Erie Canal – Travel Essay

New York, USA

I came to northern New York State to see what kind of fun my wife and I could have.  We came through in 1983.  We stopped at several places.  However, a lot of the Erie Canal and supporting equipment was in tough shape.  We took a canal ride, but it lasted only 100 yards.  This particular section of the canal had silted up and the canal boat just could not go further and the canal boat had to be dragged back to the starting point.

 www.canals.state.ny.us.

www.midlakesnav.com

Here are two websites concerning the Erie Canal.  There are additional websites.  I have good news to report.  The Erie Canal is having a renaissance.  Entrepreneurs have built or purchased “Canal Boats” which are motor driven and are quite comfy.  Tourists can rent a canal boat and motor up and down the canals.  It is also fun to be raised and lowered in the locks.

I have a memory from a long time ago.  A lot of the Canal Boats carried grain, coal and other products.  One or more mules pulled the canal boat.  The boatman steered the boat and called out commands to the mule(s).  The canal boats traveled slowly and most days were long and boring. Now, coal was a product much in need.  After a time, the people living beside the canal propped up tin cans, glass bottles, milk cans etc.  Almost immediately, the boatmen started to throw the coal at the tin cans, bottles and milk cans.  It was just something to do to relieve boredom.  The people on the canal bank were able to heat their homes just from picking up the coal off the ground!!