Traveling the Erie Canal

Aah! New York in all of it's lush green splendor! This has been and will always be my most favorite season in New York. I'm very happy to have not missed it. What a treat to be traveling along the Erie Canal every day out of doors to enjoy it to the fullest. This was one of the many little water falls along the Mohawk river portion of the Erie Canal. After the considerable amount of rain fall over the past few weeks the water is running into the canal at a rapid rate and bringing with it many logs and other assorted debris. We counted along with all the full tree logs two basketballs, one soccerball and a few doggie size chase and catch balls. We found it interesting the number of balls. I guess because of the round shape it's easy for them to escape to the ride down the water way.

We were slow to leave this morning from the wall we tied up to last night. It felt good not to be in a rush. We started out alone but soon were traveling with another sailboat and a power boat. Three in a lock was comfortable, then along came a very large 50 foot or better power boat. Needless to say he made the locking in the last two locks very difficult. He stayed in idle because he was too large and heavy for his crew to hold the boat, consequently that current caught our keel and rudder and moved us around. We were very happy to say good bye to him after the last lock.

We called it a day around 4 PM and tied up on the wall at lock # 12. After dinner we sat in the cockpit and watched as the sister ship to the cruise boat we came across before came through the lock and tied on the wall behind us. They will travel the canal route we take to Lake Ontario but they will get there long before us.

Tomorrow we will travel another 40 miles and 5 locks and spend the night in Little Falls. We plan to get there early so we can enjoy the town and go to dinner.