Herkimer & Perkins: Building Backyard Boats in Buffalo, NY

Messing About in Boats, Boots, and Byways:

Archive of Erie Canal Journal entries for 2004: 01 May 04

One of our favorite destinations is the Erie Canal, which originally began in downtown Buffalo, and later when the canal was widened and renamed the Erie Canal Barge Canal, the canal began, and still begins, at North Tonawanda on the Niagara River where Tonawanda Creek empties into the river.

We have biked in five-mile bites from Lockport to Brockport, and we've rowed a time or two, too.

Erie Canal Journal entries for 2004 -- listed by headings with links to files
Erie Canal Journal entries for 2004 -- posted in a (large) single file

Erie Canal Journal entries for 2003 -- listed by headings with links to files
Erie Canal Journal entries for 2003 -- posted in one file

Erie Canal Journal entries for 2002 -- listed by headings with links to files
Erie Canal Journal entries for 2002 -- posted in one file

Let the boating begin, again

01 May 04: We went up to the Erie Canal to cheer ourselves with the sight of the re-filled canal, and we weren't disappointed.

The flowering shrubs and trees were a pretty sight, too. It'll be a while yet before we launch the Harmonica, but just knowing that the canal is ready feels great.

Newly filled canal downstream from the locks at Lockport, from Upton Park. That's a state Canal Corp. boat at left.
Gulls and piling geometry at Widewater, in Lockport.
This sculpture was outside a home on the north side of the canal just below Widewater. It was part of a public sculpture event in Buffalo last year. It's at least 30 feet tall.
Same pose, different species. This guy was mugging for food at Widewater.
The section of the canal near the Guard Gate closest to Tonawanda Creek was alive with flowering trees and shrubs. The aroma was wonderful!