Dodging raindrops on the Erie Canal

With the first 3 days being so beautiful its hard to imagine the next few were so dismal. It's been damp, grey, cold, raining...rather blah...everything just looks better in sunshine! We were doing good dodging raindrops, no rain while we were in the locks, which is a blessing for me since I sit on the bow unprotected from the weather tending the lines.

We stayed an extra day in Baldwinsville and left early Monday so we could cross Oneida Lake with light winds. Knowing Tuesday's rain forecast we traveled 67 miles/8 hours Monday to Lock 20 where we spent the night. Still no rain on us in the locks Tuesday morning but mostly because the skies opened up after lock 19 and we grabbed a spot at the Village of Ilion Marina. The forecast was for rain and t-storms and we knew we had a short weather window...the window closed when we spent almost an hour at Lock 19 due to construction work. Just outside the lock the rain started and it was pouring by the time we got to the marina (only a 17 mile day). Oh well, what's boating without water!

The local news stations said the colors are about 2 weeks late this year, that is why everything is still so green. They also mentioned that it can change overnight with a frost, so I hope we get to see some beautiful colors as we get into the Hudson River.

With all the rain the Erie Canal reminded us of the Mighty Mississippi...full of debris and muddy water as we made our way Wednesday from Ilion to Canajoharie (29 miles). The other thing the rain brought was the closing of the canal from lock 8 to 12 (inclusive) due to swift water and flooding. We were able to get a spot at Riverfront Park, just past lock 14 in Canajoharie with electric along with a couple sailboats heading south from Canada.
The canal corporation reopened the canal at 9am Thursday morning but with rain in the forecast for noon we decided we were going to sit still for the day. The forecast for the next 3 days is looking much better, so we will move again Friday morning.

Preparing the fenders for the locks

 

This barge has been heading east inspecting

the bridges along the Erie Canal

 

Docked at Riverfront Park, Canajoharie

 

Getting into the Halloween spirit in Canajoharie

 

This signal is positioned right in the

middle of the street