Erie Canal - Lockport to Rochester Part I

Erie Canal Kayak Trip, July 2-7, 2011

The Flight of 5 locks from the old Erie Canal

This trip was done as a series of car-camping shuttles.  We moved the cars each day and set up camp.  This allowed us a certain level of luxury not normally associated with kayak camping.  We arranged all of the camping in advance.

Underground in Lockport

  July 2 - We arrived in the afternoon and started our trip with a visit to the underground tour in Lockport, NY.  We walked through the old canal run-off cave that once carried water that powered the factories lining the banks of the canal.  After a visit to the canal museum, we launched our kayaks and headed east through the double locks that drop a total of 49 feet.  Sitting in the lock, looking up, we were in awe of the engineering and ingenuity that was required to create this man-made wonder.  A few miles later, we arrived at our campsite: the spacious lawn of the Widewaters Drive In.  The owners graciously allowed us to camp and even left the bathrooms open all night just for us.  We drove into Lockport and had a fantastic dinner at Wagner’s restaurant.  Try the beef on weck and the wings!

Lock 34 in Lockport

Kayaks seem very small in the lock

Our 1st Kayak Campsite

The Campsite was at an ice cream stand, great root beer floats!

July 3- A few of us snuck into Lockport and had breakfast at Tom’s Diner.  The food was simple, and good.  After breakfast, we launched from Nelson Goehle Marine Park (across from our campsite) and headed east to Gasport where we stopped at a defunct Marina and ate lunch.   

Roughing it with a plastic wine glass.

Then it was on to Middleport.   We did not like the landing situation in Middleport, so we arranged to take out at a private house and leave our kayaks on the lawn until morning.  We walked into town and camped at the terminal wall.  It was a very scenic spot and close to the bathrooms and showers.  After some wine and snacks, we took a short walk along the canal to the Basket Factory and had an incredible meal.  The salmon was terrific, the margaritas were spot on and the cherry-chocolate cobbler was amazing.  All of this “roughing it” was starting to get to us.

We had a great meal at the Basket Factory.