Today, in honor of a late dear friend, I am posting some random photos taken September 17 several years ago in the Pittsford, New York area.
This giant golfball statue has an interesting history. I must have been in the right place at the right time.
Dear friend, may you continue to rest in peace. You are missed.
Wednesday, my spouse and I traveled to Camillus, New York (a suburb of Syracuse) to take an Erie Canal cruise on a restored portion of the historic Erie Canal at Liz and Dave Beebe Erie Canal Park.
The cruise took almost 45 minutes and I wouldn't be surprised if the tour guide (a real human, not a recording like some cruises) was a retired history teacher. He was so good. We learned a lot.
Shall we board?
This is not part of the modern Erie Canal that crosses New York State that is still navigable (and is a gem of the New York Empire Trail system) and runs from Waterford (near Albany) west to Tonawanda, just north of Buffalo, on the Niagara River.
The Erie Canal started out as a hand dug ditch and was expanded several times. This stretch is part of the first expansion and contains a historic aqueduct that was restored painstakingly by volunteer labor using and repairing stones used in the original construction. There are only seven miles of historic canal in the park, and not all of it can even be navigated by this boat.
Taken from land.
The restored aqueduct over Nine Mile Creek, taken from the boat.
Returning to dock.
Thank you for joining me on this cruise
You may have heard of the Erie Canal in New York State. This canal was built between 1817-1825, revolutionized transportation, and still exists today. I've had the pleasure of visiting various spots on the Canal, which is open from May to October for recreational boating.
But did you know that there were several iterations of the canal? The old ones still exist - sometimes overgrown, almost completely unknown, but some are being restored.
In June, I visited two such spots in the Syracuse, New York area. One (not the one I am showing today) has been abandoned (I was told by a volunteer) by the State of New York, and depends totally on voluteers.
The other is a gem near Camillus, New York.
Welcome to Liz and David Beebe Camillus Erie Canal Park. This park was founded in 1972 by Elizabeth and Dr. David Beebe.
The museum on site was closed the day we visited, but on Wednesdays and Saturdays you can also, for a small fee, take a short boat ride on the old canal and see a restored aqueduct over Nine Mile Creek.
Welcome.
Let's look at some sky reflections, shall we?
This year, for the second year, I am participating in the annual "Erie Canal Challenge". You can walk or bicycle on the towpaths. Or, you can kayak or motorboat on the Canal. You report miles (and take pictures as proof) and get small gifts. My current challenge is a 15 mile challenge and there is no time limit to complete - good thing, as I live more than an hour away from the old canal, and further from the currently used one.
Here is one of my other Erie Canal posts, this time one of the parts that is still used for boating.
Joining Yogi and other sky watchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.
I love historical places. Sometimes you see the unexpected.
At Camillus' New York's Liz and Dave Beebe Camillus Canal Park, along the old Erie Canal (since replaced with newer sections), there are various memorial benches, plantings, and some historical markers.
This one caught my eye. The bench looks nicely weathered.
The plaque says: "On this site in 1897 nothing happened".
Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
A belated Happy Canada Day to my Canadian readers. I forgot - shame on me!
You may have heard of the Erie Canal in New York State. This canal was built between 1817-1825, revolutionized transportation, and still exists today.
What you may not know is that there were several iterations of the canal. The old ones still exist - sometimes overgrown, but some are being restored.
One such restoration can be found near Syracuse, New York, at Liz and David Beebe Camillus Erie Canal Park.
Here is one of the plaques you can find along this part of the old Erie Canal.
Lots of sights along the old canal, including the farm below.
It's a fascinating place to visit.
Joining Magical Mystery Teacher for #ShadowshotSunday.
