It’s ironic that our last two stops on the Erie Canal were Rome and Phoenix. My family and childhood friends know I grew up in a farming community in Kentucky called Rome – just outside of Owensboro. “Phoenix” is dear to us, as Andrew and Katherine and Becky, our four granddaughters and their grandparents and other Molenda relatives live near Phoenix, Arizona, in Mesa and Scottsdale.

Rome, New York offered rustic docking – just on a wall along a dilapidated building. I commented there are many Loopers here, to which my friend replied “who else would come here?” -:)

The city was developed at an ancient portage site of Native Americans, including the historic Iroquois nations. This portage continued to be strategically important to Europeans as main 18th and 19th-century waterways, based on the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, that connected New York City and the Atlantic seaboard to the Great Lakes.

In 1851, Jesse Williams founded the first cheese factory in the United States at Rome. Williams also developed the process used today for large-scale cheese manufacturing. During the later 19th century, there were numerous dairy farms in the area and throughout the Mohawk Valley. Many shipped their milk and cheese to customers in New York City.

The City of Rome was incorporated in 1870.

Rome is known as the City of Copper because Revere Copper Products, founded in Rome during 1928 and 1929, is one of the oldest manufacturing companies in the United States. At one time, 10 percent of all copper products used in the United States were manufactured in Rome.

However – most importantly – Rome is the birthplace of one of our favorite basketball coaches – Pat Riley! Go Miami Heat!

The Erie does offer some interesting places to stop at. Here are photos from Rome, New York:

Phoenix, New York was a delightful town to stay in. The docks were much better, the facilities clean and we walked to a bar and grill for dinner. (I really enjoy meals out – both because I don’t have to be sequestered in the galley preparing dinner, and we enjoy the company of our Looper friends.) Many of the Loopers in Rome also stayed here in Phoenix.

Phoenix is known for the “Bridge House Brats.” They are high school students who volunteer to help the boaters who visit Phoenix. For a small fee they will wash your boat, shop for provisions, and help out wherever needed. We didn’t see any “brats” – they must have been off the day we were there. Captain Pat probably wouldn’t have approved of how they cleaned his boat anyway. -:)

Phoenix was the last stop on the Erie. The next morning we entered Oswego Lock 1, a short distance from Phoenix. This lock had a drawbridge as well. We had another early departure, and weren’t quite ready when the first boat left, so we were scrambling to unhook the electrical and water and get to the lock with the other boats.

Patrick’s new bearded buddy pushed us off the dock with a wry smile. “Don’t know why you are rushing. That lock’s going to be there all day.”

Again we were reminded – NO RUSH!

Here are photos from Phoenix, New York.