Day 17: The Erie Canal Locks!

We were really worried about handling the locks, so there was some trepidation at the start of the day. We lined up about 7:45 am to enter the first lock, the Federal Lock - which is where they check the boat documentation to make sure we are not illegal aliens slipping into the country. A lock is a chamber into which boats enter and the lock master then closes the gates and either adds water (to raise the boats to the next level) or lets water out (to lower the boats to the next level). While that is happening, the boats hang onto lines dropped down from the top of the lock, to keep the boat in a fixed location. Once the water has been sufficiently changed, the dock master opens gates at the opposite end of the chamber and the boats proceed out.

The above video, shows our arrival at the Federal Lock where we waited in line to enter the first lock.

The above video, shows people on the lines inside the lock and the lock doors closing.

Above is a time lapse of entering a lock.