The Towns of The Erie Canal - A Video Tribute | Ep. 1

[@12000Jetlag]

Great video. I am planning to boat the canal from Buffalo to the Hudson River when I retire. Can't wait to visit these small towns and enjoy the scenery and the people you meet along the way. Thanks for sharing.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

You're welcome! It's definitely a unique boating experience, both on and off the water. Don't delay in the planning. You'll really appreciate seeing it sooner than later!

[@MACable53]

Thanks... love seeing from this perspective... Hometown Baldwinsville and lived in Fairport until recently. Many bike and walking miles on the canal.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Thanks Mary, yes it is a very special area!

[@DMills-un1tl]

Can I ask why you moved away? It looks positively picturesque.

[@floydblandston108]

Thank you for this! As a CNY resident, we don't always know about (or appreciate) these places enough ourselves.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Thanks Floyd, it is a pretty special part of the U.S. Take care!

[@donteague614]

Hey really cool video. Thanx for the mini tour. This was my first time even seeing any parts of the canal.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Glad you liked it Don. It's a special part of American history.

[@phyllislittlejohn7281]

Life Point: Lockport, NY seems to be a beautiful placed based upon the video I saw. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Indeed it is Phyllis...very beautiful. Enjoy!

[@ManScoutsofAmerica]

You gotta go West. Lockport’s locks are the most impressive. My town’s section of the canal has two tunnels under it. One can be driven through.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Thanks ManScoutsofAmerica. Yes, we actually did go all the west on the canal, including Lockport which was very impressive. Check out our other videos to see more. Take care.

[@mohdasrijamil9329]

I m Malaysian & watched this video in June 2023.Great video of nice small towns along the historical canal. I always like small town in the u.s. I went to college in Bridgeport,ct and then Detroit in the late 80s n early 90s but didn't have chance to see any part of the canal

[@LifeFourPointZero]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. The canal now has great bike paths along the sides so the towns are benefiting from the tourism these paths bring.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

@@LifeFourPointZero There are two series of canal trails, at places these overlap: There is the *Empire State Trail* that runs along the *existing canals* (modern Erie canal was built 1903/'05 --1918) Most of the structures are ooncrete. On Google maps this section is labelled "Pools Brook" There is also the *Canalway, Erie Canal Trail* that runs along now-closed areas of the original "Clinton's Ditch" (b.1817--1825) and the expanded/improved " *Old* Erie Canal" (b.1835 -- c.1860's sor so up to 1900-ish)" canal. This canal path may or may not obliterate the original canal. There is a third section of the *Canalway, Erie Canal Trail* that was built when the once-called "Barge Canal" was built (1903/'05 -- 1918) but this waterway has since been abandoned. It may or may not have obliterated portions of either or the two earlier canals. (This wider/deeper section is labelled "Pools Brook" on Google maps-- Mostly it is located south and west of Rome, NY -- inching south and west towards Syracuse, NY through some very pretty towns/villages. The canal did not go through Oneida Lake until the Barge Canal renovation (1903/-05 -- 1918) that was specifically built for motor vessels. Although as soon as propellers were used on boats (vs. paddle wheels) some motorized vessels were on the "Old Erie Canal" (with the wakes tearing up the banks) Ironically, or not. The original transportation system used by the Native Americans then the British (going e-->w) ended where the Mohawak River makes a sharp turn northward (east of Rome, NY) There was a portage called the "Onieda Carry" that went from the Mohawk River to Wood Creek and then down the creek to Oneida Lake. It was a route used to supply Britain's Fort Oswego (on Lake Ontario) during the Seven Years War (aka: " French and Indian War" ... 1754 -- 1763) The Natives paddled along near the shoreline to what is now Brewerton, NY; the outlet of the lake. [ *Oneida Lake can get really rough if the wind picks up!* ] *Since 2014 the NYS Canal Corporation has renamed the existing canals in NYS* *back to their original names.* ("Erie" , "Champlain" , "Oswego" and "Cayuga - Seneca") rather than using the term "Barge Canal" with letters indicating the canals.

[@diannesimms1684]

I will be transiting the Canal soon. Thanks for the preview

[@LifeFourPointZero]

You're very welcome. Hope the trip is successful!

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Thank you for sharing 😊😊 I am looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

You are welcome - these are some of our earliest videos! The quality improves as we became more skilled! 😀

[@here_we_go_again2571]

@@LifeFourPointZero 👍👍

[@disarray3714]

Enjoyed that! I live a bit west of Baldwinsville, so you cruised right past my house 🛥️!

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomasbernecky2078]

This was exactly what I wanted to see for my upcoming trip from Philly to Buffalo for Thanksgiving.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidokeefe1898]

Thank you, Sir!

[@JulieAnnRacino]

Good to see the drone photos in 2021, and the concept to reality of the Fairport housing, canal and boating. Look forward to your trip to Buffalo, New York in the Western edge of New York State. Julie Ann Racino, Community and Policy Studies, 2021

[@firedog451]

Thanks ! I love the drone footage. Do allot myself and always like the results. By the look of your controller looks like you have a phantom or the like of. I do as well but I also have the mini drones now. Much more quiet. Anyway thanks for the look of the cool towns. Bet the fall is beautiful there!

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Thanks About Time. Yes I used a phantom for this one but since then bought a mavic pro. They are great fun! Enjoy.

