One of the events I attended during the 2011 C. W. Baker Alumni Weekend was a Lunch Cruise by the Mid-Lakes Navigation Company. A group of twenty-five alumni and their families convened at Dutchman’s Landing near Syracuse, New York to board our vessel, the Emita II, for a two hour cruise on the Seneca River.

The Emita II tour boat hosted the Lunch Cruise during the 2011 C. W. Baker Alumni Weekend on the Seneca River. Nikon D700/24-85mm, 1/125s, f/4.5, ISO 1600, EV +0.3, 85mm focal length.

After leaving dock and getting our safety instructions from the captain, a lunch buffet was served in the boat’s lower deck.  The buffet featured Dinosaur Bar-B-Que pork and chicken in the restaurant’s famous sauces, rolls, salt potatoes in butter, salad and corn bread.  Non-alcoholic drinks were included with the buffet with a full bar in the galley for those who wanted something a bit more spirited.  The food was tasty and plentiful.

Hungry Alumni partake of the buffet on onboard the Emita II during the Lunch Cruise on the Seneca River. Nikon D700/24-85mm, 1/60s, f/5, ISO 320, EV 0, 30mm focal length, rear-sync flash.

The highlight of the cruise (besides the great food) was a trip through Lock 24 in Baldwinsville, New York.  This is the same lock I showed drained back in 2009 for maintenance.  As you can see it is now fully operational. The large metal doors where swung open for the Emita II to enter.

The Emita II about to enter Lock 24 in Baldwinsville, New York. Nikon D700/24-85mm, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 30mm focal length.

The water was raised in the lock using no pumps but only the laws of physics.  Anyone know which ones?  After the water became level with the western end of the lock, the lock master opened the doors and the Emita II moved out of the lock and up river.

The lock master watches as the Emita II exits Lock 24 in Baldwinsville, New York. Nikon D700/24-85mm, 1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 200, EV 0, 24mm focal length, flash.

We did not go far as the Emita II swung around to give us a view of Paper Mill Island before returning back to Lock 24 to cycle back down to the eastern Seneca River’s level for our return trip back to the dock at Dutchman’s Landing.

In all my years of living in central New York, I have never been on this part of the Seneca River until this cruise.  I guess I need to get out more, eh? 🙂