Waterford, NY - Welcome Center to the Erie Canal


We have finally reached the entrance to the Erie Canal which begins in Waterford, NY.  We were fortunate enough to be able to stop and stay at the Welcome Center in Waterford for 48 hours for free.  FREE doesn't happen often on this trip! 

At the Welcome Center they offer loads of information about the Erie Canal such as the distance each Lock is from one another, phone numbers of each lockmaster, and places to dock each night.


Welcome Center






Along the walkway at the Welcome Center the white bricks create a map of the Erie Canal from Waterford to Buffalo, NY.


As we walked along the streets of the small town a home was being renovated and in the garage these heating lines were being installed in the floor.  Something we don't see nor need in Texas.


Waterford Town Hall


St Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church - we attended mass on Saturday afternoon hoping to catch some AC since it was one of the hottest days there but to no avail.  The stained glass windows of the church were open to catch any potential breeze. 

The elderly priest was very hot in is robes and had the alter boy adjust the box fans to try to cool him down.  There was also a single small (bedroom sized) ceiling fan spinning as hard as it could about 60 feet above in the vaulted ceiling, but it produced no noticeable effect below. Consequently the mass was short and sweet.

Afterward, Brent wanted to send them a link to the Big Ass Fan company in Houston.



Father's Day dinner-the 3 dads, Brent, Mike from Dash Away, and George from Viridian. We celebrated at McGrievy's.  It was delicious!!


Brent's Buffalo Chicken Chowder; the three time People's Choice Award winner.  Both he and George thought so too!!



Sunday morning  there was a Farmer's Market right at the Welcome Center and right next to Second Wave!





We got a few of those pastries.






We have experienced so many different ways to go to the grocery store and this one takes the cake.  After purchasing our food we went by customer service and they unlocked the wheels on the cart and we were able to wheel it all the way back to the boat.  The grocery store then periodically comes to the Welcome Center dock and collects the carts.  This trip sure has taught us to have a more open mind when we see people walking along the street.



We walked over to Lock #2 which would be the first one we go through on Monday morning. Sometimes it just helps to see from above just how it all works.





Above is a photo of the inside of the Lock Master's control station. You can see the various levers used to close the gates and control the water levels within the lock.


Everyone all lined up on the wall in Waterford! There are 16 boats in this photo but more boats aren't pictured in the background.







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