The C &O Canal in Spring

 This ended  up being a very different trip than the time we came here in the Fall.

For one thing, we went into the Tavern (now a museum) and looked around and played checkers.


Then we went for a walk along the canal, looking at the system of waterfall, locks, and spillways that maintain the water levels along this artificial river.

Finally, it was time for a ride on the canal boat!


I'd never been through a lock before, and it was amazing!

We were pulled into the lock by a person. 

It was interesting to see how much floating weight a single person could pull.  The guide told us the smallest child (probably three years old) could pull the whole boat with us on it. Physics!

Once in the lock, the lock master opened the lock with a key.  The key is the large wrench he is pulling on.  It opens panels within the door of the lock, and water gushed through.

Immediately we felt the boat rise in the lock! 

It turns out that "lock" comes from the fact that we are "locked in" by the water pressure against the doors until the water level equalized.

Once through the lock, they hitched up a team of mules, and away we went!

They talked a lot about the reason they used mules.  I knew they were stronger and tougher than horses.  I did not know that they are smarter than horses.  A well trained horse will follow orders, even when the animal thinks it's a dangerous command.  A mule, evidently, will tell you when they think you are wrong about something.

They also talked about the kind of boats on the canal, pertiularly about passenger "packets" like ours.  In the 1820s, the passengers often amused themselves with music, so we ended our ride on a high note with a concertina and an array of home style instruments.

By the end of the ride, it was in the mid 80s, and the lovely breezes on the boat were dying down.  It was just starting to be sticky and hot (heading up to 90), so we opted out of the walk down to see the falls. 

They played on a large pile of sand, and in a hollow tree for a few minutes, and then we headed home.  We'll go back and try the falls when it's cooler!