Baldwinsville and beyond

On to Baldwinsville – This city sits on Lock 24 which was the first lock finished on the 1910 version of the Erie Canal.

 

 

It is also a must see stop on the Western section of the canal.  The city provides a free dock with power and all facilities are handy in this town that welcomes cruisers. Although we spent a Saturday night on their wall, we did not get lucky enough to enjoy a free concert in the Budweiser Amphitheater across the canal. Our evening was quiet, however, with no complaints for peaceful sleep minus any trains or even cars.

 

 

 

 

We left early to make a mid-day stop about half way to our schedule overnight spot so we could enjoy some of the French Open Men’s final. (Arriving in Baldwinsville after only a 10 mile journey the day before gave us time to see most of the women’s final on Saturday.) Arriving at our “tennis stop” we discovered a canal work barge parked in our spot – Steve nudged us in bow first to the pile of debris collecting behind the barge and we threw a couple ropes on for a few hours of tennis.

 

Since we had a total of 31 miles for the day, we did not hang around to sample the food at the nearby restaurant, but noted it was huge and according to the chef who came to visit us, serves delicious food.  We will mark that one for next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we sit this evening next to lock 25 basically in the middle of nowhere. Tying up here was a new trick – there are only large bollards on the bank – too far away to toss or hook with the lines from the boat, so Steve had to again nudge up and put me on the bank with a rope or two – further testing my agility and challenging my very limited knot tying skills.  Let’s hope we don’t float away in the night!

 

 

Earlier we passed the canal heading south to the Finger Lakes – Seneca and Cayuga, but we will not visit those this trip either. The sunshine has been a pleasant change from the rain and overcast skies we have seen recently – especially since more rain is forecast for the future.  The abundant rain has done more than cloud our days; it has resulted in higher than normal water levels in the canal.  Usually high water is a good thing for boats with more than a few feet of draft, but along this section of canal, there are several low bridges – rising water makes these bridges even lower than normal. Tomorrow morning we will hopefully pass under the lowest bridge on the canal – Steve may be dismantling more of the boat tonight so we can clear without any “issues” so stay tuned once again.