GL: Boaters comments about Rome

[John LeRoy]

Thanks Mike. It looks like Annie really got something started. And thank you
for the url. I will forward your e-mail to the mailing list that produced the
original e-mails. I am sure the boaters will greatly apprecieate your, and
Annie and her son's attention. Rome has so much top offer, and an improved
docking facility could generate a lot of revenue for the city, a small marina
with fuel, water and electricity would do even more.

Regards, John & Gail
Monarch
johnl2003@earthlink.net
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Research
  To: John LeRoy
  Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 5:19 PM
  Subject: Re: Boaters comments about Rome


  John,
              Annie wanted to thank you for the e-mail and let you know that
we forwarded it to the Mayor and to the local paper
  (Annies son works on the main desk of the paper). I have attached the URL to
the article that appeared today as a resoult of your e-mail.

  http://www.romesentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS01/1060
80190

  Regards

  Mike
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: John LeRoy
    To: Research@romehistorical.com
    Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 1:03 PM
    Subject: Boaters comments about Rome


    Attention Ann Swanson,

    Ann,

    I am enclosing the complete text of several e-mails that have been
distributed to virtually all boaters doing part or all of the "Great Loop,"
which passes through the Erie Canal. I have removed any reference to the
originators, as I have not asked permission to forward their e-mails, but I
thought you and maybe the town fathers would be interested to know that a
significant portion of the cruising boating community is being given a very
negative impression of your city.

    I am presently on my boat at the Ilion City Marina, which is a very clean
and well run facility. When I checked in they gave me a document with a letter
from the Mayor including an invitation to call the dock master any time day or
night at his home if any problems arise. Their dockside Cafe seems to be doing
a great business and they appear to sell a lot of fuel.

    Thank you for your hospitality at the museum. We also had a great
experience at the Fort Stanwix museum and the fort itself. We had previously
visited the Erie Canal Village, and topped off our day with a very nice dinner
at an Italian restaurant down by the river.

    Thanks again,
    John & Gail LeRoy
----

    Hi all,



    Two quick notes.  We stayed last night at Little Falls, NY town docks
($1.00 per foot).  Nice accommodations with 50/30amp power and water included.
Short [relative - but then Cathy insists it is good for us to walk!] (3/4 mile
walk to town with grocery and restaurants - some eating establishments will
pick you up and deliver you back to the dock, check with the dock master).
Trains are on the other side of of the river so the noise is not as bad as
Amsterdam, NY.



    FYI - there are a couple places in the canal where shoaling is a problem
but most of the lock tenders provide you with advance warning.  Also, we ran
into a couple dredging operations but again the dredge tenders did a great job
at directing us around them so as to stay in safe water.  The shallowest depth
so far in the channel has been 7.0 feet.



    Rome, NY.  We did not stop but did a 'boat by' and wouldn't you know that
two young hoodlums were on the floating docks throwing rocks at passing boats.
We didn't get hit and the warned the boats behind us which stayed on the south
side of the canal centerline to avoid these pranksters.  I wouldn't stop there
under any circumstance.



    Ess-Kay Boat Yard in Brewerton on the West side of Lake Oneida.  What a
great group of folks.  We were welcomed at the dock by George and Kim (owner
and daughter) and have had a great first evening.  We met another couple doing
the loop and a couple in a sailboat heading home to Canada.  Folks could not
be friendlier.  Diesel was $2.89 (I think but will let you know for sure when
we fill up in the next couple days).



    Stay safe and hope to see you on the loop.




    Rome, New York, is the only place we were burgled on our entire Loop.
    During broad daylight while we were off the boat two hours visiting
    Ft. Stanwix on our bikes.  Local police essentially shrugged it off.
    You could tell we were "just transients", and it had happened before.
    A shame, the town has potential, but will never again see our
    docklines.
    > I concur with all observations. From last years trip there was a
    > conceren about docking at Rome. I had heard bad things and decided to
    > stop at Utica which is a GREAT stop and rented a car. Fort Stanwix
    > should not be missed. Unfortunately Rome docks are a hangout for
    > unsavory types. When I scouted it by car there were a gang of very
    > drunk locals in mid afternoon fishing a drinking.  Also the walk from
    > the docks to the Fort goes through a dicey deserted industrial
    > neighborhood. Many of the cleats on the dock were broken.
    >
    > I suspect the fire was the result of activity by the locals.
    >





    > > Hi all:
    > > We are currently in Brewerton, NY at the east end of Oneida Lake.
There are
    > > five other "Loopers" here.  We've slowed down to see the sights along
the
    > > Erie canal and Senica Lake.  As you will learn as you start across the
Erie,
    > > the Mowhawk River to the east and Wood Creek to the west were the two
    > > natural river beds that around which the Erie was built.  Rome, NY was
at
    > > the continental devide from which these two systems flow west and
east.
    > > This area was very important in early US history.  We have three
strong
    > > recomendations for visits to learn more about this history.


    > > 1.  Herkimer Homestead run by NY Parks.  Located just east of Little
Falls
    > > at G457.  There is a dock where you can tie up along the south bank
and walk
    > > up the hill to this historic site.  Guides are very informed on the
history
    > > of this region, and it's a neat homesite.
    > > 2.  A stop in Little Falls at the town dock above lock 17 or tied up
to the
    > > lower wall of lock 17, gives you access to a very neat and friendly
town.
    > > The lock master is Tom and is a super guy.
    > > 3.  Rome is where Fort Stanwix is, run by the National Park Service,
very
    > > informative about the history of the Erie Canal.  We also rode our
bikes up
    > > George Street several blocks to see some beautiful old churches and
homes.
    > > The only dissapointment is the desrepair of the town dock at the old
    > > terminal.  There was free 50 amp power, no water as advertised, but
the dock
    > > looks like it had a major fire a while back and getting off your boat
is not
    > > easy.