Elderhostel
on the
Erie Canal
"Clinton's Ditch to Waterway of Glory"
October 2-9, 2005
our motel in Canastota, New York
dinner at Graziano's
program orientation by Jan Walterick
after which we had to tell about ourselves through pictures we drew
the Host Museum at Chittenango
More Photos of the Museum at Chittenango
Welcome to the Museum by Lynn DeOrio, Director
Gilles Roy told us about the Erie Canal history
how the locks functioned
about the tow mules
and the cross over when the tow path
changed to the other side of the canal
and how mule towed boats passed
we viewed the canal dry docks at the museum
More Photos of Erie Canal Dry Docks
learned about Wildflowers of the
region from
Barbara and Gordon De Angelo
and life on the canal from Captain Kelsey (Michele Henry)
on the second day Joan DiChristina, introduced Andy Kitzman
from whom we learned about building the canal
and the special stump pullers required to clear the cut timber land
Canal Lifestyles were related by Jan Walterick
the story of Grandma Sheldon, a canal boat worker
was told by her daughter, Rita
and her granddaughters
and in the evening a dulcimer concert was performed by John O'Hara
to hear a portion of his concert
on the third day we visited the Sims Store Museum in Camillus
More Photos of the Camillus Museum
and the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse in the old canal weigh house
More photos of the Syracuse Museum
had a buffet lunch at the Rusty Rail Restaurant
and visited the Canastota Canal Town Museumum
More Photos of the Canastota Museum
on day four we boarded the Emita II
Photos of our trip on the Erie Canal aboard Emita II
Emita tied up for our motel overnightht
the captain of the Emita II, telling us of his dreams for the Erie Canal
leaving the Emita II at the end of our voyage
returning by bus to Canastota
our canal cookie at the last lunch
