Tow Paths

Between Lockport and Spencerport, a lot of the historical tow path remains. These are the level areas on either side of the canal that the mules would walk, with long lines attached to the barges. The original canal was only four feet deep and as the canal was modernized, many of the original channels were abandoned. However, it is still possible to see the tow paths in some areas.

The canal is not very wide – maybe three times Pleiades, which would make it about 90 feet. It looks to be about the distance between bases in baseball. I have held conversations with people on the bank as we go by. One of the hazards is fishing lines – not a mile goes by without somebody having a line in the water. Must be the cheap thrill in this neck of the woods.

Some of these shots are from Middleport – I’m trying to show the level of the land north of the canal. I mentioned in a previous post how the canal was higher than the surrounding land and how the canal authorities checked for leaks daily. It’s hard to get a picture that reproduces what the eye sees.

Oh, and somewhere around Middleport we passed over a road. That’s right – there is one road (called Culvert Road for obvious reasons) that goes underneath the Erie Canal. That’s a strange feeling, believe me.