Rain Holds No Threat

Tuesday, Sept. 5

What a great day!  Woke to steady rain even though the temps were not too low.  Talked to Bernadette at breakfast and she was going to the hospital to get George.  All the test came back negative and he is feeling fine.  Our first stop for the day was scheduled for 9AM at the Black River Canal Museum just maybe a mile down the road.  With 4 or 5 vehicles rain is not a problem.   The museum is normally closed for the season after Labor Day but they opened just for us and what a wealth of information.  Even had a hands-on room where we got to test lifting 30 pounds with 3 different types of pullies and a small canal where we could open and close the locks to float boats through the canal.  They had a canal barge built to specs that we could get on and see where and how the family lived and where the mules were kept when not pulling the barge.  Leaving there we traveled a few miles to one of the remaining locks to see the actual size and structure. 

Next stop – lunch then off to see the Oriskany battlefield.  If I can retain only a little of the information Gary shared I’ll be happy.  This was the bloodiest battle of the revolutionary war with British, Indians and Colonist all involved.   The rain was “light” so we got out of the cars to walk when thunder began to sound like cannons and lightening lite the sky and  the rain started to pour.  Dashing back to the vehicles with giggles ringing we headed for our 3^rd and final destination.

We arrived at the Native American Museum in Oneida.  Oneida is an Indian reservation solely governed by the Oneida people.  The Oneida tribe is one of only 2 Native American tribes to not be overpowered by the United States and their treaty is renewed annually.  The reason?  They were diplomatic enough to work with the budding new nation.  This is a tribe run by the women – oh they have male chiefs but they are in charge only as long as the women say they can be.  The women say when they will go to war and when they will stop fighting.  The lady in the museum gave us a short lecture and shared some information in their native language. 

Back in  the vehicles we head for the lodge with a stop at Tops to pick up subs and various food items for our dinner.  I quickly took my bike across the street to Jett Vinyl Graphics for some art work.  Meeting at 7:30 and I have the feeling Gary has a test prepared for us. 

What a group!  25 UTR members

Bernie was taking it all in.

Mina likes the hands on room.

One of the original Black River Canal locks.  The workmanship is amazing.