Herkimer & Perkins: Building Backyard Boats in Buffalo, NY

Messing About in Boats, Boots, and Byways:

Archive of Erie Canal Journal entries for 2003: 30 July 03

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 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

We'll get there if it don't get dark

30 July 03: We took a ride on the Erie Canal and stayed way after dark, which I love to do.

From the launch ramp at Albion, we went up the canal to a big lake connected to the canal at Presbyterian Road, near Eagle Harbor.

It was a day for animals -- a chipmunk with the biggest cheeks and body I've ever seen, a woodchuck, and a friendly dragonfly. I got pix of all of these.

The weather was perfect, and promised to be the last good day of low humidity for about a week.

The Guard Gate at Albion shares the horizon with a bridge just downstream, making for an interesting shot.
Looking back, the Guard Gate from the other side, with the bridge beyond.
I had good luck on this day with snapping shots that were fleeting. Here, a piece of dandelion fluff floats past the boat.
This chipmunk ran along the bank, from rock to rock, leading us up the canal for at least 200 yards. He finally went into the fields. He had the biggest body and fattest cheeks of any chipmunk I've ever seen.
Friendly dragonfly lands briefly on the Reverend's hand.
Reflections along the canal near Eagle Harbor Lift Bridge.
This is the Eagle Harbor Lift Bridge, with a blue ladder for painting the structure in place. All the lift bridges compete for awards based on appearance.
Tiny Methodist Church on the Tow Path in Eagle Harbor.
Big woodchuck suns self near Eagle Harbor.
Beautiful brick farmhouse on the south bank of the canal near Eagle Harbor.
Combine harvests wheat.
Combine again.
Angler tries one last cast as the sun sets. This is across the canal from a large lake connected to the canal at Presbyterian Road.
Setting sun lights the sky on fire at Presbyterian Road.
A few minutes later, the angler is gone and the tones have turned to pink.