Bargehitchin' the Erie Canal

Hillbilly Castro

New member
Anyone have any info? I'm livin here a half hour north of Rome NY on the Erie Canal and I'm thinking about going into town and lurking around docks and locks for a ride to Buffalo NY.

Any information on boat hitching on inland waterways would be helpful. Thanks
 
just give it a shot dude, i'm positive you could get a ride. if nothing else just busk up somewhere and buy a ticket, they shouldnt be much on the erie c. when you get to buffalo kiss her for me, i miss home.
 
Buffalo, I'm so curious to know if you ended up trying to hitchhike along the Erie Canal. I'm thinking about it heading east from Rochester. If you did, how did it go and could you provide any tips? Thanks!
 
I have thought about biking the canal & or kayaking as I have road freight trains along parts of the Hudson & hitched around that area & really like it in the warmer months. i know most of the barge traffic dock son Marsec Level 1 ports & require a TWIC card for access & are mostly all licensed & above board operations run thru the unions with US Merchant Marine licensed Captains & AB licensed crew who take their operations pretty seriously & doubtful that they would take a passenger for insurance reasons, fear of being fired & or Safety reasons similar to truckers but much worse (especially a fuel barge). I bet that you could hitch a ride with a pleasure boater making the trip much easier. Let us know if anyone has had any luck.
 
Last edited:
I have thought about biking the canal & or kayaking as I have road freight trains along parts of the Hudson & hitched around that area & really like it in the warmer months. i know most of the barge traffic dock son Marsec Level 1 ports & require a TWIC card for access & are mostly all licensed & above board operations run thru the unions with US Merchant Marine licensed Captains & AB licensed crew who take their operations pretty seriously & doubtful that they would take a passenger for insurance reasons, fear of being fired & or Safety reasons similar to truckers but much worse (especially a fuel barge). I bet that you could hitch a ride with a pleasure boater making the trip much easier. Let u know.

Thanks highwayman. Yeah, I was envisioning pleasure boaters. Thanks for the info!
 
Thanks for replying. I've gotten some feedback from local people and I have the impression that I will be well received. I'm definitely thinking about it!
 
Back
Top