It is not the prettiest day when we push off the dock wall. In fact, it will drizzle and be depressingly gray all morning. We are hoping this weather change will also change the temperatures, as it has been HOT!
We make our way across Cross Lake. It is cold, drizzly and dreary. No one else is around.
On our journey so far through the canal, we have seen lots of beautiful homes, small towns, farms, golf courses, trains, bikers, cemeteries, and wildlife galore. Just about everything… or so we thought!
This area through the canal provided some entertainment for us on this dismal day. I am not sure what the meaning is, or why people are doing it, but many residences had mannequins welcoming us along our way. 🤷♀️
We pass the Seneca River Aqueduct (also called the Richmond or the Montezuma Aqueduct). When completed in 1857, it had 31 arches, of which now 7 remain. In 1917, to make way for the new Erie Barge Canal, it was tore down to give boats a clear passage of water.
We pass through the final two locks today, 28A and 28B, which are about 4 miles from each other. I have no idea why they are lettered A and B nor why there is no lock 31. Puzzling for sure!
We make it to Newark. We are the only boat on the Newark Wall this day. Volunteers staff the dockmaster office and provide us with town information, the code to the restroom/laundry, and ensure our electric hookup goes smooth. At this location, everything is free, even the laundry! They just request that you patronize the local businesses. We have no problem doing this, after we do some laundry of course! We eat dinner out, buy some items at Rite Aid, and treat ourselves to breakfast the next morning at the café/bakery adjacent to the free dock.
