Abner Serd

Author | Humorist | Storyteller

Day 24: Brockport to Hulberton, NY

Erie Canal barge passing under the Main St Lift Bridge, Brockport NY

The picture postcards call Brockport a “Victorian town on the banks of the Erie Canal.” I don’t know what they mean by “Victorian.” I guess they’re talking about architecture, but most of it seemed pretty modern to me.

‘Course, I’m old-fashioned enough to think 19th-century brickwork qualifies as modern …

Regardless, downtown Brockport is a fun place to spend an afternoon. Main Street is thriving, the Welcome Center loans bicycles out for free, and families gather on the banks of the canal to fish or hang out. Best of all, Brockport has not one, but two lift bridges.

The season for pleasure boating is just beginning to pick up. But getting your boat past Brockport is a little like going through an airlock — you’ll spend at least a little time trapped between the two bridges. That said, there are plenty of places to tie your vessel up should you wish to go ashore in the meantime.

The highlight of my day was watching an actual canal barge passing under the Main Street lift bridge. See the video posted above. I didn’t think barges still plied the canal, but there it was.

Of course, the other highlight was telling stories at the Lift Bridge Book Shop. The audience was smaller than I’d hoped and the traffic noise on Main Street was a challenge (it was an outdoor event), but seeing as how this was my first storytelling opportunity since Little Falls, I gave it everything I had.

Durn near lost my voice, but I think it went well — crowd size notwithstanding.

I think that sign is supposed to say
“Storyteller, Author, & Humorist” 🙂

As I’ve said before, the whole reason I’m out here is to promote my book The Legend of Pedestrio. You can help support this blog/journey/3,300-mile walk across North America by purchasing a copy of the book. See my website for details.

Already got a copy? Thanks! If you enjoyed reading it, please consider posting a review on Goodreads, Amazon, etc. Reviews are very important for independent authors — it’s how books get found. The more reviews, the more visible a book becomes.

Thanks folks! Talk to you tomorrow.

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