SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Joe Deverell is taking a trip on the Erie Canal to promote the historic upstate New York canal system, to tackle a new challenge and to slow down his life to appreciate Mother Nature's offerings.

While many others have taken similar journeys on the canal over the years, Deverell's trek is a bit different. He will pole along the canal in a 36-foot gondola.

''It's about taking the time to look at the world in a different way. ...It would be easier to stay at home, watch TV and have a couple beers, but there will be plenty of time to do that,'' said Deverell, 41, a self-employed industrial engineer from Cato, N.Y., who departed on his trip Tuesday.

At 6-foot-2 and a muscular 220 pounds, Deverell appears ready for the physical demands of rowing a 900-pound boat an average of 12 miles a day for the next 20 days.

Deverell trained for about two months to get in shape and to pad his hands with thick, protective calluses for the rigors of the trip. He hopes to reach Albany by Sept. 30 to meet three other gondoliers who are rowing from Albany to New York City to salute the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They're departing Oct. 1.

''What he's doing is ambitious in that he's the only one doing it. If he does it solo, I will be very impressed,'' said Greg Mohr, president of the Gondolier Society of America, one of the three gondoliers participating in the Albany to New York City tribute row.

Deverell won't be alone on his trip. Two independent New York City filmmakers are accompanying him for part of his journey.

He'll row during the day. At night, he plans to dock the boat, dine at restaurants and sleep outside in a tent.

His biggest concern is running into high winds, which he said would make it more difficult to land the gondola in stormy weather.

Deverell paid $15,000 for his gondola in 2002. It was once used to ferry passengers and cargo through the busy canals of Venice, Italy.