep the bikes, but you can use them for free. And if you’re heading to the grocery store, they have a couple wagons you can use to haul your stuff back. Pretty cool!

FreeBikesE.jpg

We walked around Brockport, but it was too early to stop for the day. Another 5 miles and we were in Holley. The cruising guide describes Holley as quiet and a rural setting. We describe it as very inviting. There is a recent wood dock, with power and water... free. A beautiful park-like setting, and restrooms/showers that are very nearby.

HolleyDockE.jpg

The bridge tender/dock master recommended Sam’s Diner as a lunch stop. We got on our bikes and pedaled the 5 blocks or so to Sam’s. The booths and tables were full, so we sat at the counter. I have to be honest... Sam’s puts the Newark Diner to shame. A great menu, reasonable prices, and a dinner show! Well, kinda... from our seats at the counter, we could watch the guy working the grille. Absolute diner-poetry in motion! Never a wasted movement, he would flip a burger with one hand while dropping bread in the toaster with the other. Great coordination so all the orders from any given table were ready at the same time... none of this under-a-heat-lamp stuff here. And the food was good! The dessert - a waffle strawberry shortcake sundae was a great way to top it off... and it was huge! Yeah, this kicked Abbott’s butt, too.

We waddled out to our bikes and decided to work off some of those calories. We read about the nearby waterfall and set off to find it. We rode down a scary gravel path... not scary in the Disney-movie-the-trees-have-faces kinda scary, but more the whoa-this-is-steep-and-the-gravel-is-loose-I-hope-I-don’t-crash-this-bike kinda scary. The other scary part: we knew we were going to have to go back UP that steep hill on the way back.

WaterfallE_001.jpg

It was worth the thrill ride - the waterfall was gorgeous and there is a nice park right at the base of it. And a perfectly good, but still steep paved road to get back out on the other side.

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We breathlessly pedaled back to the boat, and put chairs out in the shade. This is the first day in a while that hasn’t been steamy hot. We put Izzy on her leash and let her roam out in the grass by our chairs.

TimeForLunchE.jpg

Since this place is relatively secluded, Joan offered to give me a haircut... I am overdue. She got out her clippers and scissors and went to work. With my cut just about done, a couple city workers came by and wondered if they could get an appointment? Maybe we could earn some bucks along the way... no, probably not... there is that licensing situation.

With the afternoon passing, I slid into the v-berth for a nap while Joan read. When I got up, I turned on the computer... there was a post from the dock masters wife where we stayed last night, suggesting we try the produce at Lori’s Market Basket here in Holley. It was almost 5:00, we had no idea how long Lori’s was open, so we got the bikes down and picked up some fresh fruit and tomatoes. How’s that for “local information”?

Lori_sMarketE.jpg

And now, we’re settling in for the evening. One boat went by today... should be a very quiet night.

And here’s one more look at a lift bridge. Not a draw bridge, the whole bridge lifts up. See that stairway on the right side of the bridge tender’s house? That’s where the walkway on the bridge winds up when it is lifted.

Liftbridge2E.jpg

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
How's this for NICE...

It’s still Wednesday evening. I was walking Izzy when a lady came up and said, “This must be the famous Izzy.” Joan looked at her and said, “And you must be Barb.” Yep, Barb, the song-writing wife of Don the bridge tender. She came by to visit and came bearing gifts: white hots. Not being familiar with the hotdog-ology of this area, we didn’t know the difference between a red-hot and a white-hot. Barb wanted us to be able to experience some local cuisine. We had a nice visit and gave Barb a tour of Wild Blue (her first time in a C-Dory). Pretty cool, huh?

BarbE.jpg

"You'll always know your neighbor, you'll always know your pal... " :D

Thanks, Barb - it was a special treat to get to meet you (and Clayton).

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan (and Izzy)
 
Hi Gang,
Nice haircut you got there in the picture with Barb. Good thing you had just got it done or we would have not seen this picture most likely.

You peaked my interest with the White Hot Dog...so I looked it up.

Based on my research you might have had something like it before...since your from the midwest.

There is an unrelated white German sausage, traditional in Bavaria and popular in the mid-western United States, known as weisswurst, which is made primarily from veal.
Click to expand...
 
Youse guys gotta come to the Chesapeake Gathering and sample Terry (Last Dance) 's red hots and white hots and then you'd know what's what! :lol:

Jim, please tell us it's hot dogs in the bag there and not IZZY!

:cat :love

I know it's not! :lol:

Charlie
 
Charlie,

No, that wasn't Izzy in the bag. Had I done that, there would be a great deal of thrashing and bloody scratches all over my arms. She is small, but doesn't take crap.

When we saw Barb approaching, walking a dog and carrying a bag... well, you can imagine what I thought was in the bag. :mrgreen:

One of these days, we'll get to the Chesapeake.

------------------------

Mike,

Mid-west? That covers a LOT of territory. People from Ohio think they're from the mid-west... that looks like the east to me. I had never heard of a brat (as in the sausage, not the C-Dory folks) until I was an adult. Never heard of white-hots and red-hots until I read about it here a couple years ago. I guess I lead a sheltered life. Only folks from Iowa knew about loose-meat sandwiches until the Rosanne Show. Red-hots sounded like something spicy... and white-hots? As in: molten metal? Each part of the country has their unique tastes... like that spicy Tex-Mex stuff that gets passed off as Mexican.

