Kayaking the Erie Canal

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Hello,

I'm interested in kayaking a part of the Erie Canal next summer but have no idea which parts are navigatable or beautiful. Also would like to know where good, safe campsites are. Is there a website you can point tme to (or magazine/book)? How about maps?

-- Willis Bowman (WBowman@compuserve.com), September 08, 2003

Answers

Nat Stone wrote a book about rowing around Eastern US. He went down the Erie canal. "On the Water: Discovering America in a Rowboat".

I used to live nearby. It's all navigatable. While I haven't been down it in a boat it seems to be in farily scenic countryside. As I recall there were parks alongside the canal but I don't remember whether they "allow" camping.

I also found

http://www.trailsfromrails.com/old_erie_canal_trail.htm

and http://www.canals.state.ny.us/exvac/trail/

using google. -Gary-

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), September 09, 2003.


Jeff Knakal rowed the entire length from west to east this summer in a modified single shell. He has written a delightful log of his journey and posted it on the Noteboard at www.soundrowers.org. Check it out. He is specific about places to camp.... and a few places to avoid!

-- Steve Wells (steve@evergreenrowing.com), September 11, 2003.

Thanks Steve and Gary,

This helps immensely! I look forward to reading Jeff Knakal's "review" of the canal. Though next summer is a long way off, dreaming ain't bad!

Willis

-- Willis Bowman (WBowman@compuserve.com), September 11, 2003.


Willis,

also try www.paddling.net and click on "Places 2 Paddle".

Michael

-- Michael Kaspareck (kasparek@widomaker.com), September 12, 2003.


Nat also has a website. with some photos from the trip in the canal and elsewhere. -Gary-

http://natstone.net/index.shtml

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), September 12, 2003.



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