Robert Moses State Park, Massena, New York

I am just about as far north as I can go in New York State. This is really upstate New York, and it is right on the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

I got to the park, and managed to find the office, which was in a different part of the park from the campground. I got registered and the pleasant worker gave me a map to help me find the campsite. Things were going fine, until I came to the end of a dead end road.

This was indeed puzzling. According to the paper map she gave me, I should have been heading in the right direction. I turned on Google maps and saw the turn that I missed. Now that I knew where to go, all I had to do was BACK UP A QUARTER MILE!

I took a deep breath or two and got ready to back myself out. I had to course-correct a few times, but I got back to where I should have turned. It would be nice if they had put a sign at the place were I should have turned. I can’t believe that I am the first person has had this problem.

I made the turn and got myself to the site. The person right behind me kindly offered to spot me while I maneuvered into the spot. It was a narrow road, and I was in front of him. I guess he didn’t have to help, but he couldn’t get to his site until I got out of the way.

I made use of the shower at the campground. I have to admit that I don’t have a clue as to what this sign on the women’s restroom meant.

So, if any of you out there in the blog-o-sphere has an idea, please let me know.

The first day, I just took care of business and got settled in. In addition to the shower, I tidied up the trailer a bit and did some grocery shopping. The next day it was time for fun!

Yes! I got to watch a ship go through the Eisenhower Lock! Oh, the things that fascinate me. I wonder if there is somewhere I can go watch paint dry?

Actually, I went by early in the day and inquired about when the next ship would be coming through. The guard told me that they had one scheduled to come through around 5:30, so I went back to the trailer for a bit. When I returned, I brought the leftover Popsicles I had bought as part of my “liquid diet” that I was to follow before the colonoscopy while I was in Kalamazoo.

The funny thing is that I don’t much care for Popsicles. After all the years of teaching and using Popsicles as end of the year bribes uh, treats, any childhood fondness I had for them had long since disappeared.

You know I always like to read signs and plaques. This one at the park near the lock puzzled me.

Now, I know that the War of 1812 was fought all along this area. I don’t doubt that there might have been something significant that happened here. But, why is there a sign about the Treaty of Ghent? For the geographically disadvantaged, Ghent is in the Netherlands.

I returned at the proper time. While I was waiting, and after I handed out the Popsicles, I struck up a conversation with the folks on the deck. I had one of my fellow tourists snap a shot of me pointing at Canada while wearing the tee shirt I picked up at Pancho Villa State Park in New Mexico.

The most southern state park to the most northern state park – at least this year!

The ship was running a bit late, but it finally arrived at the lock.

It entered the lock and made its way in.

The children were watching in rapt attention. Well, at least until I snapped the photo.

The ship kept coming.

I can finally see the name on the bow – Tecumseh. If you’d like to know where the ship is now or where it has been, you can click here. The day I saw her, she was carrying wheat.

Those poor ships take a beating when they are going through the locks.

At long last, the ship is all the way in the lock. You can see the gates closed in front of it. I think that red beam must be there to let it know that this is as far as it can safely go in the lock. I don’t know if it is, but I can see no other purpose for it.

They start letting the water out of the lock and the ship starts to lower.

It keeps going down…

until it is as far as it can go.

They open the gates.

The ship starts to leave.

It steams out into the lower river.

The bow is out…

and there goes the stern.

Do you see those two small boats to the right? They are about to enter the lock and proceed upstream.

There goes the Tecumseh and here come the boats!

The small boats are getting settled in the lock and the Tecumseh continues downstream toward Montreal.

The little boats are in the lock and the gates are closed. The boats are so small that you can’t see them at this point.

The lock is filled.

The little boats are getting ready to exit the lock.

They open the gates

The boats get ready to sail out

and they are gone.