In Search of Clinton's Folly - 258 miles

The motel breakfast was a little late so we got underway a bit late also with only coffee and a small doughnut to sustain us.

I had changed the route the night before as we had discovered we hadn't yet seen the last of the Great Lakes. So we headed North towards Lake Ontario.

On the way, Jack noticed that we were to go near the Erie Canal. He had learned about it in history classes in school, so was curious. In the town of Lockport, we took a detour and went in search of the canal and some of the locks. We found them and took a couple of piccies.

Turns out this canal is 363 miles long and rises 600 feet through 50 locks. It was built from 1817 to 1832 and was quite an engineering feat for its day. The original organising politician was New York Govenor at the time, DeWitt Clinton. The newspapers scoffed at the idea. Thus today's title.

Moving back on track, we found Lake Ontario - not too difficult, it is quite big - and came across it as a very nice State camping ground. Looked like a very peaceful place to stay, especially in the nice weather we were having. Apparently it isn't always this good.

Shortly after we suddenly changed from the two-lane country road to a four-lane expressway that ran beside the lake. Seemed like overkill for the area and there was hardly any traffic on it. We had a couple of small problems with it. There were no services nearby and Charleen wanted to go. The road suddenly turned to very rough with lots of ups and downs. Also fuel was getting very low.

The Parkway eventually ended and we were plunged back in to civizilation. We found the very first servo before we ran out and wouldn't you know it, no rest rooms.

So I quickly filled up and we headed across the road to a coffee shop and used their washroom and stayed for coffee and a snack.

All better we headed more east and the GPS decided to take us through suburbia rather than on the highway. Not sure why, but it was very pleasant with nice houses and mostly well cared for.

But it was slow so we eventually found our way back on to a highway.

We came across Lake Oneida. Once again we found that, like many other lakeside areas, lots of properties are built right on to the lake and the passer by cannot get near. Eventually we found a lakeside memorial park and pulled up to take a look and stretch the legs. We were soon overtaken by a light shower so that got us moving again. We managed to out-run it and were soon at our intended digs for the night.

We are motelling it still, due to the cool nature of nights way up north here and we are both harbouring lingering colds. We're fine, but just don't want to take the chance of regression.

Jack and Linda have opted to camp and so are currently not far away.

Today's photos:

One of several large power stations utilising the Niagara Falls

Old Canal Boat memorial

Overhead view of one of the locks in Lockport

Shores of Lake Ontario

We've also been through lots of towns with European names in upstate new York

Many homes have a star on them. Does anyone know why? Genuine question.

One way of reaching out to the postie

Parked by the highway. Nicely preserved.

A place to contemplate the serenity of a calm lake. Cleveland town.

Strange truck following us