We are travelling on the western section of the Erie Canal now. This canal way is almost entirely in its original location. Of course, the locks have been modernized and most of the bridges have been raised to the minimum 16 feet clearance required. There are, however, about a dozen "lift bridges" we have to travel through. One of these lift bridges provided todays blog title.
The lift bridges tend to come in groups of two or three, in small villages, within 3 or 4 miles of each other. These bridges are tended by "Roaming Bridge Tenders". After we radio a Bridge Tender requesting passage, he or she would radio back something like this-
"Yes captain, I will lift the Main Street bridge as you approach, please motor ahead to the Exchange Street bridge and wait for me there. I need to close this bridge then (walk, ride a bike, or drive) down to lift the Exchange Bridge for you".
There are two bridges in Spencerport. Tom was piloting the boat and in radio contact with the tender. After we passed under the first bridge the Tender radioed Tom that we may be delayed. There was some technical problem with the bridge and he was having trouble getting it down.
Tom's response-
"If it stays up more than 4 hours, call your family doctor"
We cruised 60 miles today without incident and docked in Middleport at a very nice municipal dock.
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| This is the bridge that "couldn't get down". |
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| This is just plain weird. |
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| Tough day on the Erie Canal. |
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| There are many large murals on the canal. |
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| This was neat, we cruised OVER a road. |
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