The Erie Canal and Me

I have really been away too long. I've been dealing with so much stuff that I don't want to deal with. Right now, it's the social isolation. I would like to change that term to social deprivation because that is what it feels like to me now.

Summer has begun, but temperatures are below normal, & many days we are having rain. It's not just a whole day of rain, it's on & off all day long.

To be more positive, our association here has purchased a grader. The potholes are gone, & the towpath(road) is better than it's been in years. The end of this month when the big group of bikers ride thru, they will love it.

This week, the canal is closed from Palmyra to Newark. A barge sank at lock 29 in Palmyra about one month ago. They have been trying to raise it & finally closed & drained part of the canal. Wide waters in Port Gibson has the lowest water, I think, that they've ever seen. The water level isn't routinely lowered every winter like the rest of the canal. I may have to take a short trip to see what's going on, maybe get a good picture or two to share with you.

I've been mailing out many copies of The Rubber Tree Bomb last week & this one for my friend Katie. I hope she does well with them & helps a lot of people. That's what she wanted to do.

Sal