And thanks for noticing the haircut... Joan does good work. Of course, I'm in no position to critique... when she has a sharp object in her hands. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Hi Jim and your crew,

We are sure enjoying your trip and gaining weight just reading your posts. I am sorry to say that we missed the diner in Holly. We will try to correct that on our trip to NY in our motor home in Sept.

A good stop for Red and White Hots is the Hot Dog Stand next to Abbott's in Spencerport. If Terry has not already turned you on to Red Cat Wine try a bottle. It is a little sweet, but it helps digest the grease from Red Hots. You can buy a bottle at the wine store in Spencerport.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the cat)
 
I have to say, we really enjoyed our time in Holley... quiet, rural setting, friendly people, very laid back, and Izzy loved to walk there (without all the noisy traffic). We had a gentle rain this morning, and in between the showers, Izzy enjoyed more leash time.

WalkingE.jpg

Well, how's this for timing, Fred? We are back in Spencerport, now going east on the canal. When we were here before, we were trying to decide between Texas BBQ and pizza... Joan voted for pizza that night. I smelled the BBQ that evening and knew we were missing a good thing. Fortunately, today, Joan wanted to stop at a gift shop (specialty baskets) on the way back through. I will give testimony that "A Taste of Texas" BBQ place here in Spencerport has the finest BBQ I've ever had outside the Lone Star State... and a strong rival for anything IN Texas. It may be that it's been a while, but Joan had the brisket (a true measure of good BBQ) and I had an Outlaw Stuffed Potato (full of pulled pork). This was melt-in-your-mouth, total MEAT goodness! It nearly brought tears to my eyes! :thup The old boy that owns the place is from Houston; we "talked Texas" while waiting for our food. Frankly, I kept hearing that Pace Picante Sauce commercial ("New York City?") playing in the back of my head, but this place IS the real deal.

TexBBQE.jpg

BookCentreE.jpg

Joan got her baskets, picked up a book at the Book Centre (you have to see that place to believe it), and we saw the folks selling hot dogs, but I could hardly walk by that point, I was so stuffed.

We'll settle in for the night here, and continue east back to Big Red over the next week. Then, north, and maybe swing by Niagra Falls on the way back south.

Look over your shoulder, Dave and Jan, we'll be heading that way. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,

I am going to the Erie Canal with the September group and I was reading about your adventures in Eating. Having had a stent put in last summer, I had better double up on my Simvastatin and Plavix if I am going to places you have mentioned.

Not only is the Western end of the erie Canal a great place to visit, as I remember in 2005, the restaurants were great.

Enjoy.

Fred
 
Hi Fred,

It may seem like this trip has become the "where to eat" tour. :wink: Joan and I enjoy biking around the different towns, checking out the architecture, history, and culture... but the subject of where to eat always comes up. Stop at any dock and listen to the conversations.

Our time on the canal will probably wrap up in a week or so. The cruising style here is certainly different from other places we've been. I would describe it as easy and laid back. There has been no problem finding a good place to stop for the day. No need for a dinghy or a generator... if you want power, it is available. Same for restrooms and showers. Our solar shower has been filled, but not needed. We can provision Wild Blue for a couple weeks of self-sufficiency, but that hasn't been required here, either... grocery stores aren't available in every small town/village, but you can generally find a convenience store or a Rite-Aid for basics. And it's easy to have at least one meal per day at a restaurant here on the canal... especially in the western 1/3. Some have been fine dining, some Mom & Pop places, and the occasional greasy spoon... but, that's been part of the fun, too. Not for the cholesterol-challenged, but we have also gotten more exercise with all the biking and walking.

When I read about traveling on the canal, I expected more towns, homes, and businesses along the canal. It has been more like going down a river through a forest, with tree-lined shores on either side. The towns and villages are a fun break from that. We've enjoyed transiting the locks... there's good info in the cruising guides so you know what to expect with each: lines, cables or posts, and how much lift/drop.

And this may be the best cruising deal on the water: $50 for a season pass for our size boat. The New York State Canal System Cruising Guide for $20 and Skipper Bob's for $12. You can get all the other information you want/need on the internet or by asking a local. Speaking of which, the lock masters and bridge tenders have been very friendly all along the canal... even in the rain. Free or inexpensive dock space with power and water at many of the towns. Free walls to tie off to at most of the locks. Well-marked waterway, and not many opportunities to "get lost." :wink:

One thing that has surprised us is how little traffic we've seen... maybe an average of a half dozen boats on any given day. Most of the city docks have had plenty of open spaces. When we've tied off on a lock wall, we've been the only ones. More often than not, we've gone through locks by ourselves. On one occasion, there were 5 boats in the lock and plenty of room. I don't know how the state of New York cost-justifies this, but I'm delighted they do.

