The second lift bridge we arrived at was in the town of Spencerport. The bridge tender recommended that we tie up for the night at the town dock between the Union Street Lift Bridge and the Adams Basin Lift Bridge because the bridges wouldn't operate past 5 p.m. and there would be no opportunity to tie up anywhere before the next bridge in Brockport. Also, these 15 lift bridges we were going to pass were operated by "Roaming Operators" which means, one operator would operate two bridges, so once we passed one, he or she would then drive by car to the next bridge to open up for us to go through. Sometimes the distances in-between where so short that we had to wait for the operator, sometimes the operator was waiting for us to show up.

Here in Spencerport, the bridge operator had been very nice. He came to our boat after we tied up representing us with two "Boater Resources" pamphlets. Benno inquired where he could purchase some spray paint he needed and because the store being too far to walk to before closing, the bridge operator quickly gave Benno a lift to the local NAPA store and back. That was very kind of him.

After a stroll through the town and adjacent area of the dock we determined that this was a nice town to visit and to spend some time at.
In the late evening a fast moving thunderstorm approached. Benno had just plugged in the shore power cable but decided to remove it again in case of heavy rain. We then retired for the night. Suddenly, two lightening strikes with instant ear busting thunder made us sit up straight in our bed. Our first thought was that we got hit, but thankfully all seemed ok. In the morning, however, we discovered that the town's flag staff one and a half boat lengths away on shore had been hit and the golden ball on top had popped off by the strike and was now laying on the dock and the flag lay tangled in the hedges.





(This picture is of Diesel Duck tied to one of the town docks in Tonawanda. The power and water were not yet turned on, but some local boats came to tie up for the weekend and to party at the pubs lining the canal.)


(Following pictures are of canal traffic and stepping our mast again at Wardell's Boat Yard in Tonawanda)

















Diesel Duck left Wardell's Boat Yard on Monday morning at about 10 a.m. after stepping our mast. Ahead was one more lock and several swing bridges to pass before we could enter Lake Erie. At lunch time we headed out to the lake. The boys from the US Coast Guard made us stop for an inspection and check of paperwork. Then we were let go and proceeded to cross the lake. Benno, sweet as he is, but not made from sugar, went out to install the steps of the ratline (the steps to the crow's nest) the VHF antenna and mast head light in pouring rain. Next day, in the afternoon at 5:30 p.m with bright sunshine we arrived at the Leamington Marina in Canada, which is our home for the summer.