Shorter Season This Year - But No Fees

The Canal Corporation has announced the 2017 Season: May 19 to October 11. That's considerably shorter than normal; usually the canal opens the beginning of May and closes the end of October. So we're losing over a month. They've also announced no fees or tolls this year, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the canal. I don't know about you, but I'd be happy to pay $75 for another 40 days of canal cruising.

Craigslist doesn't mean Craig's Boat Is A-Listing

Capt. Craig Erickson showed up today here in Fairport, with the lovely Joyce. And Bear (of course). His boat, Flikka is looking fine and we're all just wondering where to go to eat. Dick says they've got 50-cent wings in Spencerport, but they're 90-cents here. Well, we're here. So, a buck a wing is the song and dance.

Talked to Kaitlynn McHenry, she's Captain of the Colonial Belle, and the first excursion is tomorrow, a free tour for the fourth graders here in upstate New York, just so, you know, they learn about the Canal. How cool is that?

Copperheaded Water Moccasin

Artist's rendition of a Copperheaded Water Moccasin

Every time we'd see a snake when I was fishing with my dad, he'd tell me it was a Copperheaded Water Moccasin. I really don't know if there is such a thing, but I do know my dad wouldn't let me join the Boy Scouts because he once got in an argument with a Scout Master about whether there were any Copperheads native to Kentucky, where I was born.

Of course, he played it off saying that I wouldn't want to be a Scout, because all they did was make coin purses and earn Merit Badges, but I knew the real story. He was just pissed about that stubborn Scout Master.

Doug Fry and his Border Collie, Emmie, found some Copperheads on a walk just outside the marina at Midlakes. Doug has 1968 Bristol sailboat that he's rehabing and plans on taking it down to the Florida Keys later this season.

We had to double check and see whether Copperheads really were native to New York State, and guess what? They are! Sure, they mostly tend to work out of Albany, but at least we won't have to argue with any Scout Masters.

So, anyway, watch out for snakes!

Cadaver Dog Finds Body in Erie Canal

"GATES, N.Y. -- Search and rescue teams say they believe they have found the body of a missing Greece man.

Kurt Freese was last seen Friday after police say he suffered an apparent anxiety attack. Freese walked out during his shift as a machine operator at Light Fab in Gates, leaving behind his car and personal belongings. Police say he was distressed.

Since Friday, law enforcement agencies used K-9, a helicopter and boat to look for Freese. Tuesday afternoon, a Massasaugua Search and Rescue cadaver dog out on a boat found Freese's body in the water about and hour into the search. The medical examiner's office will now make a positive identification and determine the exact cause of death.

Police say they might never had found Freese had it not been for the volunteer search teams who stepped in to help."

Read more....

Birdie James gets Wet

Don Cartwright on the stern of Birdie James as she launches

Don Cartwright's boat, Birdie James was dropped back into the drink this Saturday, all 13 tons of her. Don has done a boatload (heh) of work on Birdie over the winter, including replacing a considerable amount of deck and ceiling.

Birdie James is a relative newcomer to the canal as Don purchased her last year and brought her down from Connecticut. She's a Bluewater Yacht with an impressive amount of room on board. Her open deck plan really allows passengers to spread out and Don has lots of plans for more custom upgrades in the future.

Midlakes Launches New Boats

Harriet H. Wiles

Hanging out around marinas can be a lot of fun, especially ones like Midlakes in Macedon, NY. Midlakes is home to Midlakes Navigation's fleet of Canal hire boats, which you can rent for cruises up and down the canal. The houseboats are styled after European Narrowboats, and are what amount to floating condominiums, or at the very least a floating luxury apartment.

Midlakes has been providing this service with boats that they design and build for generations. In fact, Midlakes built the Sam Patch, but that's another story. Peter Wiles, owner and operator explained to me that they had built around twenty boats, and have been in the process of buying back several boats that they had sold over the years, so that now their fleet is around 14 boats in all.

Peter Wiles

One of the boats that had been purchased back from an individual has been re-built and was recently launched as the Harriet H. Wiles, named in honor of Peter's mother.

Designed as a single-couple rental, with deluxe appointments, Harriet is both spacious and modern. The boat also has some updated features, including an enclosed cockpit, which will make for more comfortable navigation, especially in inclement weather.

The Ladders Are Here!

NYS Canal Corporation have made good on their promise to install ladders on the canal here in Fairport. According to the D&C, they're $18,750 a pop and "not even gold-plated." There are eight ladders in all, which comes to around $150,000.

The ladders on the South side of the canal are recessed into the wall, but the ones on the North side stick out quite a bit; not enough to damage boats, but probably far enough to discourage boaters from parking in front of them.

This will probably result in what even a Canal Corp. employee bemoaned as an increase in the congestion for boaters trying to moor along the wall. Everyone I've spoken to has ridiculed both the need for these ladders, and their high cost.

