I
have cruised on the Amazon, Mekong, Irrawaddy, the Nile and other
rivers around the world but I still had
not experienced the waterways of New
York. I live only a few miles from Lake
Ontario and the Erie Canal, and like many
people, I hadn’t experienced the unique
places near my home.
New York State actually became the
Empire State because of its waterways.
Explorers and invading armies reached
New York via the St. Lawrence River and
Lake Ontario. During the Revolutionary
War, the British thought they would win
the war if they conquered New York. It
would divide the rebellious New England
colonies from the southern ones. Obviously, it didn’t work.
After the American Revolution, the
Erie Canal was constructed, and this led to
the development of the rest of the United
States. I had always wanted to explore the
waterways, but except for day trips on
small portions of the Erie Canal, I didn’t
think it was feasible.
When I learned about Blount Small
Ship Adventures’ “Locks, Legends, and
Canals” which covered nearly all of New
York State’s waterways, I knew I had to sign
up for their two-week trip. It departed from
Montreal, went to Quebec, and then up the
St. Lawrence River to Lake On