Chapter 211
5/6/2009
Vischer Ferry Tow Path River Walk
ole Sal
As I finished my (frequent) river walk a couple days ago this fisherman called me over to take a picture of the 40 inch, 15 pound Northern Pike he had just caught. He had no idea who he was dealing with and who'd turn it into a video. He turned out to be another in the long line of IT specialists (info tech) that I've met, this one for Albany Med College. A large perch was the tasty bait for the day. He signed my consent waiver and volunteered a few more pictures of his catfish, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and bald eagle. I know, in Boston the bank fishermen might drive beatup '76 Fords, in Clifton Park it's new Caddys.
Didn't take time to get all the mergansers, ducks, geese, loons, cormorants and other criters that frequent the area.
Just after our Revolutionary War a rope ferry crossed the Mohawk River from Vischers Ferry. Now there's a pleasant walk along the Tow Path where horses and mules once pulled barges along the old Erie Canal over a hundred years ago. You can see nature is doing reasonably well here with a little help from naturalists and some contributions from Steve Oathout.
my perspective: Grandma was born at the end of the steamboat power era about 75 years after the canal opened. Aunt Carol was born around the time this first song by Bill Murrary was sung to commemorate the beginning of gas and diesel era and the passing of the mule and horse era. Think we sang it in Yorker Club in Mrs McKibben's 8th grade. Modern song rendition Lee Murdock .
mucho web old pics Ogden and the first canal segment Rome canal village
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