Erie Canal: We will be back

This post covers travel from Croton-on-Hudson NY to Tonawanda NY, via Panco Marine Fueling, Town of Waterford free wall, Fonda Terminal free wall, Rome City free wall, Baldwinsville free wall, Port of Pittsford free wall, and North Tonawanda Marina.

On May 12, we drove back to Croton-on-Hudson NY, ready to go after our 10-day trip home. The plan was to get to the Town of Waterford free dock ASAP, as it is the place to stage for the New York State Canal System (NYSCS) opening day (May 17). We arrived on the wall late evening on May 13, with 1 space remaining.

The Erie Canal consists of 339 miles, between Waterford and Tonawanda, and includes 33 locks (E-2 to E-35, and there is no E-31). The Troy Lock was once E-1, until it became a Federal Lock. E-2 to E-6 are called the “Flight of Five,” referring to a staircase of lifts covering the shortest distance of any canal in the US.

We absolutely loved our 5 days on the Erie Canal and want to return to bike it, hike it and boat it (again). So many friendly people (boaters and locals in each city/town we passed were very welcoming and helpful), beautiful scenery, pleasant cruising conditions (no tides, currents), and many free docks. The sunny, warm weather probably helped. The large logs and debris – especially coming into and out of locks – were somewhat dangerous as hitting a log with the prop can cause significant damage - thankfully our boat is designed with a very protected prop and we pivoted through the obstructions without any issues. The lock-throughs were quick and easy compared to the locks on the Rivers. Most lock hours were 8AM-6PM, which restricted our travel time and kept our strategic planning skills engaged.

Daily highlights of our Erie Canal cruise follow.

May 13: Half Moon Bay Marina, Croton-on-Hudson NY to Panco Marine Fueling, Stony Point NY (Total traveled: 5.6m). Needed fuel. Left Half Moon late afternoon. Traveled across the Hudson to a fueling station. Nice folks that let us tie up for the night without charge. We had an unsuccessful attempt to walk to an area with restaurants; very busy road with little to no shoulder. Ordered delivery!

May 14: Panco Marine Fueling, Stony Point NY to Town of Waterford free wall (Total traveled: 115m). The initial plan to stop at Troy immediately after the Troy lock was preempted with cruising all the way to Waterford once we learned their free dock space was filling quickly. Town of Waterford was a hospitable place to wait for the NYSCS to open. The grocery store allows you to push your cart to the free dock, but, you must let them know as an auto lock on the tire will indeed stop you from leaving the parking lot. Two days on the wall allowed for time to meet other really nice boaters – most boats on the wall were Canadian.

May 17: Town of Waterford free wall to Fonda Terminal free wall (Total traveled: 48.7m). OPENING DAY OF THE NYSCS! LT was the second boat to enter the first lock on opening day. Very exciting! https://www.facebook.com/share/UXpU6WkqgwJomWod/?mibextid=WC7FNe.

The fast boats in the first lock-through quickly left us slower boats behind. From Waterford for the next few days we traveled with a single-handling captain and his 2-year-old German Shepherd, Hemi. His wife temporarily left him and the boat for a new grandchild (fairly common story). Hemi is extremely friendly and active and loves sticks, even when they dwindle to <3”. During another lock-through, Hemi couldn’t resist the green grass and jumped off the boat. Rob hailed the owner as he pulled away from the lock without Hemi. Thankfully, a quick reverse was all it took for Hemi to jump back on the boat. The lock master was not amused.

Fonda Terminal free wall was rough, with no water or electric, but it was a place to stay that worked out with our schedule.

May 18: Fonda Terminal free wall to Rome City free wall (Total traveled: 65.6m). Another easy, enjoyable day on the Canal. Here we had a good laugh: at one lock we were told to wait for a commercial vessel traveling eastbound to exit the chamber. We cleared the channel, expecting a tug or a freighter or something large to pass us once the doors opened. It turned out to be a small, unimposing (relative to a freighter) pontoon boat offering canal tours.

Rome City free dock was a good dock next to a park. No water or electric.

May 19: Rome City free wall to Baldwinsville free wall (Total traveled: 57.5m). On this day we stopped for fuel at Winter Harbor. Tip: Early in the season and finding fuel and a pump-out is a challenge.

Shortly after Winter Harbor those heading to Lake Ontario veer north. Here we said goodbye to our single-handling friend and hello to a Michigan boat — taking our same route, the Lake Erie route — that became good friends.

We would have liked to have gone further than Baldwinsville but couldn’t make the next lock by 6PM. A very nice setting – park, restaurants, music, nice wall (free, with $5 for electric). A shorter day allowed us to wash the boat. Entering midge fly season. They look like mosquitos but do not bite. They swarm the boat.

May 20: Baldwinsville free wall to Port of Pittsford free wall (Total traveled: 81.1m). Another delightful cruising day. We passed Fairport, a popular destination because of the quaint and hoppin’ town, to put a few more miles behind us. Port of Pittsford did not disappoint. Between the two towns there were many rowing teams of all ages on the water as well as bikers, walkers, and runners on the trails that line the Erie Canal.

May 21: Port of Pittsford free wall to Tonawanda wall (Total traveled: 85.0m). Knowing this was our last day on the Canal, and the last day on calm waters before facing the likely sporty waters of the Great Lakes, we soaked in all the beauty we could. We were surprised how much farmland abutted the western section of the Erie Canal.

Tonawanda is a decent city with decent docks to tie to (not free). According to our resources you want to tie east of the Delaware Bridge as the water depths to the west are 4-5’.

Tired by the time we arrived in Tonawanda late in the evening, we were unpleasantly surprised by showers that quickly turned ice cold! Apparently it was the first day of the season the showers were opened – hopefully those after us get hot showers. Overall Tonawanda was a quick but very nice stop.

From Tonawanda we traveled through the Niagara River, through Lake Erie, through the Detroit River, through Lake St. Clair, through the St. Clair River to Lake Huron, where I’m writing today. We have approximately 400 more miles to travel to cross our wake and earning a Gold Looper burgee!

As always, thank you taking the time to read our posts.

Fair winds,

Amy

Our Erie Canal cruise, Waterford NY to Tonawanda NY: 339 miles

Our Erie Canal cruise, Waterford NY to Tonawanda NY: 339 miles

Our Erie Canal cruise, Waterford NY to Tonawanda NY: 339 miles

Our Great Loop as of May 21: 3,978 miles

Our Great Loop as of May 21: 3,978 miles

Our Great Loop as of May 21: 3,978 miles

LT at Half Moon marine, Croton-on-Hudson

LT at Half Moon marine, Croton-on-Hudson

LT at Half Moon marine, Croton-on-Hudson

Heading northwest across the Hudson River (south view) to Panco Fuel Dock

Heading northwest across the Hudson River (south view) to Panco Fuel Dock

Heading northwest across the Hudson River (south view) to Panco Fuel Dock

Fueled up and tied down at Panco Marine Fueling