On the Erie Canal

Our Erie Canal barge, the Fantessy, was a yacht in disguise. When my wife Linda and I returned from touring the Women's Rights sites in Seneca Falls, our friends John and Janice ushered us aboard

Fantessy, our Erie Canal home for a week. Our boat was a 40- foot- long replica of the famous barges of yore. The flat- bottom, flat- top boat was fitted out like a high seas yacht. Below deck were a galley (kitchen with dining area), two berths (bedrooms), and a head (bath with shower). Two bicycles were on the upper deck in case we wanted to use them on any of our daily stops. To Linda's delight, there were life preservers stowed in the galley.

The cockpit was in the rear under a canopy. "Captain" John had learned how to pilot the vessel during his two- hour training period and was ready to take us into the canal. The wheel controlled the rudder. A bow jet moved the front of the boat starboard (right) and port (left).

The push- pull throttle regulated the engine speed thereby the speed of the boat. The engine was an inboard diesel with enough power to reach seven miles per hour, though five mph was the recommended top speed.

John had also learned how to add fuel, check the oil, and clean the air filters. He attended to these duties seriously and frequently.

The boat was fitted with a radio for us to communicate with the lockmaster at each lock. We were to call when we were within sight of the lock and announce our boat's name and our intentions. The lockmaster would then give us instructions, wait in the designated area until the lock opened, or continue into the open lock.

Once in the lock we were to move to the starboard side and hold onto the vertical cables on the lock wall with our grappling hooks. This would keep us away from other boats and stop the boat from moving once the floodgates opened to raise or lower the water in the lock. Once the lock gates opened, we were to sail out into the canal and continue our journey.

We loaded our provisions and equipment onboard Fantessy and shoved off on our new adventure. At the first lock, we barely avoided disaster. Once inside the full lock, Janice jumped on the wall, and Linda threw her the rope. We mistakenly thought the rope had to be tied to the cable. As Janice struggled with the rope, the floodgates opened, and the water in the lock fell quickly.

"Forget the rope, jump in the boat," said John.

Fear of falling into the gushing water seized Janice. She dropped the rope as we sank away from her.

"Run to the end of the lock and jump to the bank," John yelled, "We'll pick you up there."

"The hell you say. Come back here. Don't leave me."

Linda secured us to the cable with the grappling hook, and the water fell, leaving Janice stranded 30 feet above us.

Luckily, the lockmaster came to the rescue. He stopped the gates momentarily and helped Janice down the embankment.

When the gates opened fully, the rushing water pushed Fantessy out into the canal. John struggled to steer the boat to shore. I grabbed the rope and prepared to throw it to Janice who was screaming for us to come get her.

At the last moment, John got control of the boat and headed for the bank. I threw the rope, Janice grabbed it, and together we pulled the boat to shore.

After a few curt words directed at her husband, Janice jumped aboard once again. Linda soothed her; John apologized. The lockmaster waved us on surely chuckling to himself, "Another boatload of landlubbers on the Erie Canal."