The weather was 59° and partly cloudy. Barbie was apprehensive about traveling and steering since it had been 7 months since we had been traveling on the boat. However, she remembered how and there was no problem getting to Baldwinsville. We had dinner at a restaurant that had outdoor seating. We thought about eating outside, but the hostess told us we'd be moving due to rain in about 15 minutes. Sure enough, it did start raining and people moved.
Baldwinsville dock
Our cruising plans for the next several weeks had three parts.
Part one: Cruise west about 180 miles to Lockport where our grandchildren would meet us: Caitlin (almost 9) from Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Alex (15) and Cindy (10) from Sunrise, Florida. We were meeting them on Wed and Thursday, June 5 and 6.
Part two: Cruise with our grandkids to Tonawanda (near Buffalo), rent a car and visit Niagara Falls. Neither Jeff or I had seen Niagara. Return back east to Brockport and take grandkids to the airport to leave on Sunday, June 16.
Part three: Cruise to the Finger Lake area, rent a car and go to a 50th wedding anniversary celebration of a long time friend, Delight and Jim Scouten, on Saturday, June 22.
We took 10 days to go from Baldwinsville to Gasport,NY. We spent two nights in Baldwinsville and rode our small electric assist fold up bikes around the town. We also sent photos of the queen size beds and rooms that the grandkids would be sleeping in while they visited us.
Beds and rooms for grandkids
On Monday, May 27th we went 38 miles and docked in the town of Lyons. We started at 9:30 after having a breakfast of steel cut oats, bacon and egg (Jeff) . At 12:30 we had lunch of tuna fish on crackers, apple and grapes. We went through two locks and arrived at Lyons by 3:30. They had a very high sea wall dock. After we docked there Barbie realized that she would NOT be able to get off the boat. There was one place in the sea wall that was not as high. We were able to dock there and it was very comfortable to get on and off the boat. Supper was on the boat and we had brats with onions, yellow pepper and rice. Jeff and Barbie walked around town.
Lyons dock
We always have to look for grass for the dogs. They are good about using pee pads when we are underway or not at home, but much prefer going on grass. Lyons was a very quiet town, partly because it was the Monday of Memorial Day weekend. We were docked just below the fire station and the bath house was in the fire station. We were given a code so that we could use the bath house at any time. The dogs enjoyed smelling and sitting in the grass. Even though it was a holiday we were greeted by volunteers who gave us information about the town and places to visit.
Tuesday, May 28, we went 27 miles and through 5 locks to the town docks in Fairport, NY. The temperature was 57 degrees and rainy. It didn't rain much and did stop as we traveled.
When approaching a lock, we call the lockmaster of the lock on the VHF radio channel 13: "Lock 27, Lock 27, this is the Westbound vessel Aisling Gheal requesting an opening". The lock master usually responds letting us know if they need to fill the lock or if we can go right in. Once inside the lock Barbie goes very slowly to a line that is on the wall of the lock and Jeff uses a boat hook to get the line. Then Barbie maneuvers the stern of the boat, stops forward motion, puts the engines in neutral, puts on gloves, leaves the helm, takes the boat hook from the stern and grabs a second line that is on the wall of the lock. Both Jeff and Barbie hold onto the lines (which are slimy from being in the water) as the boat either goes up or down the amount of feet needed to be on the level on the other side of the lock. Depending on the number of feet we go up or down going through a lock takes about 15 minutes. There is room for about 6 or more boats. We are usually the only boat in the lock. Sometimes we have to wait for traffic from the other direction from us before we can enter the lock.
Due to the rain there are downed trees. As we left one of the locks the lockmaster warned us of a tree that was almost across the canal. We went slowly around the tree and had no difficultly. There are also logs that are in the canal. We keep a look out for these and avoid them.
It took us 5 hours to go the five locks and 27 miles. Fairport is a very nice town. We tied up just east of a fixed bridge that was a one way bridge for car traffic. There was a very unique lift bridge about 400 feet west of us. This bridge inclines on one end.
We met "Sal" in Fairport
We stayed several days in Fairport and rented a car. Jeff wanted to visit Bernunzio Uptown Music. It is a store that has all stringed acoustic instruments. Jeff has gotten their newsletter for several years and has thought about taking some of his stringed instruments there to sell. When we left Towson, Jeff did not bring an instrument because of lack of space in the car and also on the boat. However, he realized there was room for a small instrument. We went to Bernunzio's and he came out with a small 4 string soprano banjo uke that he restrung in 5ths like a violin or mandolin. He plays it constantly.
Jeff's Banjo Uke Mandolin
The next day we we drove the car to the Ailing Coverlet Museum in Palmyra. We ended up buying a pillow made from a coverlet, and a math book that Jeff found interesting and was looking forward to helping Alex solve some of the problems. We also went to Wegmans and discovered that there are a few Wegmans grocery stores that also have a tap room. We rode our bikes for 4 1/2 miles on the trail next to the canal.
Examples of coverlets
Wooden punched cards controlled the weaving
Friday, May 31, we returned the car and left Fairport. We went 30 miles to Brockport and tied up at the town dock and welcome center. We went through 2 locks and under two lift bridges. Brockport's welcome center had about a dozen bikes, two for smaller children, that anyone could use. We thought this would be fun to do with the grandkids.
Brockport Visitor Center
We planned to stay several days so rented a car. Barbie did laundry. We also went to Bernunzio's and bought 4 penny whistles. Barbie was hoping to teach the grandkids a tune on the penny whistles and also Jeff. We used the Brockport welcome center to make paper copies of Karen Ashbrook's whistle book. Jeff put the book electronically on an ipad.
Monday, June 3 we went 24 miles from Brockport to Medina where we tied up on the wall. We walked around the town and had supper in pub near the town docks. Very interesting St. Johns Episcopal church between one-way streets.
Medina dock
Medina church built between two one-way streets
Tuesday, June 4 we went 13 miles to Gasport where we would meet Eric, Tina and Caitlin.
Gasport dock with lift bridge in background
