Well known products have also come from the area. Some that may not be around anymore.
While many of the locks look the same, some have unique features. Lock #17 at Little Falls, NY is one of only two locks in North America where the lock door is raised and the boat passes beneath.
Lock 17 also has the highest lift distance on the Erie Canal at 40 feet.
As we entered the lock the lockmaster said there was a tree in the lock at the far end, but not to worry because they would take care of it after we were in and raised.
It turned out to not be an issue for us as the movement of the incoming water turned it long ways and it remained against the side wall and I was able to manuver past it without incident.
Little Falls is also a very scenic and old town nestled in the river valley.
We stopped at the free dock provided and walked into town for a few needed provisions and found that the main business district wasn't as much nestled into the valley as it was built on the side of one of the hills forming the valley. At this point the canal is quite a bit higher than the river, so first we walked down and across the river, then up a ways and then down a pedestrian underpass that took us under the railroad tracks and then up hill a couple of blocks to a nice downtown that included a covered sidewalk in front of most businesses.
At the next lock we were informed, twice, that there was a canal work crew ahead that included divers in the water and to be sure to make no wake. Upon exiting the lock we were warned two more times on the radio about the divers. Unfortunately, no one told us how this had happened.
As usual, we also found interesting bridges like this railroad bridge that was just before a lock. We were minutes early as a train passed over while we were in the lock. We all agreed we wished we could have been under it when the train passed.
We had found a place identified in the guide book as the Utica Marina, but when I called I got an answering machine that said it was the Utica Park Service. They didn't call back, so we decided to head there anyway and see if someone would be around. When we got there we found the dock and a nice upscale restaurant called Aqua Vino, which actually operated the dock. There was no marina even though there were fuel pumps and a holding tank pump station. We were told the docks belonged to the restaurant and that the fuel and pump out belonged to the city, but that they hadn't worked for over 10 years. We stayed anyway, because it was only $1.00 / foot which included 50 amp electric and water.
Before dinner we re-patched the broken window with the heavier plastic that Robert had brought the night before.
We didn't eat at the restaurant, because we also had the dinner Robert had brought us the night before and we had picked up makings for a salad in Little Falls.
In three days we have only completed 30% of the canal, but we have traversed 56% of the locks. Looking ahead, the locks will become more spaced out and we should be able to get a few longer mileage days in.
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