Day 44- Schenectady, NY to Saint Johnsville, NY


After yesterday's flight of five locks, we were ready for more locks and miles. 
41.3 miles and 8 locks to be exact. 

Union College, where my old college fraternity started.  One of the founders was well hung.  For mutiny while a midshipman in the Navy.

This is Lock 8. It had a rise of 14' and obviously work being done on the bridge.

We enjoyed getting to see some waterfall action today.

The thing at the end of the line (rope) is a rubber weight to hold the line in place and make it easier for us to grab when entering the lock. The right-hand picture shows some plant life in the lock, between concrete wall sections.

Leaving Lock 8.

This is the typical view traveling the Erie Canal. 
So far, calm water and tons of green trees. Very peaceful. We are enjoying it.

Most of the canal we will traverse is actually the Mohawk River.  It really is lovely.

In case you were curious, yes, I drive the boat too.
Thank goodness for fast shutter speeds before I rush to grab the wheel!
Just kidding.


Lock 9, with 15' of rise. Sunny day, but only 68 degrees.

Very similar to Lock 8
Every lock has a sign like this. We also have similar information in printed form on the boat. We refer to it frequently.

The first of the goslings we saw.

They definitely cut the hill for the high road and the low road.

Lock 10 with another 15' rise.


The lock tenders have all been friendly. They even call ahead to let the next lock know we are on our way.

The abandoned Adirondack Power and Light plant.

This was another abandoned plant. The Mohawk Carpet Company. We were able to read it on the side of the smoke stack. We are on the Mohawk River, hmmm?

Cute, little, retired, working NY Canal tugboat. Set up in a park.




Lock 11, 12' rise.
By now, a familiar sight on this part of the canal, a lock and adjacent spillway.

Amongst all the green trees, we also see flowers.



This was Lock 12, 11' rise. It looked just like Lock 11.

It only took me 30ish shots to get the New York Canal flag to be readable. Sheesh!

How many times have I seen this view from the other perspective?  This is  I-90, the New York Thruway.  For years we drove this back and forth from Rhode Island to Buffalo, winter, spring, summer and fall, and would catch a glimpse of the Canal.

A farm, a real working farm. First one we have seen.
Bucolic upstate New York.

A month and a half of veggies.  Now this, but no place to stop and tie up!!

The fourth sibling didn't build on their lot.

They are trying to disguise the machinery.

Any questions about what the winter and following spring run-off looks like here?

The spring hatching has definitely happened.

Lock 13, only 8' rise on this one.

Lots of driftwood on the high side of this one.

The rail lines run right next to the canal in places.

Cheryl at the helm for a locking!!  No, I am not trying to hang myself.
I was a bit worried about his line handling ability.

Lock 14, another 8' rise.

Lock 15, again, 8' rise. Final lock for the day. 81' rise today.

Ever heard of St Johnsville, NY?  Neither had we. 
 I think they must get a lot of snow here. 
Friendly people at Cosmo's where we ate dinner. 
Peaceful and pretty evening to finish Day 44 on the Erie Canal.

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