Buffalo, here we come...

 

        It was a risk to travel from the full service ESS-KAY marina to the east side of lock 24 in Baldwinsville. The travel book described the dockage on the east side of lock 24 as a high, bare, concrete wall with widely spaced tie offs and no electric power available (the west side of lock 24 is a park with docks that have power, close ties, and is next to a shopping area, with no FEE). We were aware that lock 24 was closed, so we would be forced to dock on the east side. We were willing to spend the night in these rough conditions in order to put 22 miles behind us in our effort to reach Buffalo by Saturday. The travel guide was very accurate. We tied up at 1:00 and with the generator running, settled in for the afternoon and night. I called the lock tender and asked when he thought the canal would open. The lock tender said to keep the radio on and he would keep us posted.

 

An hour after we tied up another boater introduced himself and suggested we ask the lock tender to "lock us through" to the park. I called the tender on the radio and asked, to my surprise he said yes, as long as we promised not to travel past the park.

 

If that wasn't enough good news, we received notice just before dinner that the entire Erie Canal will be open tomorrow at 7:00 am.

 

Buffalo, here we come!

 

 

 

 

Mo got sent to the Gin minor leagues.