8/10/15 Buffalo Launch Club to Brockport

 

We reluctantly left BLC, one of our favorite all time marinas, and headed for the Erie Canal.  We purchased a 10 day pass ($37.50) and traveled almost 70 miles to Brockport.  There are many small towns, bridges and locks on the Erie Canal.  Many of the fixed bridges are very low…the lowest is 14.5 feet and you must be able to get under this bridge.  That keeps many boats from enjoying this part of the Canal.  With our antennas lowered, we had about a foot of clearance under the 14.5 foot bridge.  The other fixed bridges are 16 feet, although there are many lift bridges that requires openings.

Flood gate

  At the first lock, I dropped the end of our boat hook into the water---gone forever.  It is needed to grab cables/lines on the walls of the locks and there were 34 more locks to go.  I told the lockmaster that I had dropped it and he said “When we drain the locks in the winter, we sometimes find boat hooks.  I’ll go and look.”  He came back with an old, but workable hook and gave it to us. 

Boat houses line the beginning of the Western Erie Canal.

 

On both sides of the westernmost part of the Erie Canal, there is a bike/ walking trail.

bike trail runs along Western Erie Canal

It began to rain in the early afternoon.  Our goal was to reach Brockport.  This turned in to a 10 hour day.  After we pulled in, tied up and walked Duke, the rains became steady and continued through the night. 

These small towns are delighted to have boaters support their local economies.  To stay on the wall at Brockport, we paide $12 which included power and water.