July 21, 2015 - Amsterdam NY to Little River, NY

CONNIE'S VERSION:
This day deserves its own blog, just because of the uniqueness and "la-la-land" events of the day. We began the day with bright sunshine, warm weather, a typical peaceful, beautiful day on the Erie Canal. We began the day in Amsterdam, NY with plans to travel to Little Falls, NY. The days have all been filled with interruption of many locks...one right after the other so it keeps us both on our toes. (It also greatly hampers our ability to grab a few cat naps!)

When we reached Lock #16 on the Erie Canal we were directed to the port side of the lock by a person we assumed was the lock master. When we were tied securely to the wall, this guy came over, introduced himself as Raymond and asked Jim if he could hop on board and ride the boat with us through the next lock. He was obviously a vagabond who appeared to have been traveling for some time on his bike, pulling his cart of belongings behind. The lock master told Jim he had allowed him to use the shower at the lock, so it only seemed appropriate that we extend some good will and allow him to ride with us the short distance to the next lock. Our parents always warned us against picking up hitchhikers, but obviously Jim's parents hadn't talked to him about not picking up "boat hikers", and because of his generous, kind nature, he agreed to allow him to board. He didn't check with me, as he assumed I would agree with him that it was o.k. because we're both such kind and gentle souls. :) Actually, I would have felt guilty denying it, so he was probably right. All the same, I had a very uncomfortable, uneasy feeling. While Raymond prepared to board, I quickly stashed my purse and other belongings I was afraid might mysteriously disappear. Afterward I realized how futile that would have been if he was carrying a gun or knife.  He then tossed his gear on the transom, which included a huge duffel bag, a huge garbage bag of empty cans (pop and beer), a broom handle with no broom, and several other unidentifiable dirty things. Yikes! He then told Jim he needed to have help loading his bike and cart on the boat. Double YIKES!!

During the trip, we passed a large sailing vessel that Raymond identified as a Circus Boat, where shows are performed on board and he knew they were also going to Little River. A vision of gypsies dancing on the dock sprang into my mind and I thought it might be a very different, uncomfortable evening being in the company of gypsies AND Raymond!!

Actually, he turned out to be quite harmless, as far as we were concerned - very opinionated, admittedly afflicted with Asberger's Syndrome and Oppositional Defiance Disorder. Those disorders, along with a few others became obvious during the trip so when we finally came to Little River, NY I was very relieved to see him peacefully and without incident (...and without a thank you, nice-meeting-you, or good-bye) leave the boat.

The entire time he was on board I was in close proximity to our criminal deterrent - a can of wasp spray - with one eye on him and the other eye keeping my path open to the cupboard where we kept the spray. Melodramatic, overly cautious, maybe?  :)

The next part of the day was quite normal, getting settled into our slip, checking out the facilities, etc. Very shortly, the Amara Zee pulled up to the dock. Shortly thereafter, while Jim was rinsing the boat and I was getting things settled, Bernard - chef on the Amara Zee - came over and introduced himself and talked with us for a while. Turns out, the boat was not filled with gypsies, but with some very talented, nice young people who perform on the boat's stage aboard this 100 ft. ship in different ports. For more information, you can check them out at caravanstage.org. Bernard invited us over later for a tour of the ship and to meet the Captain, producer, and crew. We promised to visit after dinner.

People working at the marina recommended Canal Side Inn for dinner, so Jim and I walked downtown to enjoy a nice, peaceful dinner. Our walk downtown seemed like a walk back in time - very depressed-looking area, not much evidence of an attempt to make the town attractive and appealing until we walked down the street looking for the restaurant. That wee part of the town felt like we had walked into a quaint French town, and the classy French restaurant proved to be an outstanding choice! The food and atmosphere was nothing we would have expected from seeing the rest of the town and we were caught in the midst of cultural contradictions with every step we took.

After dinner we went for our tour of AmaraZee and very much enjoyed our visit on board. It was filled with 20 energetic, talented, free-spirited young people and directed by a couple (man and woman) from our hippie-generation. We were happy to have them close-by on the dock. During our visit, they asked about our connection to Raymond. After we explained our "non-connection", they told us that he had been stalking, harassing and threatening them and that police had been called several times along their journey. The Little River police had just been called because Raymond was hanging around the marina and verbally accosted one of the girls from the ship. Of course, we answered questions from the police and gave them any information we had.

We then returned to the boat, played a game of cribbage, and retired for the evening. Around 2:00 a.m. I was awakened by an angry Raymond holding a shouting match with someone not far from the boat. He was ranting and raving about HIS RIVER and finally was forced to leave. I was happy to see him ride off into the night with his rusty, dirty bike, his wagon and all his belongings. All was well!

JIM's VERSION:

Much of what  Connie describes I would agree is an accurate description.  Here is where we might differ.  This vagabond hippie type person asked to experience going through a lock and asked if he could ride with us.  I looked at his broken down poor excuse for a bike, his large duffel bag full of (presumably) clothes, and his large bag of pop cans, and I though "why not". It will only last a few minutes. Besides, even at my advanced age, I still felt that I could "take him" if I had to do so, even though I thought it would never be necessary.  He was definitely pretty weird, we had an unusual conversation as we cruised down the river, but I never had to deploy my kung fu/boxing/wrestling techniques, and I did my good deed for the day, plus it made for an interesting blog entry. End of story!

This is a very different lock than we were used to using,  Instead of doors opening  from each side like  the double doors  when walking into a department store(as is the case with most locks, these doors opened vertically, and the boats actually go under the lifted door, after which it closes and fills the lock with water.

AmaraZee, in Lock 17 with us on the Erie Canal

Homes hanging over the edge of the canal in Little River, NY

This is not a lock, but rather a "guard gate" that simply helps to control the level of the canal or river.

Raymond, asking me to take a picture of him to send to his mother. 

In the background you can see Patriot tied to the wall in Little River. The charge to stay here, with access to very clean showers and bathrooms, was $.50 per foot. The facility is provided by the city to entice boaters to stop and visit their community. Great place for boaters to stop.

These back yards of houses in Little River are the foothills of the mountains. Spectacular backdrop for this very modest neighborhood

Overlooking the city from the bridge over the Erie Canal

Our menu

The list of specials, with a very extensive regular menu - many, many choices...hard to choose! My mouth still waters, thinking about the taste-popping dinner we enjoyed!

From this side of the building, probably not a spot that would jump out at you as one you just can't miss.

This side says, DON'T MISS!!!

Another popular spot in town? Yikes!

Likely another hot spot in town. Cultural contradictions, right?!