No Mile Markers

  Dad and Dave Bragg (former neighbor and good friend) arrived at the Buffalo Yacht Club around 10:00. Jeff and I borrowed Dad's Buick and went to West Marine for a replacement shore power receptacle (the old one took a shit). We got underway down the Black Rock Canal (it runs parallel with the Niagara River) at noon. Dad asked how long before we got to a lock or lift bridge and I told him we were at least 10 miles from the Erie Canal then another 20 miles to the first lock. Over the next 2 miles we experienced one lift bridge, one swing bridge and the Black Rock Lock (8 foot drop). Baptism by fire and a resulting loss of confidence in the captain.

  We reached Tonawanda by 2:00, Dad and Dave were tickled (and a little surprised) when they saw the sign "The beginning of the Erie Canal, New York Canal System".  Confidence in the Captain moved up a couple of notches. We were a couple of miles down the canal when Dad started bitching "Where are the goddamn mile markers? How are we supposed to know where we are?" He was thrilled when 10 minutes later we actually saw a mile marker (I was shocked).

Good morning geese.

The biggest kid in school.

First swing bridge.

Blackrock Canal and Dave actually working.

Welcome to the NY Canal System.

Two old dogs.

Bring her a little port Dad.

  We hoped to reach Lockport and beyond our first day. Lockport has the first two locks (35 & 34). We got there at 4:30 and the lockmaster radioed and said they close the locks at 5:00 and suggested we dock before the lock and hit it in the morning. I told him we were on a 54 foot craft. The lockmaster radioed back he would fill the locks now and notify the bridgemaster to be ready to lift the bridge (located just past the locks). Seems they don't get a lot of yachts in this part of the canal. The Lockport Locks were very interesting we dropped 25 feet on each lock and the locks were basically attached to each other.

We started at the top.

Dad and Dave guided the boat down against the lock walls.

Time for ice cream.

  We docked at a VERY small park marina and plugged our power cord into an outside receptacle on the parks building. Ice cream stand just across the road made Dad and Tucker happy.