ride-with-wa: Day 50. Syracuse to Utica, NY

MEMORY LANE, THUNDERSTORMS AND FT. STANWIX

We started off the day a bit early as it was to be a longish day. First stop, the Syracuse University Rowing Boathouse and scene of the IRAs (Intercollegiate Rowing Assoc) championships. For years the IRAs were held on Lake Onondaga, George competed in them, 50 years ago. Warren came here junior year to row against Syracuse, (44 yrs ago) but in warmups blew out his back so did not race. For both of us it was a ride down Memory Lane. The Syracuse boathouse is located at the north end of Lake Onondaga, near the current Erie Canal.

After this brief stop we pushed on down the lake through Syracuse and onto the Erie Canal trail. The Erie Canal bike trail is south of the lake through Syracuse, the working canal is north of the lake. Like yesterday it was a mostly gravel trail, some muddy spots, some pavement and some road. Generally a pleasant ride.

My history of the Erie Canal is sketchy at best. The sign post below is helpful. The first canal completed 1825 (see yesterday) was later enlarged and then enlarged again. Sometimes the upgrade was built within the location of the existing canal, sometimes moved. The Erie Canal bike trail follows all 3 at various times.

We stopped in Canastota for lunch, but did not tarry as thunderstorms were approaching. They caught us in Rome. We hung out in a local mini-mart for about 45 minutes until the storm passed.

After the rains we stopped at Ft. Stanwix, originally built in 1758, and later enlarged after the Revolutionary War. Notes: 1) consumption (tuberculosis) was a major disease so soldiers all slept sitting up to help with breathing. The other major disease - scurvy 2) Flintlock pieces were made in different locations, locks in France, barrel in France generally, and stock in the colonies. The gun was assembled at yet another location. If your new flintlock arrived with all the pieces it was yours “lock, stock, and barrel.

Soldiers quarters