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Subject: Holiday on the Canal

From: tony (tonyjames@infotechsolutions.co.uk)
Date: 2/28/2010 13:35

Hi
I am from England and am interested in taking a vacation on the water/canal network. any tips about what to see, where to go and boat rental would be very much appreciated.

Oh, when is the best time of the year.

Best regards

Tony

Reply: #1
From: Hugh Warfle (hwarfle@rochester.rr.com)
Date: 2/28/2010 16:27

Sent you several articles via e-mail.

I think July, August and September at the great months to boat in, the water in our lakes have warmed up to swim in.

Reply: #2
From: Tom Beardsley
Date: 3/01/2010 11:02

Tony, isn't it funny how we find the interest in the other's backyard? We're just thinking of a trip on the UK Canals.

A few fundamental differences: our canals are a whole lot wider. They'll transition from a natural river (dredged and "canalized") and it's difficult to tell for a little while just which you may be in. The engineering of the channel, locks and dams is no less astounding than in any canal. We don't have quaint pubs along the way, but there plenty of emporiums of all kinds and social strata for drinking, eating, sport television, etc. You will find soccer a lot harder to find on the television, by the way.

Canal people, I have found so far, are among the best. You'll find them -for the most part- friendly, helpful and patient. Locktenders are incredibly helpful and can be tapped for advice on restaurants, attractions, navigation tips, tie-ups for the night, and more. Bridge tenders, too.

I usually think of the NY canal system in three sections - the historic rivers of the east where not only canal history but colonial history abounds. The center, where the rivers are lazier, the canals a bit more still and you're spending (it seems) a lot of time cruising through the woods, and then the true "canalling" in the western part of the state. It's there that the bank is reminiscent of a towpath, where lift bridges still divide a small town every time a boat goes by and where kids still ride their bikes to canalside and fish the way they have for generations.

The magic of canalling is just how much it is timeless. The rest of the world races to change a design, to make the motion electronically inspired and the pace of life screams at a frenetic pace. On the canal here, as there, my sense is that senses can breathe, take in what's important and sanity can be recharged.

Welcome to our side of the pond and have a great holiday.

Reply: #3
From: tony (tonyjames@infotechsolutions.co.uk)
Date: 3/02/2010 17:31

Guys, Thanks for your reply. September seems good and I take on board everything Tom says about the peace and tranquility of water life. My main reason for visiting the canals and inland waterways is that we want to meet real americans and have conversations about life, nature, politics and sport. Our life is so hectic that we just don't have time and time is all we have! It was great to hear that water life in the US is like water life hear in the UK except I guess things are on a larger scale. Got to find a boat, many thanks Tony

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