N. Tonawanda to Gasport, NY

Haven't had access to good internet lately, but found some this morning.  So here is a little catching up from the past couple of days.

June 17 & 18, 2015

We spent a wonderful day in North Tonawanda.  Woke up with a cup of coffee on the fly bridge.  Been wanting to do that for quite a while.  Spent part of the morning doing some boat chores and then headed off on our bikes to explore the town.  We visited two different museums.  First one was the Herschel  Carousel Factory.  Where as the names states they once made Carousel’s and Kiddie Rides.  We then went from there to the N. Tonowanda historical museum.  Wow was that place BIG.  A wonderful older woman greeted us at the door. The fee was nominal and they had senior and veteran discounts.  The lady proceeded for the next 20 minutes or so telling us all about how they started the museum and how it ended up where it is today.  Things were very well laid out and after we were done we asked her for recommendations of where to grab a bite to eat.  

She gave us several suggestions, but we ended up choosing the one by the water (imagine that) called The Shores.  It was within riding distance of the museum.  I must tell you the two museums were within walking distance, but the restaurant  would have been a bit far to walk but was definitely manageable by bike.  And by the way the food at The Shores was AWESOME.  We ate outside under the awning and enjoyed the Niagara River.  I had my first taste of Beef on a Weck.  Basically it is roast beef sandwich on steroids, plus they served mine with sweat potato fries and honey butter YUM!  After lunch we were in search of a place called Mississippi Mud.  We remembered one of Mike’s students telling us about the place and that they served great ice cream.  So off we went in search of some sweet libations.  After asking some very helpful folks along they way for directions we were able to find this wonderful place back by the river again.  It was all that and then some, but oh the portions are HUGE so I suggest you find someone and share.

Great museum.  Would have loved to have Miles along for this one.

My Knight in Shining Armor.

Awesome place

The factory was mostly a carousel manufacturer.

They manufactured kiddie rides too.

Awesome place for lunch, but definitely not within walking distance from the canal.

View from lunch

Beef on a Weck, Yummy!

Sweet treat from Mississippi Mud.  Next time we share one.

After the amount of food we had just eaten we decided a good bike ride was in order.  We headed away from the river and more towards the canal.  There is an extensive bike path along the canal so we rode that for about 10 miles.  There that should hopefully take care of a little of that extensive meal.  

Great bike paths along the canal.

That evening we enjoyed listening to a concert in the park that was taking place about a 1/4 of a mile from our boat.  We couldn’t believe how many people and boats came in for this event.  The evenings entertainment was not only hearing the band, but watching everyone trying to figure out where to put their boats.  We were glad that the Lady J was already snug in her dock.

Thursday nights concerts in the park.

They were packing them in at the park

Lady J snug in her dock.  Glad we got there earlier in the day.  Much easier for the smaller boats to slide in.

Thursday morning once again we had a leisurely morning.  I am getting used to not having to rush around.  When you have no schedule there is no rush to be anywhere at any particular time.  We left North Tonawanda about 9:00 a.m. our destination for the day was Gasport, NY.  

Lock 34 & 35 after we made it through.

We had to get through locks 34 & 35 which two of the biggest locks we will go through.  Plus at lock 35 we had to fill out some paper work and pay the lock master for our season pass for the canal.  What you need to keep in mind is we are doing the canal backwards.  It actually starts at the Hudson River and ends at the Niagara River.  So our lock numbers go down.  At lock 35 we were told to stay tied up in the lock until two tour boats came into the lock below us.  We would then be level with them and have to maneuver around them to change locks.  Well that was an experience.  Two BIG tour boats filled with elementary school age children  (Yes NY State kids are in school till next week.) was an experience we had yet to partake in.  And now that we made it through not sure we want to do it again.  Sorry didn’t have time to take pictures while I was working the lines and feeling just a bit of panic.  You will just have to take my word for it. 

Once we got through the locks it was pretty easy cruising.  We were told by the Skipper Bob Cruising guide that there would be a marina just past the locks that we could pump out on.  WRONG!  That so called marina does not have a pump out facility. FAIL!!!   Remember what the pump out is used for?   Well we aren’t at DEFCON 1 yet, but we are getting close.  There will be one at our next stop this weekend.  (Updates to follow, well.....maybe not.) 

Some sites along the way.

These were some different shaped trees.

We made it to Gasport, NY around 2:00 p.m.  Gasport has room for 3 boats to dock.  There are no facilities and no water hook-up, but the do have electricity, a hardware store, dollar general and a quaint, wonderful, fantastic place called Petunia’s Pizzeria.  It’s small place and not much if any atmosphere, but the service is friendly, and the pizza is so freakin GOOD!  We had a simple pepperoni and cheese and they now have a new sweet sauce, so we thought why not try it and boy are we glad we did.  It was everything the girl behind the counter described and more.  So if you are in the area be sure to stop in at Petunia’s Pizzeria. 

Mike trimming his beard after I had cut his hair.

We returned back to the boat in a total Pizza coma.  Before settling in for the night I decided to give Mike the haircut he had been asking for.  So he so kindly set up a chair an extension cord and got all my supplies set up.  He had is hair cut alfresco on the dock wall.  Hey this journey is about new experiences right?

Beautiful ending to a wonderful day.  Gasport, NY

Tomorrow we are on to Middleport, NY.  Should take us about an hour to get there.