Day 7 on the Erie Canal, from one “port” to another. As we cruise the western segment, the canal gets more narrow and the bike path that follows it is visible almost constantly. Our speed slows as we encounter lift bridges that must open before we can pass through. Today, we passed through two more locks (25-foot lifts), and under three lift bridges. Our 38-mile cruise took us six hours as we lazed along at about 6 mph…very relaxing…leading a group of three boats. The canal town of Brockport, where we are tied up tonight, is as impressive in many ways as Fairport (see last post). Once an agricultural and manufacturing town, it’s now a college town – home to SUNY Brockport. I’m sad that it’s lost a lot of boat traffic since Canada re-opened, since most Loopers are choosing to go north through Lake Ontario rather than east through Lake Erie. See photos and captions below as we prepare to exit the canal in a day or two and visit Niagara Falls before entering Lake Erie.
Leaving the town of Fairport this morning, we first had to call the Main Street Lift Bridge and ask it to open for us. Having watched it rise for other boats all afternoon and evening, it was fun to go under it ourselves.
‘Bye, Fairport…
We see more and more rental canal boats now. (The red-and-green one on left.) One of them followed us all day. Goose and duck families greeted us all day, sometimes staying in our track until the last minute and skittering off just as our bow approached them. We passed the town of Pittsford, which seemed clean and welcoming.Lock 32 is known for this waterfall inside, the result of a faulty closure mechanism at the door. It’s rather pretty!I thought I might get wet in this one…but no.
We were pleased the walls of today’s locks looked resurfaced. Yesterday’s were a mess! Here’s a piece of the lock wall that fell onto our boat while we were inside a lock yesterday.
See the pollen on the surface of the water? Yep, I’m sneezing a lot! Approaching another guard gate, which is used to control the level of water when needed. I can’t figure out why they call it that. Because it guards the water level, maybe?You can see why this is called the Rock Cut. This is where the Erie Canal looks like a true canal, cut out of the land. Approaching the intersection with the Genesee River (near Rochester), we saw many beautiful stone bridges. A rowing team about to practice at the intersection of the Erie Canal and the Genesee River.More interesting railroad bridges. I didn’t count how many bridges we passed under today, but it was dozens. Approaching the top of Lock #33, I got a shot of the flags flying. New York’s canal system has its own flag (on right).Passing by the town of Spencerport, which also looks like a great town for boaters, with a clean waterfront and a free wall.Brockport gave us a great welcome, including free bikes!We have our own bikes, and took them for a spin down the Canalway Trail. I wanted to see what it’s like to be a biker looking at boats, instead of the other way around! That’s Many Moons across the canal, on top of the handlebars.
This trail runs a total of 750 miles, and follows the Erie Canal for hundreds of miles. We met a bicyclist from Wisconsin today who is biking the entire thing – and more. My brother did a good portion of this trail also.
We’ve been traveling for a few days with John and Rachel of Rachel Ann, the red Ranger tug in background. They’re from Colorado and started their Loop last October from St. Louis.This town had a lot of outdoor artwork. This whimsical piece is called Howdee.The Ivory Soap “ad” is considered artwork too.Horticultural education along the waterfront…Main St., Brockport. The street signs are decorated with wrought-iron canal boats on top. Sunset in Brockport, taken from the port side of Many Moons as she sits on the city wall. A large sailboat crewed by French Canadians is on the wall in front of us. Tomorrow we’ll near the end of the canal. The view from our stern, on the Brockport wall at night. That’s Rachel Ann behind us.
For Many Moons 
This is wonderful.
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We also loved the western Erie from last summer. One of the favorite parts of our loop
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