The Erie Canal is amazing.
In fact, New York’s canal system is nearly 200 years old…and it’s been in continuous operation since 1825! So last summer, in spite of the rainy weather and foggy skies we simply had to experience a transit though Lock 18.
After our morning spent prospecting for diamonds we were soaked and hungry. So we headed to Herkimer to buy afternoon tickets for the ninety minute narrated cruise. We were greeted with a smile by Susan, a reservationist at Erie Canal Cruises.
But all of our smiles quickly faded when she checked availability for the cruise. There was only ONE TICKET left on that afternoon sailing! As we pondered what to do next she had an idea. She literally called the captain of the vessel to ask permission to allow us to buy two tickets! We were thrilled! (Little did we know that if we hadn’t gone that afternoon we would not have been able to go at all. Tropical Storm Fred was causing flash flooding in the area so all the cruises for the next day were cancelled!)
After purchasing those precious tickets we headed next door for a quick lunch before boarding.
The Waterfront Grill is located within eyesight of the boarding area of the boat, so we had a bird’s eye view of all the surroundings. And being near the water I was of course hungry for a fish sandwich. (It was a great choice!)
After our delicious lunch we were ready to cruise…rain or shine!
We had a good laugh and we felt right at home when we noticed the boat is registered in Fort Lauderdale, our “snowbird nest!”
Permission To Come Aboard, Captain!
As we boarded the vessel we were greeted by Captain Kari.
She handled that boat with precision and poise in spite of the rushing water and adverse weather conditions.
Luckily, the rain stopped during our cruise! So Peepaw and I perched ourselves outside on the deck on the bench located right below Captain Kari’s window. We had a bird’s eye view of everything and we were able to avoid the crowd inside the cabin. (Social distancing at all times for us.)
The Lock 18 on the Erie Canal is a historical wonder. The power house retains it’s original operating equipment, built in 1909!
The water level changes by 20 feet in just a few minutes!
Such an amazing experience…
Captain Kari shared many details and stories about the canal, and she even invited one young cruiser to take the wheel on our way back to the dock.
(He was absolutely thrilled…just look at that grin!)
Yes, it was a soggy, yet wonderful adventure. And when it was over we were more than ready to head back to our comfortable room at The Inn At Stone Mill.
An Unexpected Surprise…And Gift!
As we got out of our car I heard a voice yell “Meemaw! I’ve got something for you!” It was sweet Katie, calling from the doorway of the Cafe At Stone Mill.
(Hearing someone call my name so far from home really warmed my heart! So many folks in Little Falls went out of their way to make us feel welcome…and Katie was certainly one of them.)
Earlier in our visit in Little Falls, cafe manager Katie and I had discussed the gorgeous “painted lady” type architecture of so many of the large homes there. In fact, Katie’s mother had grown up in one of those homes. So Katie presented me with this wonderful book!
What an unexpected surprise, and a perfect ending to our full day of unexpected adventures.
We were more than ready to head to our comfortable room for hot showers and a glass (our several!) of wine.
After all, it WAS a Wine Wednesday…and we had shopped ahead of time to prepare for it!
You’ll see…
🙂
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