Category: Intuition Diaries

Rest: To Remain Confident {Intuition Diaries}

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living. 
(Psalm 27:13 NIV)

Over and over again, we have witnessed the goodness of the LORD on this trip. Over the past two days, His goodness and mercy have been following us like faithful companions.

Palmyra, New York

On Sunday we left the quietude of Palmyra, listening to praise music and witnessing nature. We saw this cormorant basking in the sun, which made us think of lifting our praises to our Creator. 



We took a shorter jaunt (10 miles) to the town of Newark, where we found fresh, local produce at the Sav-a-Lot. The town, like many of the towns along the western section of the canal provided free shore power, a shower and this time free laundry facilities. After picking up groceries and ice, we sat at the dock reading and catching up on our laundry.

Newark, New York

Free Laundry Facilities!

Leaving Newark

Our destination this morning was Seneca Falls. Each day Les tells me the itinerary and I half listen. So when I went to bed Sunday night, I thought I heard him say that we had three locks to go through on Monday. The next morning, he told me we had eight! What? I thought you said three! Oh, that’s on the Seneca-Cayuga canal, we have five to go through on the Erie Canal first. 

We left at 8:00am, when the locks open to head to Seneca Falls, the birth place of the Women’s Rights movement. On the  way we passed through the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, where we witnessed the majesty of God’s birds: blue heron, bald eagle, osprey, kingfisher and a crow.

Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

We made it through the locks with no incidence. That is always good. Mostly if you make a mistake in the lock, you look foolish, but it also can smash up the bow or the motor, if you don’t have a good handle on the process. 

Lock 25 on the Erie Canal, one of five for the day

Les holding his end of the boat in the lock.

Double lock on Cayuga-Seneca Canal 

The lock filling up and water seeps through gate.
[We experienced the goodness of rest and the beauty of nature, and some more invigorating work through the locks, but if you really want to hear about God’s goodness read to the end.]

It was raining off and on all day. When we arrived in Seneca Falls it had subsided. We walked uptown to find a grocery to get some lettuce. (Forgot to buy that in Newark.) Instead we found more delicious bread, an apple fritter loaf. 

We were near the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, so we stopped in to see how late they were open and tour times. We decided to watch their informational movie, as the tours were over for the day. When we came out of the movie, it was pouring outside. So we browsed the gift shop. Once the rain let up, we headed back to the boat to think about starting dinner.

As we walked towards the dock, we noticed that our boat had been moved down about four spots. We thought that odd. And then we noticed a man tying off another boat near ours. We figured he had just arrived, so we offered to help him tie up. Once we started talking to him, we realized that the goodness and mercy of God does exist in the land of the living.

While we were away, someone came by and randomly untied both boats. George was rescuing the boats. Apparently, his wife was waking up from a nap and noticed our boat was next to the dock wall with just its stern against the wall, then the boat turned some more and started bow first floating towards their boat. That’s when she got George out to stop the boat and tie it up. We were just appalled that someone would do such a thing. For no reason other than possibly a prank. 

We helped George secure the other boat. They invited us over to visit after we checked on our boat. We enjoyed getting their take on the canal and hearing about their adventures in life; they have been boating for 52 years.

Later that evening, we all consoled another very distraught couple, when they arrived back to their boat. We could see on their faces that they believed they had almost lost their boat. George retold the rescue story and the guy gave him a big bear hug. 

At the end of this day, Les said, “Well, I think I’ve had just about enough excitement for one vacation.” Tonight, we go to bed thanking God for watching over us and for meeting good people along the way.


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Work: To Bring to Pass {Intuition Diaries}

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. 
(Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV)

Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing circumstances. 
(attributed to Mark Twain)

Last lift bridge on the canal at Fairport


While on vacation I often expect every moment to be marked by fun, yet on a boating venture, work and play intertwine.

On Saturday, we covered over 50 miles on the canal from Holley to Palmyra. We went under four lift bridges and locked through four locks. We started out around 9:00am and arrived at our destination by 6:00pm.

Around 11:00am, we took Les’ bike down, so he could pedal and I could cruise the canal. This section was about fourteen miles by canal. I was in good spirits and happy with myself for being able to manage the boat while Les enjoyed the countryside by bike. We wended our way through a part of the canal that is south of Rochester. Mostly remote, only passed one other boat, some kayaks and canoes and a tour boat at the Genessee River intersection. 

Self-photo of me piloting the boat solo
Taken from the tow path by Les
Les took this photo from a bridge
As I approached one bridge I noticed sticks and rocks plopping into the water, I looked up, worried that a stone may go through our windshield. No one up on the bridge. As I moved closer, I saw the objects coming from the side of the canal. I blared our horn, and I think I startled the young man. Once he saw the boat, he wanted a ride. I kept cruising along. 