The fact that most foot traffic along the canal is during the summer season, when there are boats moored seems to have been overlooked. Think about it, if you did happen to fall into the canal, wouldn't you climb up on one of the many boat swim platforms, which are lower and easier to access, rather than swim to a ladder? I know I would.

Canal Opening Early For Navigation

Notice to Mariners

2016 Navigation Season

Mariners are advised that the opening date for the NYS Canal System has been changed to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27 - four days earlier than originally scheduled.  All other dates and hours for the 2016 navigation season remain the same.    

Fire on bridge on Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath in Akron

"AKRON, Ohio — An arsonist set fire to a bridge on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

Firefighters were called about 6 a.m. Tuesday to the bridge in the 300 block of West Wilbeth Road, according to a Summit Metro Parks spokeswoman.

Akron firefighters extinguished the blaze. Arson investigators found an accelerant on the bridge, leading investigators to believe someone intentionally set the fire.

Officials haven't yet determined how much it will cost to replace the bridge. The bridge will remain closed until it's repaired, officials said.

Firefighters and Metro Parks rangers are investigating a link between that fire and another fire early Tuesday on Wilbeth Road.

Someone started a fire in similar fashion, the spokesperson said. That fire was about an hour prior. It was not on Metro Parks property.

Investigators do not have a suspect."

Read more at Cleveland.com...

Erie Canal's 192nd Opening May 1st!

"The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the New York State Canal Corporation have teamed up to sponsor 28 festivals and events to showcase the heritage of the Canalway Corridor and the recreational appeal of the waterway and trails today. Events include cycling and paddling tours, canal festivals and concerts at the waterfront. The canal system is scheduled to open May 1, weather permitting.

“We are proud to partner with communities and organizations to ensure a lively and fun season along the canal,” said Bob Radliff, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “Starting in May and going right through the fall, these events offer great ways for people to explore and enjoy the canal.”

Events are a significant contributor to the $380 million in economic impact generated annually by canal-related tourism. Erie Canalway and NYS Canal Corporation’s investment in event sponsorships is expected to be matched nearly 10 to 1 by local sponsors and attract 64,000 people"

Read more at Erie Canalways...

Erie Canalway funding goes toward preservation projects

"The Erie Canal Corridor in upstate New York is getting a boost from some federal dollars.

Federal funds from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor will go to 10 education and preservation projects from the Albany area to Buffalo. The $44,000 in grants will leverage an additional $165,000 in private funds to create teachers guides, murals, and historical markers.

The town of DeWitt will use funds to promote a bike ride, but it all fits in with long term canal plans. Supervisor Ed Michalenko says ultimately the town wants to create a pond and park in an area that many people don’t even know has an Erie Canal connection, at a highly trafficked intersection along Erie Boulevard.

“It’s our hope to reemphasize that corridor, to restore what we can, and it’s certainly what we’re planning on doing is building a green space and park next to storm run off on Erie Boulevard and Bridge Street,” said Michalenko.

The village of Baldwinsville will use some of the funds for “memory markers.” Mayor Dick Clarke says it’s help like this that has made a big difference in his village."

Read more at WRVO...

Bird Conservation Group Objects To Proposed Wind Farm Project Near Lake Ontario

"A proposed wind turbine project near the Lake Ontario shoreline is drawing criticism from bird conservation groups.

The Lighthouse Wind Project  would put up to 70 or so wind turbines in parts of Orleans and Niagara Counties, near the lake shore, and that has brought concerns from an organization called the American Bird Conservancy. The group rates that project as one of the 10 worst sited wind farms in the U.S., because it says it has the potential of severely impacting raptors and songbirds.

The president of the Audubon Society of the Genesee Valley,  June Summers, notes that some birds that migrate long distances are already in peril, and she says these turbines would create the potential of serious injuries or death to those birds since there is a migration corridor near the lake."

Read more at WXXI...

Tappan Zee Tugboat Captain Dies on Hudson River

"The captain of a tugboat involved in the construction of the new span of the Tappan Zee Bridge has died after suffering a medical emergency aboard the vessel.

Rockland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit says it responded Monday night to a report of an emergency aboard the Tappan Zee Constructors tugboat Pilgrim on the Hudson River in the area of Tilcon quarry, located a few miles up river from the Tappan Zee Bridge. Once on board, officers found a crew member performing CPR on a 50-year-old male who was unresponsive. The man was removed from the vessel and transported to Nyack Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The victim has been identified as Edward T Smith, 50, of Norwalk, Connecticut.

The Rockland County Sheriff’s office says the cause of death is still unknown."

Read more at gCaptain.com...

Mural Mania in Lyons, New York

"Lyons, N.Y. — Local history is celebrated in a series of murals painted on buildings around Lyons.

It began a few years ago when a group of concerned citizens cleared away a trash heap along the Erie Canal to create a park. Volunteers created a large mural on the face of an old trolley bridge at the site and named it "Winston's Dream" after Winston Dobbins, who began the project. The mural depicts the old Erie Canal.