[@marybrace9265]

ALWAYS wondered why PA didn't capitalize on the canal history, etc. I lived in Gasport and every site uses this canal, farm irrigation, fishing, boating - you see LOTS of things from the canal, you don't see otherwise. Gasport, Middleport, and Lockport are missing from this. Sad - there's lots to see further west.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Good points Mary! You are right there are many nice spots further west on the Erie Canal. When we filmed this, we were part way through westbound on the canal. Check out our other videos that cover more sites along the way, and into the Great Lakes!

[@rogerhwerner6997]

Lovely location!!

[@LifeFourPointZero]

It really is!

[@robertbennett6697]

The main reason for the upper walkway on the lift bridges is to allow for a way for people to cross the canal should the bridge become inoperable and be required to be secured in the raised position to allow water traffic to continue.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

@@robertbennett6697 ah - thanks!

[@MistakenMystery]

363 miles of the Erie Canal was completed in approximately 8 years. That's roughly one mile of good ol'fashioned pure uncut canal completed just about every week for you sports fans at home. We're talking entire forrests obliterated and cleared out in nanoseconds with three adult oxen and a bungee chord. Trenches dug out and leveled so perfectly using nothing more than a rock hammer from the nearest state penitentiary. And don't get me started on those pristine / no do-overs required here - aqueduct systems - you know when the canal goes over another body of water...

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Amazing isn't it? I do not think that prisoners weren't used (although it is possible) Indentured Servitude was not illegal until after the American Civil War (1861 --1865) Many of the people coming into NYC were quickly recruited to work on the canal (and later the railroads). The situation was pretty bad in Ireland (even before the 1848--1857 potato famine) Rural England, Scotland and Wales in the first quarter of the 19th century were bad off too. Not only were the Highland Clearances still happening; but there were a lot of unemployed soldiers and sailors after the Napoleonic Wars (War of 1812) There was a recession in the UK at the time. The ongoing Industrial Revolution was not taking up all of the displaced people from the countryside. (Of course many from the UK went to Canada as well as to the USA) "Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Great Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia" -- Wiki. I do not know if UK was transporting prisoners to Canada after the American Revolution (1776 --1783)

[@paulbriggs3072]

So you skipped Palmyra - a true Erie canal town with all old buildings - and focused next on Fairport with its nearly all post 1970's trendy downtown that bears little resemblance to other genuine old villages.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Fair enough Paul! We did visit Palmyra, but alas I didn't have any drone footage of it, which was part of my focus on this video. Cheers!

[@sajakins]

Thanks. I enjoyed the video.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Great thanks Sheridan for letting us know!

[@TM1Alan]

Gee how nice of you to come into town with your noisy little drone and disturb our morning. Hope you get lots of likes from your youtube followers.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Hi TM1Alan. I realize drone's can be noisy and annoying. We try to take off and fly high enough that the noise is reduced or not noticeable at all. Take care!

[@mrjcbuc]

Nice job!

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Thank you - we made this quite some time ago … our more recent videos are better quality! 😯

[@davidmcd8400]

Nice video , I'm a canal buff as well as a drone pilot . You will get the hang of the drone . Slow down . especially when panning . Here is a link to a section of the canal in Waterford showing the dry dock there .

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Thanks David!

[@JulieAnnRacino]

We loved the new Erie Canal history, and still love the original pack mule songs-15 years on the Erie Canal. Julie Ann Racino, Community and Policy Studies, 2021

[@saraab1429]

Thanks for share:)

[@LifeFourPointZero]

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!

[@BobReed1]

When you're traveling on the canal, can you operate the locks or are there people stationed at each lock to operate it?

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Hi Robert. There are people at each lock that operate the equipment to open and close the lock, and manage the traffic. It's run by the NY Canal Corporation.

[@maxwaters1461]

yes

[@gymshoe8862]

The volume was so low I couldn't hear anything--and my hearing is fine!

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Sorry about that - that video was from our early days.

[@KC-rq6pw]

Can I JetSki from New York to Chicago?

[@LifeFourPointZero]

There's a speed limit on the Erie Canal, but otherwise I would think you could. Check with the Eric Canal Authority for any recent regulations. If you go, be sure to document it on KZbin!

[@KC-rq6pw]

@@LifeFourPointZero thanks you so much I’m here looking into it I wana go to Chicago or Minnesota from nyc on water it’s my dream if Clinton dream plan came tru mine must come tru and yes I will record my journey

[@denniskoller5662]

An irregular decagon is defined in a Google search but doesn't relate well to the bridge in this vid.

[@LifeFourPointZero]

Not sure what this is pertaining to …

[@kjpstorm]

nice video

[@LifeFourPointZero]

thanks ken!

[@manie3232]

Not very loud. Have to have it right up against my ear to hear what you're saying. Ok course then can't see it. Have to decide do I want to just watch it or listen to it.

[@maxwaters1461]

My family moved to Whitney Farms, a short walk to the mosquito and disease infested muddy waters of the barge canal as it stank it's way through Fairport. Everything from deteriorating dead cow and human carcasses floating just below the surface by the irritatingly slow main street lift bridge, then the pain in the ass rail trains were constantly blocking traffic, besides belch diesel exhaust and loud obnoxious horns. Most people I knew moved to Fairport, then after one 7 month long winter, of freezing rain, slush, bitter cold arctic wind, pot holes, rusted cars, frozen water and sewer lines, worst weather in the USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------