Locks, Hot Tubs & Non-floating Apples

Today was our first full day on the Erie Canal. After starting the day departing Tonawanda, we transited 2 back to back locks in Lockport, NY. The Lockport Locks are a set of double locks and are 34 & 35 in the Erie Canal. They replaced the original Flight of Five locks, which were built in the 19th century and were a series of 5 manually operated wooden gates, which are being renovated to again function. For now, locks 34 & 35 together service the Erie Canal and can accommodate two-way traffic at the same time. The upper Lock fills the lower Lock. When the water level is the same across both locks, boats can crisscross. You can think of the Locks as a big teeter-totter. As the upper side goes down, the lower side comes up and vice versa. You are raised going West and lowered going East a total of 49'! It's quite the experience.

The flight went fine and we were even in the locks with a tour boat whose sole purpose was to take guests into the locks so they could experience it 1st hand. They wanted to wave and take photos and such, which I found slightly humorous as the wash from their propellers tried to pull E off the wall. Just wave and smile for the tourists honey? That way when we ram into their boat, maybe they will keep smiling and fend us off. (Joy's inner dialogue.). Thankfully, no fending was required.

Unfortunately, it started raining buckets while we were in the locks, so I dried off and grabbed boots and foulies after the lock. I keep my boots in the forward head. (Remember this detail for later.)

We were about 5 miles from our evening stop in Medina when I went to look around the rain obscured dodger, and swoosh, bonk, bloop... my apple phone slipped out of my pocket, did a shockingly large bounce over the toe rail and went for a swim. There was really nothing to do about it, as apples don't float, so we carried on. At some point, probably about an hour after I'd grabbed my boots, we were approaching a lift bridge and I went below to call the operator on the phone bc the operator didn't answer the VHF radio. When I went below, I heard water, inside the boat kind of water. So looking around, I realized the shower in the front head was on and the shower pan was pretty dang full. It was all our hot water. Even the portholes were all nice and steamy. I must have bumped the shower when I grabbed my boots and we didn't notice bc of the loud engine noise. On the upside, Nick would finally get some hot tub time! On the downside, I'd just put a bunch of water in the tank, and it was now in the shower basin, which I then had to pump into the canal. Also, running the fresh water pump for this amount of time really drains the batteries!

We finally stopped for the night in Medina, NY and had the MOST AMAZING dinner at a restaurant called Zambistro. I had Duck and Nick had steak and pasta. I was able to activate an old back up phone Nick had suggested I bring along, and initiate an insurance claim for a replacement to be delivered to the Catskills where we will re-step the mast.

As always, it seems there is never a dull moment when you are living on a boat, or more aptly put, there are innumerable dull moments, which are punctuated by those that are not. Oh yeah, and we hit an underwater log or something... right in the middle of the canal, so that was exciting.

Quote of the day: 'Shouldn't take long showers boss, eats up the fresh water.'

-Captain Ron