We rose early – well in terms of our habits – to get to Syracuse by 10am. We anticipated a 2hr drive and got in 5min before Rich arrived. We then drove into the center of town expecting to see a canal system rivaling Venice. All we were greeted with was a road called Erie Blvd – the filled in passageway of the original Erie Canal. It has been rerouted and does not even pass through the city any longer. Existing lakes and waterways are being utilized now days. We did enjoy the museum and old weigh station. When the canal was operational each boat passed into a lock, the water drained and the boat weighed on a system of balances. A toll was paid according to the weight of the goods being transported. We then tried, unsuccessfully, to find remnants of old aqueducts. This is the second time we have been unsuccessful in this quest. We decided to return to our campground via Seneca Falls. When we inquired about the falls at the visitor center we were told that the original falls had been wiped out because that portion of the river had been flooded and two locks had been built ¼ mile downstream.(pic) Disappointing – but off to the locks we went. We arrived just in time to see a small pleasure boat passing through the two locks. The lock keeper was wonderful and answered every question the boys asked. The gain in height over the two lock was about 50ft. The biggest we have seen so far. All the boys loved seeing the “locks in motion” – I cannot wait until they see the Welland Locks near Niagara. They will be astounded over the size of the boats passing through those locks.
Just before returning to the camper we detoured to see the namesake falls of the State Park we are staying in. They are really high and tucked into a pretty gorge.(pic)
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