Erie Canal

On the 25th we took a boat trip on the Erie Canal up through locks 34 and 35. They were a pair of combination locks that raise boats up 50 foot to the Niagara River. We went under a single span bridge that is 399 feet wide. It is reputedly the widest single span bridge in the world. We also went under an upside down railroad bridge. Back in the day, the transportation competition was fierce and the railroads were crisscrossing the canals, but the canals were still cheaper. So the railroads had a law passed that prohibited the barge loads from being any higher than 15 feet off the water. Then they built their crossings at 15 feet over the water!! The "upside down" bridge trusses were built downward to 15 feet from the water because the canal owners wouldn't let the railroads cut the solid rock walls down. The canal took 7 years to finish but this 3 mile section of solid granite rock took took over 5 of those years to cut. The tow path is permanent but completely overgrown with trees in this section above the 34 and 35 locks. The original cost was paid off in less than 10 years with the freight charges at one-half cent per ton per mile traveled on the 360 mile canal. That's right, one half cent! Not only was it cheaper than the longer land freighter costs, but it was a quicker delivery by about 7 weeks.
After that wonderful, sunny trip on the canal we decided to go to eat at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. Buffalo wings were first made in the Anchor Bar!! We had them and they are GOOD!!
And, they were big!! Thanks for sending us there, Sharon and Lee!!