Paddle Journal

Met up with my brother in Rochester on Thursday night, July 14. My daughter took my car back to Grand Island, and we loaded boat and gear in/on brother's car. Spent the night at Holiday Inn in air-conditioned comfort.

Friday morning, after dropping off boats and leaving his car back at the Holiday Inn parking lot, we launch at 11:00 from the Genesee Waterways Center. Nice place where you can rent kayaks or bikes. Nice low floating docks, and it is just north of where the canal and Genesee River cross. We paddle upstream (the entire trip would be against the current) and turn west into the canal. Friday weather was high 80's if not low 90's, no wind, no clouds, UV index 9 out of 10 and high humidity. A sweat fest. All three days would be a sweat fest.

First stop (other than stops to answer the call of nature) is Spencerport. No docks, just concrete walls. Haul boats out over rocks (we are now experts on getting out on loose rock embankments) and have an early dinner. Refill Camelbaks and on to Brockport. Another rock landing for ice cream cones at Brockport. Through Brockport to find a campsite before the mosquitoes come up. Dave found a flat area next to the Canal Bike Trail big enough for the tent, and we haul the boats out and make camp. About 21 miles for the day in the hottest conditions I have ever paddled in.

As it always happens, as we are breaking camp, we are told about a great campsite just a mile ahead at the town of Clarkson. In the boats at 8:00 and on to Holley for breakfast. Holley was the best stop of the trip. Nice low dock, dockside bathrooms and showers, and a path thru a park to Main Street to a diner for a big breakfast.

Chased by thunder into Albion, but no rain. Thunderstorms approaching Medina, with heavy rain as we enter the city. Rain stopped after we pulled the boats up on the dock, so we were soaked going into the diner for dinner. Back into the boats and on to Middleport as the sun was setting. We kept on, and the day ended at 10:30 p.m. with me towing my brother's boat as he walked the bike path in moonlight looking for a place to set up the tent. About 33 miles for the day put us just outside of Gasport.

Again, in the boats at 8:00 and on to Gasport for breakfast with about 23 miles to Grand Island. We called the lockmaster from Wide Waters Marina, and he had the lock open for us. As soon as the doors closed, it started to rain and ended just before we were done locking thru. Met our parents at Amherst Veterans Park for much needed hamburgers and cokes, then the final push to the finish. Paddled thru the boat jam at the Canal Fest and then into the Niagara River to take out just upstream of the Holiday Inn on Grand Island at 7:00.

A great trip, and I highly recommend it as a fast weight-loss plan. We just couldn't drink enough water and eat enough Power Bars. I dropped about 9 lbs. Dave scoped out the section Canajoharie to the Hudson for the next trip on his way home.

- Jim H.


Erie Canal: Sunday, July 10, 2005

Today, 15 paddlers in 10 kayaks and 2 canoes paddled from Widewater Marina, up the Erie Canal, and through Locks 34 and 35 in Lockport towards the Rt 93 bridge and back.

As this was a combined ADK & Y&C paddle, we enjoyed the company of many old friends, but also met new folks. Welcome to Al & Mary and their Bichon Frise Sammy (the "Lamb-y"). Also on this paddle were Judy, Rich, Jim H., Helen, her teen nephew Greg, Jim C., Carol P., Paula, Kate, Carol K., Rolf, Liz, and me.

The day was HOT and sunny. We saw hundreds of bicyclists along the shoreline paths who were riding from Buffalo to Albany. We paddled against the current going towards the locks, then watched quite a show of wild water being purged from the lower lock while waiting to enter the locks.

The trip through both locks (being elevated 49 feet) involved hanging onto mooring ropes, doubling-up yaks and canoes, singing the Erie Canal Song, and staying out of the way of the larger tour boats. A call ahead to the lockmaster ensured a pretty quick passage through the locks; if you're going in future, we suggest doing this.

Once out of the locks, we paddled under the world's widest bridge, and then past high stone walls chiseled by immigrant labor when the Erie Canal was originally built.

At the turn-around point, we rafted-up and shared snacks. It's amazing how FAST we moved with the current when "joined" as one unit. We probably could have floated back to the locks in no time at all, no paddle power needed!

The trip back down through the locks was HOT. The sun blazed overhead, but everyone did fine. People on the tour boats kept taking our pictures, as well as onlookers from the bridge over the locks. (We're immortalized somewhere in someone's photo albums).

After we exited the locks and paddled back towards Widewater Marina, a fish jumped over the cockpit of my boat. I think I may have accidentally given it a little airborne boost with my paddle. ;-)

Most of the paddlers stayed after take-out for a fine picnic, conversation, and laughs. And even better: Rolf treated us all to lemon ices at the Tasty Freeze on Transit afterwards! Thanks Rolf!

As the saying goes, "a good time was had by all!"

-- Ness