Mark De Cracker and Noel Dobbins created Mural Mania, and more murals followed. There are currently eight scenes around town which can be seen with a brief walk.

The Mural Mania project has expanded, and historical scenes of life on the Erie Canal are seen on 25 buildings from Syracuse to Palmyra. In addition to attracting visitors to the area and preserving history, the murals have encouraged residents to become involved in the revitalization of the community."

Read more at New York Upstate...

Nazi Sub in Lake Ontario? Nope Says Snopes

"On 18 February 2016, the web site World News Daily Report published an article reporting that a Nazi submarine had been discovered in Lake Ontario:

Niagara Falls — Divers from the U.S coast guard took part this morning, in a delicate wreck recovery operation to bring to the surface a Nazi submarine discovered two weeks ago at the bottom of Lake Ontario.

The U-boat was spotted for the first time by amateur scuba divers in late January and they had contacted the authorities. Archaeologists associated with Niagara University of and master divers from the U.S Coast Guard were mobilized on site to determine what it was, and they soon realized that they were dealing with a German submarine that sank during World War II ... Professor Mark Carpenter, who leads the team of archaeologists, believes that the U-boat could have traveled up the St-Lawrence River, all the way to the Great Lakes, where it intended to disturb the American economy.

As with all of World News Daily Report's content, the Nazi sub story was entirely fabricated. The article used an unrelated image of a rusting, decommissioned Russian submarine from the Cold War era to illustrate the claim, not a picture of a genuine World War II-era German U-boat.

World News Daily Report is a fake news site that regularly publishes wild and sensational false claims to drive social media share-based traffic and generate thereby ad revenues."

Read more at Snopes.com...

Queen City Bike Ferry Needs Expansion

"The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has a problem, but it’s the kind that businesses love to have. It has succeeded beyond its expectations and now has to adjust to account for that. It is urgent that it does so before the bicycling season begins to roll.

The problem is with the Queen City Bike Ferry that the ECHDC launched with great hopes last year. It transports bicyclists between Canalside and the Outer Harbor, and leaders hoped to serve around 20,000 passengers during the 2015 season. It more than doubled that amount, attracting 50,000 passengers, including more than 9,000 during its first three weeks of operation. Successful doesn’t begin to describe it.

But sometimes success breeds challenges, and such is the case with the Queen City Bike Ferry. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, long a proponent and instigator of waterfront development here, noted that passengers had to cope with long lines, some waiting more than an hour. It created a disincentive to return, especially given that riders couldn’t know if their return trip would be similarly hindered."

Read more at The Buffalo News...

Retired lockmaster wins Lockport award

"LOCKPORT – Joel Beyer, chief operator of the Erie Canal locks in Lockport for 37 years, was named Thursday as the winner of the 11th annual “Key to the Locks” award, presented by the Erie Canal Discovery Center each year to a local resident who promotes the canal.

Beyer will receive the award from Lockport Mayor Anne E. McCaffrey at 11 a.m. May 7 in a ceremony at the Discovery Center, 24 Church St., Lockport.

Beyer retired earlier this year after 42 years working on the canal. He became lockmaster in Lockport in 1979. Although it wasn’t a promotional job, Beyer spent years working with school groups, area residents and tourists, helping them understand the history and workings of the Canal and locks."

Read more at The Buffalo News...

Canal Corporation director makes the case for an endangered Cuomo proposal

"ALBANY — More hydropower dams could be built along the state’s canals if the Cuomo administration's plan to transfer the Canal Corporation to the New York Power Authority goes through, according to Canal Corporation's director Brian Stratton.

In his January State of the State proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed transferring the money-losing Canal Corporation — which doesn't generate significant income and generally loses tens of millions a year — away from the Thruway Authority.

It marks a reversal of a policy instituted by his father that has been unpopular ever since. But Cuomo's plan has scant support in the Legislature.

The New York Power Authority has significant revenues, largely from the sale of hydropower, which makes up the vast majority of the renewable energy that powers the state’s electrical grid. About 2.5 percent of that hydropower, or 154 megawatts, comes from 27 hydropower dams on the canal system, Stratton said.

He said there's room for more."

Read more at Politico New York...

Our Ability Journeys Along the Erie Canal in 2016

"In 2016, our 4th Journey Along the Erie Canal will highlight the importance of employment opportunities for all New Yorkers. In January 2016, Our Ability launched the New York Business Leadership Network. The NYBLN will bridge the gap between employment opportunities from New York businesses as well as the candidates with disabilities statewide.

Our 2016 ride will raise awareness of Our Ability, NYBLN and the benefits of employment for all New Yorkers. We will invite businesses across New York to provide jobs and internships. We invite New Yorkers to find the ability inside ourselves whether it be riding the Erie Canal or finding meaningful employment."

Read more here...

Canal Clean Sweep

The 11th annual Clean Sweep is scheduled for April 22-24, 2016.

Celebrate Earth Day and show some love for the Canal and Canalway Trail by volunteering!

No telling what you may find!