As we approach the Welcome Center of the New York State Canal in Waterford, spring will be coming to a close, and the summer will have begun. Along the route from New York through Lake Ontario, options in this segment would change the total miles depending on which path we decide to take.

We will remove our mast and likely travel along the Erie Canal into the Oswego Canal, leading us into Lake Ontario.

We could also consider routing ourselves through the "Triangle Loop," which would take us into Lake Champlain and through the St. Lawrence Seaway into Lake Ontario. This route would allow us to explore Montreal, Quebec, and the Rideau Canal on our way back to Kingston, Ontario. However, with both adults on the ship working full-time, we may save the added miles necessary to navigate the "Triangle Loop" for another year.

As we travel along the Erie Canal, we will encounter some of our first locks. A lock is a basin located in the canal with gates at each end. Using these gates, the Lock Master can control the water level in the basin, allowing for boats to be raised or lowered. This is how we can travel along canals that move up and down with different elevations.

As a crew, we must be prepared for the locks with our lines and fenders ready. The adults will have emergency knives handy; if a line gets hung up between our boat and the lock, we can cut the line and free the vessel. "Locking through" is a very hands-on endeavor and something that we'll all be involved in for those parts of the passage.