July 20, 2019 – Around the Great Loop on the Answer

July 4th was very quiet in Lyons – no fireworks and no activity around the lock. We spent a quiet day reading and planning for the next trip after our repairs on Saturday.

Friday was overcast and later in the day we had some rain. We walked into the town on the other side of the canal to pick up some provisions. As we walked, we saw a laundromat that wasn’t searchable (linked with a gas station) so I walked back later in the day and caught up on laundry.

One piece of good news: the parts came in later in the afternoon so the mechanic was able to pick them up earlier than expected so will be at the boat at 8am on Saturday. If all went well, we would be able to leave later that morning and head to Fairport.

Mechanic came and replaced the key and coupler on the shaft. Tested OK but he wanted to add a few locking washers and needed to get the right size. The plan was for us to leave and then meet him in a few hours at Mid Lakes Marine where he would replace the washers. This was also a 2 hour run to test the repair.

All was going fine until we got into Lock 28 and it starting to downpour – torrential rain. Of course we were already locking through so it was miserable. I do have to admit though that our foul weather gear continues to keep us dry. Perhaps I’ll write a review on the Lands End website telling them that I am pleased with my purchase.

Met the mechanic at Mid Lakes and he swapped out the washers. Told us to hang around until the rain stopped and then it should be an easy run to Fairport. We left once the rain seemed to have subsided.

Arrived in Fairport and were pleased that there were still a number of spots on their wall – a cute little town. We tied up east of the town at the quiet dock. We planned to spend two nights in Fairport to visit with a few of our daughter’s college friends who live in Fairport and Rochester.

The Greens met us Saturday after dinner since their kids insisted on taking us out for ice cream. The ice cream shop was packed and they had a nice variety. I was finally able to find my favorite – pistachio with real pistachios instead of the almonds that many companies now try to substitute. Peter ordered a small French Vanilla cone but the girl behind the counter kept loading ice cream on the cone. Needless to say, he had melting ice cream running down his hand. The kids laughed and the youngest kept repeating “that is not a small cone.” She had her share of melted ice cream also – on her clothes, flip-flops and body!

On Sunday, the Brightfuls came to visit from Rochester. Their girls loved the boat and were ready to move in…as was their father. Lots of questions about what type of boat is best for the Loop, how much experience and planning is involved, etc. A family of potential boaters.

On Monday, we left Fairport and planned to travel to Brockport. Weather was good and we had contact from Bahama Voyager that they left Brockport and were heading to Albion. They took a quick look at the town and decided to move forward and go to Medina. We checked the mileage and continued so that we could catch up and have someone to travel with eventually on Lake Erie. Spent a night in Medina and traveled to the town of Tonowanda the next day.

Finishing our journey on the Erie Canal resulted in some interesting photos. There was one section that we passed that was dug by hand and it was solid rock. Another interesting spot was where the Erie Canal actually was over a road….look closely at the photo I posted. (For a better look, check out YouTube: https://youtu.be/HTGXdyK-Lo4) In addition to these sights, there was bike ride from Buffalo to Albany taking place and we saw a number of bikers along various parts of the canal – in groups, teams, and alone.

Tonowanda is very close to Niagara Falls so we took a little side trip – not by boat but by Lyft. I was the only one of four who had ever been to the falls and that was a brief visit during college-shopping with our daughter. The falls are magnificent and if you have never been, try to make this one of the items on your bucket list.

Wednesday we headed to Buffalo and the next travel day would then take us into Lake Erie. Bahama Voyager ordered some parts to repair his boat and had them delivered to the marina (there was a West Marine there too if other items were needed) so we stayed overnight so that he had time to finish his repairs before we entered Lake Erie. Next stop: first of our Great Lakes.