6/15/2011 EXPLORING WATERFORD, NY

6/15/2011 EXPLORING WATERFORD, NY


WEDNESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT: WATERFORD HARBOR DOCK AND VISITORS CENTER

                      FREE DOCKING WITH POWER, WATER AND WI-FI

                     WATERFORD, NY

SUNRISE: 5:15       SUNSET: 8:34

HIGH:    79              LOW:   54

Time to get those much neglected bicycles down from their perch high on Quest and ride! After a filling, cheep and tasty breakfast at Don and Paul’s Coffee Shop, a true “local joint”, we peddled on to the well-stocked Hannaford Market to replenish our larder. It hardly seems necessary as we have been dining out so much lately.

Chores done, we took off to explore the Village of Waterford, the oldest continuously incorporated village in the US. We followed the riding/walking trails that edge the original Champlain Canal. These old refurbished trails were once the towpaths used by the horses and mules that pulled the barges transiting these waterways. I’m sure you all (at least you oldies) remember the Erie Canal song, Low Bridge, Everybody Down. This was written by Thomas Allen in 1905, as the barges began to convert to steam and diesel power, to commemorate the mules’ nearly 100 years of servicing on the Erie Canal. Dick Hanson made sure that I had the more modern version of the song to sing while we worked our way through the locks but I found the old, original version and will post it below. The “fifteen miles” refers to the typical distance that mules and men would work each day.

The Erie Canal Song Lyrics (Written by Thomas Allen in 1905)

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 Buffalo.


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.   

THIS IS A SECTION OF THE OLD, ORIGINAL, UNUSED ERIE CANAL

Oh yes, talk about "low bridges", Dan was compelled to drag out the trusty tape measure to get the true clearance on the train bridge just before Lock 3.  The 21' 10" measurement led to preparations to lower the mast tomorrow morning before entering the canal. 

CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR!  21' 10" JUST WON'T CUT IT.

-------THUS DAN IS PREPARING TO LAY DOWN THE MAST

We found the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center and were given a glimpse of the diversity of Waterford’s early settlers. Originally settled by the Dutch fur traders in 1622, the immigrating Irish, Italian and French made this village their home and worked hard to develop the community.

Dinner ended up being a real community event. We peddled ourselves up hill and down to the local elementary school that was having a BBQ dinner. One of our favorite places, Brooks BBQ in Oneonta, brought their traveling BBQ grills out and cooked up some great chicken. For $11.00 you got ½ a chicken, coleslaw, baked potato, a roll, a drink and a cookie. What a deal. There were kids, parents, neighbors and teachers all out there together and it did make me think of all those hours spent planning and participating in school fundraisers. We were happy to contribute to their cause and delighted to chow down.

THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S FUNDRAISING BBQ

Mark Atwood and two of his darling girls, Alyssa and Bethany, joined us late in the evening for a night on Quest and a day on the Erie Canal. We eagerly anticipated their arrival all day, stocking up on fishy crackers, cookies and juice boxes.

MARK, ALYSSA AND BETHANY MADE IT TO WATERFORD.