So you don't think I'm sugar-coating this, the only downside of this cruise has been the debris in the water and the scum at our waterline. Wild Blue's hull is going to need some work to get the brownish stain off, and the debris in the water has been due to the unusually heavy rains this area has received this season. We've been rained on a time or twelve. My new buddy Dave (toyman) will probably bring up our "Sanford & Son" air conditioner, but this is the first time with Wild Blue that we've NEEDED a/c. There have been some warm, sticky days where that a/c between enjoyment and endurance.

While I'm aware you know all this information, there may be others out there who are considering a cruise on the canal. This was one of the reasons we considered a powercruiser. You could easily spend the whole season here and not see it all.

Plus, we've met nice folks at every stop.

:thup :thup

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Hi Jim B,

You certainly have experienced and captured the essence and allure of cruising the Erie Canal. As the Messerlys and other frequent canalers will attest, it doesn't get old. Each year is fun because of the places you see and people you meet, in addition to the placid cruising thru locks, bridges, and pretty scenes.

It will be interesting to see how the Erie Canal cruise is remembered by you and Joan over the years with all the other places you guys go.

Rick from Maine
 
Rick from Maine":2to1jtvi said:
Hi Jim B,

You certainly have experienced and captured the essence and allure of cruising the Erie Canal. As the Messerlys and other frequent canalers will attest, it doesn't get old. Each year is fun because of the places you see and people you meet, in addition to the placid cruising thru locks, bridges, and pretty scenes.

It will be interesting to see how the Erie Canal cruise is remembered by you and Joan over the years with all the other places you guys go.

Rick from Maine
Click to expand...

The Erie Canal has been on my "bucket list" since before we bought Wild Blue. Joan and I have both truly enjoyed our time here. Sorry we weren't able to make the timing work to meet up with your group gathering. It's hard to compare one cruising area to another... each has its own unique appeal. The Erie is a great combination of history, countryside, locks, unique towns, and enjoyable cruising. Every cruising boater should get to experience what this canal system has to offer.

--------------------------------

And now for something completely different...

There is a gazebo near the dock where we are tied tonight. Around that gazebo is a brick walkway. Those responsible for the gazebo must have sold "memory bricks"... I always enjoy looking at those when we come across them. (There is a great brick walkway at Waterford, btw.) Most people seem to put "In memory of..." or their family or business names.

BricksE.jpg

Someone has a sense of humor... or maybe it's aliens? I wonder how many people notice?

HumorBrickE.jpg

:mrgreen: The line is from one of my favorite movies as a kid. Anyone care to share with the group the movie this is from?

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,

That was one of my favorites also - The Day the Earth Stood Still - with the words spoken by Michael Rennie. Great movie, but it still kept me up after I had seen it as a young boy.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Valkyrie":1msq3m19 said:
Jim,

That was one of my favorites also - The Day the Earth Stood Still - with the words spoken by Michael Rennie. Great movie, but it still kept me up after I had seen it as a young boy.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
Click to expand...

Ding, Ding, Ding! No more calls, please, we have a winner! :D
 
Jim --

You mention the lack of traffic on the Canal. Mim and I were talking about it. She is from Pittsford and her mother lives about 1/2 mile from Lock 32. In fact, she was up visiting and went down to see if she could find Nick and the gang but missed them by about an hour. At any rate, our conclusion is that September would be a much nicer month to do the Canal. To you guys from the tropics, it might not seem hot but to us, August in upstate NY can be pretty warm. I think a lot of boats pass through the Canal earlier in the summer headed for other places -- Trent Severn, Rideau, Georgian Bay etc. The Loopers will also be long gone by August. Then, come Sept, the snowbirds begin to head south and the Canal is busier again. When we finish up C-Star, and get to do the Canal, for us, it will definitely be a September rather than August trip. On the other hand, I feel as if I have already done the Canal from your wonderful descriptions and those of Nick and the other Brats over the years and can't wait to do it for real.

Jim
 
Hi Jim,

I think you're right about September being a good time to cruise here. When I've visited with folks here, most seem to think the traffic is about normal for this time of year. They say last year was way down because of the fuel prices. Seeing the leaves turn here would be beautiful... but we've already had plenty of falling leaves in the canal. I think any month the canal is open would be a good time. :D

-------------------------

Nice call, Nick, on The Day the Earth Stood Still. With this detail oriented group, I'm surprised no one caught the typo on that brick. Hint: the robot wasn't Russian. 8)

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Yes, I remember the movie well. Must have been about 1951, 2, or 3! I would have been 9-11, and it was pretty scary to a kit that old, indeed! :smileo

Then there was "The Man from Planet X", and "When Worlds Collide", etc!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
JamesTXSD":3rmqy5ih said:
Hi Jim,

<stuff clipped>

Nice call, Nick, on The Day the Earth Stood Still. With this detail oriented group, I'm surprised no one caught the typo on that brick. Hint: the robot wasn't Russian. 8)

Best wishes,
Jim
Click to expand...

TWO typos - I was tempted to leave you a second hint for the second one but...

"Gori" should be "Gort" and the saying was actually
"Klaatu barada nikto" as opposed to "Klaatu veradda nikto"
 
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