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| waiting for 7 am at Fairport |
What a crazy
morning! We got up and through the
Fairport Lift Bridge by 7 am. We were so
ready to move on and to knock off some miles today! We soon weren't so sure that we were suppose
to move or stay?
When we approached Pittsford, a 16’ fishing boat motored toward
us. The gal in the bow of the boat shouted over to us through her bull horn
and wanted us to stop because they were having a regatta. A regatta on the river?? That explained all the orange and yellow
floats lined up in a row on the
water. I responded, “you know that’s easier said than
done” when the current in the canal is making it difficult for us to navigate. We kept on going. Their regatta wasn't a sailboat race but a
timed race for their single-oar scull boats. Rowing is a
popular sport in the Pittsford and Fairport
area. We finally motored out of
this congested area, dodging scullers and floats alike, and on to our first lock
of the day, #32.
Onward to the first of the two locks we’ll lock through
before the guard gate and the crossing of the Genessee River. However, when we got into lock 32, the lock tender
asked Chuck on the VHF if he realized he could go only as far as lock 33. The guard gate is closed and we won’t be able
to go any further. This can’t be! The mariners alert sent out yesterday
informed all boaters that the canal would be open today across the Genessee and
the remainder of the canal system to the west end. What a bummer! If we would have known this change in the
canal’s plans, we would have just stayed at Fairport.
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| bridge up |
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| bridge down |
What should we do…turn around and go back to Fairport, or
continue through lock 33 and tie up on the wall directly above the lock. We decided to continue and stay above lock
33 and wait it out …but surprise…when we got to lock 33, that lock tender just
got the word that they opened the gates.
Yahoo!! However, the lock tender
warned us that the current on the Genessee River is still very swift…6+ kts…and to keep our eyes open for large
floating debris. Aye, Aye, Captain! We didn't get far from the lock 33 when the
lock tender hailed us wanting our cell phone number for Mike, the floating plant
superintendent. Mike soon called and
gave us directions on crossing the north bound current. He also said his tugboat was still in the canal and if we got into
trouble, his tug would come to our assistance. Boy this all sounds pretty serious! Once we nosed out into the river, we were
able to ‘crab walk’ across the 500 feet of cross lateral current…and there goes
a huge log floating north directly in front of us! We’re across and back in the canal. Now we feel we are finally making
progress. This part of the canal has
been open for quite a few day.
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| Brockport |
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| MIddleport lift bridge behind |
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| at Middletport |
The rest of our trip today is going to be a piece of
cake. No locks and only 12 more lift
bridges…not to forget the many fixed bridges.
Our goal this morning was to make it to Middleport, NY and after 62
miles, we did it. It definitely was time
to call it a day. That leaves us with
only 39 miles to Tonawanda, NY tomorrow and the end of the Erie Canal.
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