August 20 – 31, 2017

On July 4th 1817, ground was broken for the Erie Canal at Rome, N.Y. Two hundred years later, in 2017, we celebrate the bicentennial of this historic event. Proposed in 1808 and completed in 1825, the canal links the waters of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. An engineering marvel when it was built, some called it the Eighth Wonder of the World.  Over the years the Canal was enlarged and improvements were made and today, the 34-lock, 360 mile canal is a pleasure boater’s vacation destination.

Eastern Erie Canal Profile

Three Rivers Point to Rome, NY – August 20-24, 2017.  We joined the Erie Canal from the Oswego Canal/River where they meet at Three Rivers Point.  Over the next four days we locked up (lifted) through 3 locks (23, 22, 21), stopped in 3 towns (Brewerton, Sylvan Beach, Rome) and transited Oneida Lake.  In Sylvan Beach met new friends on several boats that we will most likely be seeing again at different stops as we hopscotch along the Canal.  Just west of Rome the Erie Canal crosses its summit.  This high point separates the Mohawk River basin that flows east, from the Wood Creek basin that flows west.  Beyond this point, eastbound, we will be locking down (descending).

Rome to Little Falls, NY – August 25, 2017.  Today we locked down three more locks (20, 19, 18), navigated through guard gates, around dredging operations, and avoided rivers and falls to arrive in Little Falls.  Our friends on Gabriel and Meridian were there and we had fun exploring the town.

More pics from Little Falls courtesy of friends, Bob and Phyllis.  Thank you, we had a blast!

Little Falls to Amsterdam, NY – August 26-27, 2017.  These two days we locked down seven locks (17-11), stopped a night in St. Johnsville, navigated through fog and a bass tournament and arrived at the beautiful Riverlink Park in Amsterdam.  Lock 17 provides the largest lift (descent in our direction) in the Erie Canal system – a whopping 40.5 feet.

We had the place to ourselves the first night then we were joined by Bob and Phyllis on Gabriel and had a great time exploring the town.  Several other boats arrived and we met more new friends.

Wheel of Life carpet made by Mohawk Carpet Mills in Amsterdam, NY:

Amsterdam through Lock 7 – August 28-31, 2017.  We stayed a few nights in Amsterdam and on the 31st we locked down four more locks (10, 9, 8, 7), navigated through more towns and populated areas on our way to the Waterford Flight or Flight of Five, the last five locks on the Erie Canal. (see next blog…this one was getting too long!)