Les met me at Lock 33, where I masterfully parked the boat next to the lock wall. My spirits were high, but my stomach was quite hungry. I had thought we would have time to stop for lunch at the lock, but that didn’t work out. My mood soon turned into a grumpy disposition. The next lock was only a mile away and we had to eat in shifts, instead of a leisurely lunch lockside. The day was becoming more like work, than play.

And to top off my frustration, I let go of the rope at the second lock. The boat felt less secure with only one rope. We prefer to have more control with both of us holding the boat close to the side. And about that time I realized we weren’t going to get to the farmer’s market or stroll around any quaint towns. All work and no play; grumble, grumble. 

I fumed for a few more miles, and then I decided that my mood was unwarranted. I needed to enjoy what was before me. I climbed to the bow of the boat to sit in the sun, wind blowing in my face and the sound of rushing water settling me back into a vacation state of mind.
Lock 29: Fourth one of the day

Waiting in the lock for another boat to arrive


We made it through the last two locks of our day in time to get a nice spot at Palmyra, the birth place of Joseph Smith, yes, but also a town with four protestant churches at the corners of one Main Street intersection. I jokingly told Les we could go to all four the next day. If we sat in the back row, we could just slip out after awhile and go to the next one.

At Palmyra, we met a man who was traveling east to west (we’re going the opposite way) on a small wooden vessel called a Snipa, which was made in Sweden in 1960. Click here to read and see pictures from his voyage. 

For dinner we ate at the Lock 29 Bar and Grill, emphasis on the bar. The girl behind the bar, asked us twice what we wanted to drink. We finally gave her our drink order, so she would let us order food.

I went to bed with the sun, tired from a full day’s work. 

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Full: Satisfied and Complete {Intuition Diaries}

Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
(Isaiah 55:2 NKJV)


One of the pleasures of vacationing for me is being creative with our food. As we travel from town to town, I am on the lookout for local fare and farmers’ markets. I love the challenge of cooking while we’re out on the boat; I am limited by space, two burners and the grill for our meals. I am always looking for inspiration for our menu.
Before this trip, I devoured the book, Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. She served up appetizing essays surrounding her adventures cooking with her friends and enjoying life to the fullest around the table. Intermingled with her stories are recipes that are just as fun to read as the rest of the book. I copied a few down for our trip.
This morning, I made her Quinoa Breakfast, which is quinoa with apple chicken sausage and fried eggs on top. Les tried it and we both agreed the quinoa makes a very healthy and tasty alternative to hash browns.
At our first grocery stop I bought red plums, which were a bit bland even though they were from a local orchard. I wanted some fruit to go with our breakfast, so I cut the plums in half to sauté them in some oil with the fresh rosemary, some nutmeg and brown sugar. I kept the brown sugar to a minimum. Surprisingly, cooking the plums made them tart. I told Les I’d add more sugar for dinner to serve as dessert over pound cake (if we could find some in town today.)


On the advice of the folks from Gasport, we stopped in Medina to check out a local bakery. We each were going to get a pastry, when we smelled the bread. We already had bread on the boat, but the scent of freshly baked bread won us over. The loaf of cheese boule  was added to our ticket. I’d never had boule before, so I asked the baker about it. She said it was crusty bread with a soft inside. This loaf had cheddar cheese mixed into the dough.
We took our baked goods to the boat and headed over to Albion to find a place for lunch. We had hoped to find a diner or café right on Main Street, but nothing. So we regrouped and decided on sandwiches from our cooler.
With all this good eating and traveling, we made a commitment to be active this trip. We have our bikes along, so asked Les if I could ride my bike to the next stop while he drove the boat. The canal has a speed limit of 10mph, and most times you have to go slower because of the no wake zones. At that pace, we could see each other as I pedaled on the canal trail and he cruised the canal.
Tonight we ate grilled chicken and zucchini. We grilled slices of the boule and topped them with the sauteed plums, which I sweetened up with more brown sugar.

We were satisfied. 

Here’s some photos from the day on the canal, not food related. 

The Big Apple in Medina, NY

Les cruising the canal, while I rode my bike.
See Les, he’s right over there behind me.
Where are they headed now?
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Enter: To Make a Beginning {Intuition Diaries}


Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him; praise His name! 
(Psalm 100:4 ESV)

Guard gate along the Erie Canal

During the time the trailer was in for repairs, we drove over to visit my aunt. We had a nice dinner and shared photos, but as always our time together was too short. We spent the evening in a town near the repair shop. When we got up that morning we had no idea what to expect. But to our surprise the trailer was ready to be picked up by noon that very day. And our keys had arrived. 


We picked up the boat and keys, and trucked our way over to Buffalo. We got to the marina just as the sun was setting. 

Thursday morning, we entered the boating phase of our trip. We cruised from the Buffalo harbor over to the Black Rock Canal, which bypasses the Niagara River in order to get over to the Tonawanda area, where the Erie Canal begins.

