Spent Saturday night docked at this restored canal building.

The facilities included a living room lounge area, showers, and laundry.

That is where our boat was docked Saturday evening until Sunday morning. The boys fished as soon as they could this Sunday morning before we headed out.

Catching the stern line as the gates behind us lock in.

Asbury’s life jacket is on under his sweatshirt here.

Catching the bow line as we wait for the lock to start filling.

Lock 18

Lock 18 lifted us 20 feet.

The lines are wet and slimy.

Their work gloves get pretty messy.

We clipped the gloves up to try and dry them.

Beautiful day for a boat ride on the canal.

Town of Herkimer-there are tourist shops restaurants, and canal cruises available at the dock area pictured here. Note another restored canal building.

Home to the Herkimer Diamond mines

We’ve seen lots of working Barge boats along the canal. This one is dredging.

Large pieces of driftwood, some are more in the channel than others. Always have to keep an eye out for any debris as we drive along.

We have for spotters for that!

A bit windblown.   : )

Stopped for gas Sunday morning at Ilion Marina and RV park.

Remington Arms-the oldest gun manufacturer in the country, in operation consecutively for 208 years before closing this facility down in June of 2025.  Remington manufacturing leaving the town of Ilion is a big loss for this town.

Fueling up!

The boys never miss a chance to fish whether from the dock as pictured here or in the short time we may have to wait for a lock to open for our boat.

Lock 19 just beyond the bridge.

Lock 19

Lock 19 lifting us 21 feet.

At each of the locks, the lock tenders open up the drains and water pours in fast, creating an almost jet looking and sounding experience. Note the bubbles in this picture.

Lock 19

Lock 19 raised us 21 feet.

Each lock has signs providing information about the location.

A little “surfing” before the next lock.

Tiny waterfall back there.

Fishing while we wait for the lock to empty water out so we can go in.

Lock 20

Lock 20 – rises 16 feet

Top of Lock 20.

Lunch break. “Lock burgers”- cooked burgers while the boys worked the lines of the lock.

The city of Rome, NY between lock 20 and 21.  Historical notes here, adding to the list of places to visit again.  Restored Fort Stanwix-  a reproduction of a Revolutionary War wooden fort.  The fort takes up an entire city block.

Also here is the Erie Canal Village – a reproduction of village life during the early days of the Erie Canal including a replica of an old Canal boat.

Fishing while we wait for Lock 21 to open.  Haven’t had to wait too long for any of the locks.

Lock 21- first lock going down when heading west.

Lock 21 – lowers 25 feet

Lock 21 – made it down 25 feet.

Lock 22 – just a little over a mile after Lock 21.

Lock 22 – lowers 25 feet.

Lock 22

Lock 22 – last lock before Lake Oneida.

Went from canal cruising to crossing the largest body of water on the Erie Canal, Lake Oneida.  Lake Oneida separates the east and west portions of the Erie Canal.

It took close to two hours to cross Lake Oneida, including time spent jumping in the lake!

 Once we crossed over, we came to a community with many homes on the water.

Within this community are big and small marinas.  We tied up at Winter Harbor Marina for the night. We fueled up at this spot and moved down to a different slip for the remainder of the evening.

The boat tucked in for the evening.

The marina had facilities including this gazebo area.

That is a wrap on our Sunday!