We left Canajoharie Thursday, the 21st and saw some beautiful bucolic scenery along the way. As you can see the wind wasn’t a factor today. Now that we’re strictly a power boat, no wind is just fine with us.
We went through 5 locks, #13 through #17. Lock 17 is just before Little Falls and raised us up 40 ft. It’s the largest single step lock on the Erie Canal. This is the view off our stern after the lock doors closed.
All except for our first day we've usually been the only boat in a lock. We're way behind most of the Loopers traveling this way but the consensus is that the high cost of fuel is keeping a lot of boaters off the canal this year. We’d never shared a lock with kayakers before but there were 6 of them in Lock 17 with us.
Little Falls is nestled in a deep gorge at the heart of the Mohawk Valley and is a great stop along the Canal. There’s a new facility for boaters with a lounge area and showers. Dockage is $1/ft. with electricity and water. The library in town is in a restored old home; we had the old dining room all to ourselves to use their wifi – very cool. We were in Little Falls two nights and got to use our bicycles quite a bit.
The m/v Knot Home was there also so we had another visit with Larry and Dorothy on our boat this time. On Sat. morning we went together to a great little Farmer’s Market. The prices were great and we got the sweetest corn and tastiest tomatoes I think I’ve ever had. We all had breakfast at a café near the canal and we were off. Safe travels Knot Home!
Another neat thing we did in Little Falls was visit the 1764 Herkimer Home. It was about a 3-mile bicycle ride on this trail that was a former railroad track. There’s also a multi-use Canalway Trail between Albany and Buffalo that closely parallels the Canal. Nearly ¾ of the 350-mile trail has been completed; we often see bikers on it along the way.
Another neat thing we did in Little Falls was visit the 1764 Herkimer Home. It was about a 3-mile bicycle ride on this trail that was a former railroad track. There’s also a multi-use Canalway Trail between Albany and Buffalo that closely parallels the Canal. Nearly ¾ of the 350-mile trail has been completed; we often see bikers on it along the way.
This is the rear of the Georgian style home of Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer.
Herkimer was a Palatine German farmer, Indian trader, and prominent Mohawk Valley businessman who became commander of the Tryon County local militia. He became a hero during the Battle of Oriskany in 1777. Despite a bullet wound to his leg, and although greatly outnumbered by the British and Mohawk, he and his command held the field. Following the battle, Herkimer was carried home, where he died 10 days later. His actual cause of death was attributed to inept medical care as he bled to death.
A costumed interpreter gave a very informative tour of the home and grounds. We learned she is a native to the area and is actually distantly related to the former master of the house.
A costumed interpreter gave a very informative tour of the home and grounds. We learned she is a native to the area and is actually distantly related to the former master of the house.
Here’s the beautiful view overlooking the present day Erie Canal/Mohawk River from the front yard. I wondered the age of this huge maple tree.
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Here are the Lyrics
I've got an old mule and her name is Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
We've hauled some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
And we know every inch of the way
From Albany to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge for we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If you've ever navigated on
The Erie Canal
We'd better look around for a job, old gal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
You bet your life I wouldn't part with Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Giddap there gal, we've passed that lock
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
One more trip and then we'll go
Right back home to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, I've the finest mule in town.
Once a man named Mike McGinty
Tried to put it over Sal
Now he's way down on the bottom of
The Erie Canal
Oh, where would I be if I lost my pal?
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
Oh, I'd like to see a mule as good as Sal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once made her sore
Now, he's got a broken jaw
'Cause she let fly with her iron toe
And kicked him into Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down,
Low bridge, I've the finest mule in town.
If yo're looking for trouble
Better stay away from Sal
She's the only fightin' donkey on the Erie Canal
I don't want to call when I want my Sal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
She trots from her stall like a good old gal,
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
I eat my meals with Sal each day,
I eat beef and she eats hay
She ain't so slow if you want to know
She put the "Buff" in Buddalo.
Low bridge, everybody down,
Low bridge, I've the finest mule in town
Eats a bale of hay for dinner
And on top of that, my Sal
Tries to drink up all the water in the Erie Canal.
note: A Tin-Pan Alley song, written in 1905, that is now part of
the folk (and college glee-club) tradition. RG
We were way behind on your blog but caught up tonight. Happy Labor Day to you as well and happy motoring. Your pictures are great and we especially liked seeing Kyle and Lizzie. Our best to you, Larry and Jeanne
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