We got a late start off the dock this morning.  We decided to get a pump out.  The dock master has a portable unit that he takes from one boat to another.  Pretty slick.  We had to wait our turn.  No problem.  We are only going through 4 locks today.  Easy day.  Or that is the plan.

Lock 16 – right around the corner – UP 20.5 feet

We are the only boat this morning going through this lock.  Wonderful!  I noticed a whole gaggle of geese walking down to the lock wall.  2 jumped into the river ahead of us.  The rest?  They decided to wait for us to pass by.

Geese changing their mind and going back up the hill at Lock 16

At the top of Lock 16 and on our way to the next lock.  What a grand day to be on the water.   Another cruiser came up behind us and decided to pass us by.  They must have come through Lock 16 right after us.  We didn’t see them.

View from the flybridge on the Erie Canal

This lock is different.  The lock gates don’t open like doors.  This lock is a “lift gate”.  The gate lifts up and you drive your boat under the gate into the lock.  Pretty scary, if you ask me.  How tall is that gate??  Apparently, it is 20 feet.  With all the rain, will we get under it?  Wayne had called ahead to let the lock master know we were on our way.  It look over 30 minutes for the lock to get ready for us.  We saw the water pouring out of the sides as the water was being emptied to allow us to go into it.  He had to let the water out.  We assume another boat had just gone through the lock ahead of us.  Then another 30 minutes to get us and the other boat all tied up.  Wow.

Approaching Lock 17

This lock will take us UP 40 feet.  That is correct.  40 feet!!  This is the highest lift along the Erie Canal.  And only 2 in North America where you have to drive the boat under the gate. There are other locks that take boats up higher than 40 feet but they have the regular gates that open like doors.  The other lift gate?  In Canada.

We read that we would get wet going under the gate.  I was expecting wet as in Disney Ride wet.  Not us.  A couple of drops but no deluge.  I had all my wet gear on just in case.  I must have looked a little odd.  The lock master probably got a good chuckle.

Lift Gate from the inside.

As we came out of the Lock, we found a group of young people rock climbing.  They had all the safety harnesses.  No free wall climbing today.

Little Falls has a city dock for cruisers.  It looked empty when we drove by.  All the boaters had left already to go west and too early for new boaters to stop for the day.  Looks nice.

Getting close to Lock 18….

Just around the corner and here it is!! Lock 18  – UP only 20 feet

In and out in a normal course of locking.

Ilion Village Marina – where the tug took up almost all the space

The next excitement is the fixed Rail Road bridge.  The guides mentioned this is 21.37 feet tall.  But, with the rains and higher water, we took it slow.  Would I even know what 0.37 feet is?

Fixed Bridge… Bridge E-40

Why is it that when we go under one of these structures I always duck.  Like my head is going to make the difference.  hahaha

Going under the Rail Road bridge

At the top of Lock 19 – UP 21 feet.

These locks have great surrounding areas.  Park like.  In some cases, they even have picnic tables.  Very well kept.

Park like surroundings at the lock

Our sunshine left and we were getting clouds in.  Maybe a bit rainy later in the afternoon.

View from Top of the Lock 19

We were going to stop at the “Utica Historic Marina” along side of the Aqua Vino Restaurant.  But the boat ahead of us got the last open space.  Plan B….  go to the next lock and tie up to the wall outside.  No electric or water.  A secure place to put the boat overnight.  We decided to go through the lock so we wouldn’t have to wait till 8am to lock through in the morning.  The dock master told us it was OK to tie up.  Wonderful!!

Approaching Lock 20

I was able to hog tie a post with our mid-line cleat.  Then I carefully hopped down from the  boat to the wall.  We tied up securely just before the drizzles started.   Across the way, “Canal Park” had a concert.  We listened to country music for a couple of hours.  Very nice.

“Canal Park” concert at the pavillion

Sunset at Lock 20