Road Trip--Day Two, Lockport

We spent the day in Lockport, NY, and it was a scorcher with temperatures in the 90's. Lockport is a town that sprang up in the 1820's during the building of the Erie Canal. There were a series of 10 locks built there with five going east and five going west. Two locks are still active today. We took a cruise through the locks, took another tour through the water tunnel associated with the old factories around the locks, visited a lock museum, and the visited the locks' Discovery Center. And then on our own, we watched from above as three boats went through the locks. Ward, Wally, and Theodore were very interested in all of the mechanics of the operation. I was mildly interested when I wasn't trying to avoid heat stroke.

For supper, we went to the Anchor Bar and Grill in Buffalo where the original Buffalo Chicken Wings were made. Supposedly, before the invention of the Buffalo wings, wings were either thrown away or used only in soup. The wings were very good as well as everything else we had.

As it turns out, Sneaks is difficult to vacation with. He always seems to be wandering off somewhere he shouldn't be. It's that "nine lives" thing that has made him a little reckless. Nevertheless, we're all having a good time.

We all very hot and tired tonight. Wally and Theo have gone swimming to cool off and Ward and I have turned on the AC in our room. The plan for tomorrow is to avoid all floating barrels. We're hoping that there will be more built in chances to cool off than today.

The Erie Canal

We went on a 2 hour cruise through the locks and town on a double-decker boat.

Lock doors opening for our boat.

Sneaks trying to find out why he wasn't allowed in here. We had to lead him away.

Ward and the boys watching the locks work from above.

Dinnertime at the Anchor Bar

Yesterday, you may remember I gave a clue of what we were going to do today. It was a couple of lines from this song:

Low Bridge
By Thomas S. Allen
I've got a mule, 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
Chorus:
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge cause 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
Get up there Sal, we've passed that lock,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
And we'll make Rome before six o'clock
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
One more trip and back we'll go
Through the rain and sleet and snow
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.