Sam Patch Erie Canal Tour

I can’t believe I haven’t been on the Sam Patch packet boat Erie Canal cruise until this past weekend. It took my friend Mary Beth’s visit from the city to inspire me to this activity, and I can honestly say that I would happily go again with future guests!

Johanna and Grace

We took a 4pm cruise, and I was delighted when one of my Concentus singing sisters, Johanna, boarded with her husband and two toddlers. Our guide, Wyatt Doremus, was informative and also funny, so I really tried to pay attention to his commentary as we made our way west from the Village of Pittsford. Wyatt is fascinating in his own right (click HERE for his bio), and he regaled us with facts and figures, including that 1000 canal builders died of Genesee fever (malaria), and that it took 8 years to dig (dynamite didn’t yet exist) and 11 years to recoup the investment.

Wyatt cautioned us that while many people think they hear the walls of Lock 32 talking to them, saying, “touch me,” it’s not a good idea to heed that call, since the slimy green walls will stain you and clothing, and there’s the risk of body parts getting pinned between the wall and the boat. He also explained that it’s not a good idea to swim in the canal, because of snakes and snapping turtles. I wasn't tempted to do either, but note taken. 

Wyatt and the kids
holding the rope in the lock

It was fascinating to watch the doors close on us when we got to that lock, and to watch and feel the boat rise 25 feet to the level that would allow the next doors to open for us to exit. Wyatt let the passenger children (including Johanna’s eldest) help him hold the rope that kept us from bouncing off the lock walls, and they took their responsibility quite seriously. 

We turned around just west of the lock, and were once again sealed in, and this time lowered, to return to the Village of Pittsford. The tour took us to just east of the village, so we could pass through the Great Embankment. It’s quite something to be eye-level with houses on one side and floating above roofs on the other!

I hadn’t realized that Corn Hill Navigation (CHN), which runs the Sam Patch, is a non-profit. When the Mary Jemison was still in service, they used to provide a discount that enabled the entire 4th grade from the city of Rochester to share this experience. The organization hopes to put a new Mary Jemison in the water next year. That tour will start in Corn Hill and go south on the Genesee. 

Wyatt had fond words for CHN’s visionary, who founded the organization in 1991 and passed away in 2017. Although I didn’t know Ted, this being small-town Rochester, of course I know his wife, Claire. Rochester owes a debt of gratitude to Ted and his family for helping revitalize our section of the canal.

Too soon, we passed back under the Mitchell Road low bridge and were coming to the town... 90 minutes on the Erie Canal!