Friday – Day 49 – 9/19/08

For you that know Mr. Rogers from TV – It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! We jumped on a bus and went into Syracuse to locate the Erie Canal Museum. At one time the canal passed directly through the city of Syracuse. Actually the town of Syracuse is here because of the canal! The city is old but well maintained and clean. The buildings are mostly under ten stories tall so the sky line is long and low. We located the museum and were very pleased with its content. I’m a canal Geek and very hard to please.

Later we went to visit a salt museum 200 yards from the marina our boat is in. I’ve never thought much about salt, but it’s been a big industry here even before the canal was dug! Barb and I were both intrigued by what we saw and learned. Later we went to a famous hotdog stand that has been open since 1917 and I’ll take a Chicago dog any day! We heard so much about the restaurant we had to try it ---- Mr. Rogers would have liked it!

Tomorrow we plan to leave early before the wind picks up and head for the Oswego Canal that connects the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario. This will be our last side trip off of the main canal. The Oswego canal is 24 miles long with 7 locks each way, as we will back track on this side trip when returning to the Erie Canal. With our current non schedule we will probably reach Waterford in about ten days plus or minus a few. Waterford is the beginning of the Erie Canal, and where the Erie Canal connects to the south flowing Hudson River and north flowing Champlain Canal.