Erie Canal

Okay, if you're tired of hearing/seeing the Erie Canal, you can skip this part of the blog.  I'm putting these pictures in here because I'm so facinated by the operation of the locks and we were fortunate enough to catch the last boat of the season going through "our" lock #29.  It was fun to share this experience with Amber and her boys. 

 

This first picture shows the boat approaching the lock on the high or west side of the lock.  

Second picture shows the boat entering the lock.  The lock keeper filled the lock up as the boat approached a bridge enroute to this lock.  Filling this lock up at the right moment helps this large boat get under the bridge a little easier because filling the lock also slightly lowers the Erie enough to give the boat a little extra room beneath the bridge. 

 

The third picture is the boat waiting for the lock water to lower to the level of the east end of the lock.  

The fourth picture is the boat lowered and leaving the lock on the east end. 

 

As we were leaving we talked to the only other person watching this event.  He was a man in his 70s or so.  He said he's lived here his whole life and that was the first time he has seen the lock operate.  I am amazed at that.  I've only been to the lock twice and I'm 2 for 2.  I love seeing the Erie and I am constantly amazed at the this engineering feat accomplished so long, long ago.