Cruising the Canal
Boating group to travel by houseboat
B by ANDREA KIMBRIEL Reporter
B Betty Christensen is 90 years old, but she doesn't let her age stop her from being an active member of the Women's Associates of the Buffalo Power Squadron. The Williamsville resident is the only charter member still involved in the 57-year-old group.

90-year-old Betty Christensen is an active member of WABPS. She makes the distinctive captain's hats that members wear during their boat-related activities.

"It has kept me young, I swear. They keep me going. I say, 'I'm not going to do that,' and they say, 'Yes, you can,'" said Christensen, who is publicity chairwoman for the organization.

WABPS is one of the few independent women's boating clubs in the area, maybe the only one, said Lois Ganter of Amherst, who is "skipper," or president, of the group. The group used to be affiliated with the Buffalo Power Squadron but is now independent, although it kept the original name.

One of the group's main goals is teaching safe boating to women who join. New members have to take and pass a boating safety course within two years.

Owning a water craft isn't a requirement for participation. Women just have to love boating.

There are currently 67 members in WABPS, not counting 40-year members who no longer have to pay dues, said Ganter. Women come from Tonawanda, Amherst, Depew, Clarence, Buffalo, Elma and even North Java to participate.

WABPS members have taken boat-related trips all over Western New York and beyond. They have gone white-water rafting, cruised the Lockport Caves and raced sailboats. Several members chartered a boat and sailed the Caribbean. For a decade, they traveled to the ocean in motor homes to sail at such places as Cape May, N.J.

"Everything we did was a lot of fun," said Christensen.

While some of those activities haven't occurred recently, the group holds boating events on a regular basis. Today, members embarked on their main voyage for this year - a three-day houseboat cruise down the Erie Canal.

It's the first time the group has traveled the canal by houseboat. They used to canoe on it and sleep in tents on the shore, said Christensen.

Members of the group will have to steer and dock the boat on their own.

Ganter is able to captain boats up to 150 tons, but she said that no experience is necessary to take the houseboat trip. Princess Canal Charters in Tonawanda, the company that rents the houseboats, provides a training session before the launch.

Each of the 11 participants on two boats will get a chance at the helm, said Ganter.

They will be going five miles per hour - the speed limit on the canal.

"If you go too fast, they won't open the bridges," said Ganter.

Travelers share their itinerary with the first lock operator so the houseboats will be expected at a certain time at later locks.

The boats are well-equipped with supplies - even such items as wine glasses, a carbon dioxide detector and bicycles for those who want to ride the paths along the canal. All travelers need to bring is clothing and food.

"It's really cute. It sleeps six. We'll be nice and cozy. There's a nice little galley set," she said.

Christensen said they plan to take a leisurely trip down the canal, probably playing pinochle, dominos and other games.

They will cruise from Tonawanda to Medina and back. Ganter said they will probably stop for dinner at restaurants along the way and spend part of the day in Medina.

Many of the villages along the canal have docking areas, picnic tables and gift shops positioned to take advantage of the number of tourists on the canal.

"The scenery is gorgeous. It really is," said Ganter. She said people on the paths along the canal wave to boaters as they pass.

Ganter said members decided to do the canal trip because it is an activity that people of all ages can get involved in. Older members of the group can't white-water raft anymore.

"Some of our friends and WABPS went down the canal on their own, and I thought what a great opportunity. We were asking what we could do for entertainment," she said.

She pitched the idea to entertainment chair Dorothy Mallow. Mallow looked into it and decided it would be a good main event for this year.

"It's going to be a fun, healthy, jovial three days. I haven't done the canal since 1986, so it'll be fun. There will be changes along the canal that I'll notice," said Christensen.

They are always hoping for new WABPS members of all ages, said Ganter.

"Most people stay part of it because it's such a friendly group. We've become such good friends," she said.

Not all of the activities are water-related. Their winter weekend at Allegheny State Park features hiking, museum visits and antiquing.

WABPS has no central location. Monthly board meetings are held at the homes of members, and four general meetings are held in restaurants and yacht clubs each year.

Ida Smither founded the group in 1950. Smither and others had traveled to a men's boating meeting in Florida and decided on the way home that it would be nice to have a club just for women, said Christensen.

"I think it's just women having fun and enjoying the same things, boating and water. If you tried to do the things we do singly, you wouldn't be able to," said Ganter.

For WABPS membership information, call Lorraine Lefinski at 684-1137. For information on Canal Princess Charters, visit www.canalprincess. com.