Buffalo Marina





We will be crossing the entire canal, which is 338 miles long. Part of our adventure includes going through 35 locks. We started with the Black Rock Lock. After stopping in North Tonawanda, where we visited the Carousel Museum, we went through the first lock system in Lockport, which is a double lock. 

Entering the Lockport double lock system
Leaving the second lock at Lockport


Looking back into the double lock



Going through a lock is like driving your boat into a huge bathtub, then securing your boat to the side while the water drains. Or if you are locking up the canal, the water fills while your boat bobs on the side. To get into the locks, you enter huge gates. As we enter and exit the locks, I marvel at the ingenuity of the engineering and the majesty of nature combined.

On the Erie Canal system also has Lift Bridges and Guard Gates. The bridges lift to let boats pass under. In the winter the gates are lowered to allow the canal to drain, and they also manage water levels during times of flooding.

Lift Bridges



Taking a journey offers many moments of wonder and surprise. And so the journey of faith. We never know what might be around the next bend. But God always provides, always care and always delights in us.


Plants growing in wall of Black Rock Lock

Lockport used to be a Five Flight lock, meaning five locks in succession. 

Good-bye Lockport!



A couple of surprises so far on this trip have been the trailer incident and last night we experienced the bounty of community. 

We stopped in a little town east of Lockport, where the city provides docking along the canal wall with free electricity. Next to each spot, someone planted a barrel of tomatoes, cabbages and herbs. This morning I clipped a bit of fresh rosemary and cilantro for future meals. 

Sunset at Gasport



For dinner we walked over to the Canalside Inn, a local establishment where we ordered Beef on Weck, a western New York delicacy. The table next to us ordered theirs, but were told they were out. That sparked a friendly banter about us taking their meal. We mentioned we were from out of town, and they forgave us. We asked about a place to get ice, and the offered to go get us a bag. They delivered it to us and admired the boat, swapping stories since they were fellow boaters. One of the couples own a marina on the other side of the lift bridge, and the other had traveled the canal several times, so they gave us some tips for the stops ahead. Companionship along the way is always welcomed.


Lift bridge closed for the night at Gasport





Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
(Psalm 24:7 ESV)



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Key: Important, Fundamental {Intuition Diaries}

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. 
Isaiah 33:6 NIV

Why, the question often asked when there is no evident reason for a particular event. Why did this happen to me? Why did it happen now? Questioning of this nature can become an exercise in frustration. Possibly a better, more important question would be how I can respond to such and such situation.

When I go on a vacation, my expectations are at full throttle. My objective is to get to the destination, so we can relax. Leave behind the cares of daily, routine life. Take a break from asking why all the time. Just rest and take in the new landscape. 

My husband and I left early Monday morning for our long awaited trip to the Erie Canal. We made it to Cleveland with our boat and belongings towing smoothly behind our truck.

Tuesday morning, we got a little lost getting out of Cleveland, but once we got back on track, we were on schedule to be at the marina in Buffalo that evening. We had squeezed through the construction zones, talking about the day ahead and just watching the road pass behind us, when we heard a ka-thump. Les slowed us down and pulled off onto the wide shoulder. I said, what happened. He said, I think we lost a tire.

He carefully climbed out of the driver’s seat to inspect the damage. The report: one of the dual axles was bent and a tire was stripped of its tread. We called a towing agency. But our boat was too tall to put on a truck. They gave us a number for a nearby repair place, twenty miles away. Our options were not looking good. Les removed the tire and we hoped there might be a repair place at a marina in the next town a few miles ahead.

Amazingly, we remained fairly calm through the whole ordeal. (As you can imagine, in these types of situations tempers tend to flare.) We needed some other tools that were locked in the boat. So I went to get the boat keys out of the truck. Um…Les, did you put the keys somewhere else.  Um…no.  I…think we left them at home. Why would we do such a stupid thing? When packing for a big trip we live by checklists, but apparently neither of us thought to put the keys on the list.

We could have spent all day asking why did this happen, but instead for some reason I started thanking God for the things that were good: for the wide shoulder, because we had just left a constricted construction zone, for our son being available to overnight the keys to us and for the nearby marina having a repair shop so we didn’t have to drive twenty miles on a broken trailer. Our plans are delayed, but as the repair guy said, “It could have been worse.”

When I was telling my mom about our adventure, she said God was with you. And then I realized that this particular day was not like any other day in life. Things happen. We don’t really know why, but God is with us. He provides what we need in each situation.

This post is the first in a series, I will be calling the Intuition Diaries, where I will confess our blunders and share our adventures on the Erie Canal. (At the end of the day, I jokingly told my husband the reason for our hardship was my fault, because I wanted something interesting to post on the blog . . . *smile*)

picture of the Intuition from a previous adventure

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