The locks on the Erie Canal

We are on the Erie Canal but I have not been able to post due to no wifi.  But now that we are at a place that has wifi I am able to tell you what has been going on. We started the first lock of the Erie Canal three days ago, the lock E2 in Waterford, and we enjoyed it. It was our second lock.  Our first was the Troy Federal Lock which is on the Hudson.  Some of the locks have pipes or cables up the wall and you loop a rope around it and let it slide up as you rise.  Other times they have weighted lines hanging down from from the top of the wall. I prefer the pipes and cables, because you have more control holding the boat close to the wall.  We just did the biggest lock on the Erie, lock E17. It had a 40 ft. lift.