Today was much less adventurous as yesterday. We got to the demasting facility at Wardell's early and waited for him to open the shop. Masting went well as the bad weather held off. Our original mast cradle was too low to allow for the dodger, the blue canopy, because we had lower bridges last year when we went to Oswego on Lake Ontario. This part of the Erie Canal allowed us to put the mast higher so we made some cradle mods while at the masting dock and put the dodge back up. It also allowed the mast to clear my head without ducking when passing underneath. We had a leisurely cruise down the Erie Canal. We tried to stop for lunch but when trying to dock at the side of the canal had difficulty because the points that we could tie off were too far apart so we missed out on visiting Lockport and we ate lunch on the boat. Otherwise it was uneventful on our way to Medina. There were several farms, mostly corn but other crops as well, on the way. There were also several residences.
The mast being supported by the crane at the right. At this point we remove all of the cables that hold the mast up.
Rear view of the mast on the cradle after the cradle modification to accommodate the dodger.
Front view of the mast on the cradle.
Passing a barge that was bring a bridge component as it went in the opposite direction.
Rear view of the barge and the tug pushing it.
One of the bridges that we passed under that would not have allowed for the mast being up.
These are walls that can be dropped to stop the flow in the canal. Not sure why they would be used.
A little waterfall at the side of the canal.
A rock cliff at the side of the canal. This probably had to be blasted out to make the canal.
View of the greenery as we approach another bridge.
Approaching Lockport and the double lock.
Waiting for the lock to open.
Sign indicating that we are entering locks 34 and 35. They are two locks in series with no canal between them. It is two 25 foot drops in a row. You go from one lock right into the next.
The first lock is opening for us to enter.
Inside the first lock after it has drained and lowered us 25 feet.
Moving from the first into the second lock.
Entering the second lock.
The second lock is drained and we've been lower another 25 feet.
Leaving the second lock.
Looking back as we leave locks 34 and 35.
The area just past where we tried to tie off. It is looking forward. There is a lift bridge that we have to wait for.
The lift bridge is up for us to pass under. We would not have made it with a mast up.
Another one of the walls that can be dropped to block the flow.
The Median lift bridge.
The map of the western part of the Erie Canal. Last summer we went from Cayuga Lake to Oswego on Lake Ontario and sailed west. This year we came in at Buffalo and went east on the Erie Canal towards Cayuga Lake.
The boat docked on the sea wall in Medina.
Our dockage was municipal along the seawall of the canal. There was a bathroom with shower. It was just a single with everything together but this wasn't a big or busy place. It was also a very short walk to town. We ate at Tapped on Main which was affiliated with Mark's Pizzeria. They had several local craft beers on draft. I had Super Freak by Tin Man Brewery and Borderland IPA by 42 North Brewing Co. that were both OK.I also had SteamPunk Cider which is made by the local Leonard Oakes Estate Winery. It was pretty sweet but tasted good as I had it for desert.
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