Sign on a warehouse where we loaded the boat.
Our boat...
Upside-down Railroad Bridge - the tracks are at the top of this bridge!
The original old canal locks. Today there are only 2 locks, originally there were 5. Can you count the five waterfalls?
Today is 9-11 and all flags were at half staff in New York State.
The lock gate is holding the water back until the gate closes at the other end of the lock.
Another view.
The gate closes so that the lock can fill with water.
It's almost closed!
It's full - go back and look for the yellow railing at the top of the lock gates in the other pictures. You'll be able to tell how much water was added to the lock.
When the water level was raised and the lock door opened, there was a sailboat that passed us in the lock. The boat going upstream has the right of way. That courtesy comes from when mules pulled the barges and the mules pulling upstream had the harder job so they got to keep their momentum going. The barges going downstream could just drift with the current so it was easier for the mules to begin pulling again.
Here's the sailboat in the next lock with the gate closing behind it.
Looking down over the side of our boat.
Lock number 35, the little white building houses the lock master. He controls the gates and water flow.
Old ledge that the mules used to walk along as they pulled the barges on the Erie Canal.
I've got a mule
And her name is Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She 's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
The Erie Canal was all dug by hand from 1818 to 1825, although it was first used in 1821. It was considered an engineering marvel at the time. It connected Lake Erie with the Hudson River, a distance of 363 miles.
Bridge tower - the man in this tower must raise the bridge each time a boat moves along the canal because the bridge is so low.
The bridge is raised so we can go under it.
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge for we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Top of the bridge.
Looking down into the canal from the bridge walkway.
Lockport Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church in Lockport has 10 upper and lower stained glass windows, five of them designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his company. The remaining five double windows are made from Tiffany glass but by other artisans.
Front doors to the church with "The Great Commissioning" above the entrance.
Inside view of "The Great Commissioning".
"The Nativity" shows Tiffany's love of color; the viewer's eye is drawn to the variety of blues used in Mary's robe, from the deep warmth of ultramarine to the cold appearing cobalt.
Louis C. Tiffany signature at the bottom of a stained glass panel, "Come Unto Me".
"Nicodemus Came To Him By Night" - the lamp in this panel appears to be lit no matter the hour.
Tiffany Studio mark at the bottom of "Nicodemus" panel.
"The Good Shepherd". What a wonderful surprise to discover this church. It was actually closed but the docent arrived just as we were leaving and he let us in and gave us a tour of his church's magnificent windows. My photos don't do them justice. The upper panels are all twin angels in various poses and styles that changed over the years. The Tiffany windows were dedicated from 1901-1910.
Lake Erie
Groomed beach
Across the bay from groomed beach.
Waters of Lake Erie near Buffalo, New York.
Lake Ontario
Scott walking the beach - he's now officially gotten his feet wet in all five Great Lakes"!
Waters of Lake Ontario near Olcott, New York.
We spent the night in the Finger Lakes region of upper New York, a very beautiful area.
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