The 186 miles, 29 locks, and change in elevation of 128 metres, of the Owego and Erie Canal systems are now behind us!

The Erie Canal has an interesting history. Its’ construction began in 1817 and was finished in 1825. At that time, it was 4 feet deep and 40 feet wide and could float boats carrying 30 tons of weight. After it opened, the city of New York grew by leaps and bounds; as it allowed for inland trade, from its’ Atlantic port, up the Hudson River, through the canal to the Great Lakes, and from there up the St. Lawrence River or down the Mississippi.  The Erie Canal proved to be America’s greatest canal. It was expanded in 1862 to a depth of 7’ so it could handle boats carrying 240 tons; and again in 1903 to its’ present state, where it can handle barges with a cargo capacity of 650 tons! It is ten times as long as the Panama Canal (we travelled only 186 mi. of its’ total length of 340 mi.), and has many more structures (locks, dams, guard gates, spillways). We “locked through” 29 of 57 locks; the most remarkable of them today – the five at Waterford – the world’s greatest series of high lift locks. Their total lift is 169 feet, which is twice as much as the total lift from sea level to the summit of the Panama Canal.

We have finally reached the Hudson River, and look forward to raising our masts, and the quiet of sailing J