Metamora, Indiana is the site of the only operating canal boat ride in Indiana. This is part of the Whitewater Canal started in 1836. It was replaced by the railroad in the 1860's and ruined the Indiana state budget costing millions. Indiana is a state that is required to have a balanced budget and this canal system is one of the reasons why. In 1946 they reopened a 14 mile stretch.
Map of the canal route
There is an operating grist mill located in the town. Originally it was a cotton mill but was converted to grist when the canal was no longer operating and the wheel is located in the canal at the locks.
They weren't making flour while we were there but this is the enclosure for the grinding stones.
A flour dresser is used to sort the flour by size. Corn meal comes from one end and coarser grits flour from the other.
The wheel is short and is located in that channel on the left next to this overflow.
The canal is full of ducks and I had to include a few pictures :-)
Headless ducks
I thought this one looked like the idea of getting in the water did not appeal in the least! They were leaning in to drink, instead of just getting in and making it easy :-) "Don't swim in my water bowl!"
Tail up!
Back of the canal boat.
Side of the canal boat. There were only 4 of us that went on this ride. It was raining later and they probably didn't run any more rides that day.
They have 5 horses.....2 teams of 2 who alternate pulling the boat and George, who is "retired" in leisure and just eats and does what horses do. These 2 are Jerry in the front and Mike in the back.
Pulling the boat. We progressed at 4 miles an hour and went about a mile up and a mile back.
This "covered bridge" that you see is actually an aqueduct. It carries the canal water over Duck Creek.
It is the only known operating aqueduct in the United States.
This is an award for this civil engineering landmark.
Mike assures me that this is a great accomplishment.
When we got to the aqueduct, they unhook the horses and lead them down to the road. A man takes the rope and guides the boat through the bridge and they hook the horses up again on the other side. The horses walk along a railroad track and because there are no guard rails going over this little creek, they do not feel it is safe to walk the horses over the creek on the railroad tracks.
Turning the horses around for the trip back up the canal.
This is the horses pulling us out of the aqueduct and should have been before the turning.
The canal is lined with small shops and the town is a haven for little "tourist" shops of this sort. They say when they have their "Canal Days" the place is packed.
Map of the canal route
There is an operating grist mill located in the town. Originally it was a cotton mill but was converted to grist when the canal was no longer operating and the wheel is located in the canal at the locks.
They weren't making flour while we were there but this is the enclosure for the grinding stones.
A flour dresser is used to sort the flour by size. Corn meal comes from one end and coarser grits flour from the other.
The wheel is short and is located in that channel on the left next to this overflow.
The canal is full of ducks and I had to include a few pictures :-)
Headless ducks
I thought this one looked like the idea of getting in the water did not appeal in the least! They were leaning in to drink, instead of just getting in and making it easy :-) "Don't swim in my water bowl!"
Tail up!
Back of the canal boat.
Side of the canal boat. There were only 4 of us that went on this ride. It was raining later and they probably didn't run any more rides that day.
They have 5 horses.....2 teams of 2 who alternate pulling the boat and George, who is "retired" in leisure and just eats and does what horses do. These 2 are Jerry in the front and Mike in the back.
Pulling the boat. We progressed at 4 miles an hour and went about a mile up and a mile back.
This "covered bridge" that you see is actually an aqueduct. It carries the canal water over Duck Creek.
It is the only known operating aqueduct in the United States.
This is an award for this civil engineering landmark.Mike assures me that this is a great accomplishment.
When we got to the aqueduct, they unhook the horses and lead them down to the road. A man takes the rope and guides the boat through the bridge and they hook the horses up again on the other side. The horses walk along a railroad track and because there are no guard rails going over this little creek, they do not feel it is safe to walk the horses over the creek on the railroad tracks.
Turning the horses around for the trip back up the canal.
This is the horses pulling us out of the aqueduct and should have been before the turning.
The canal is lined with small shops and the town is a haven for little "tourist" shops of this sort. They say when they have their "Canal Days" the place is packed.
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11 comments:
Aha! You got through - I enjoyed this post!
WOW, what a trip. I've never ridden on a canal boat, but there is one near Buffalo, NY that does rides. The Erie canal used to travel south of I-90 in NY state to Penna, and the Erie extention canal went right down the streets of Erie. There are some places where it's still visible.
Great pictures Mary. It looks like you're having a wonderful time. Plenty of rain here!
There is an award for you on my blog.
Have a safe week-end.
I've time to catch up on my blog reading this morning. What an interesting tour you've been having. I'd love to do this one, through the canal with the horses. Sounds like you've been having a great time.
This is an EXTREMELY interesting blog Mary. I enjoyed every word of it!! Thanks for sharing.
So nice to tag along with you! Fun to go on vacation while sitting in the office! ;)
Cheers, Klaus
What a wonderful series of photographs. I just love them and a fun visit.
This is really interesting. I wonder if it is difficult for the horses or is it just like a saunter for them as the boat glides along after them in the water. This is fascinating history.
Another great post and again a place I have been before...but we got there kind of late in the day. We didn't get to go for a ride.
Thanks everyone...I'm back home and have good connections again! This was a very slow relaxing ride and being 2 of the only 4 people on the boat, we could walk back and forth taking all the photos we wanted.
Becky: The Wabash Erie Canal ran through Evansville and we have some streets that run at a slant to all the other streets because of when the canal was there (I can still remember Canal Street).
Ann: Mike says that it is not a strain for the horses at all. Originally they used donkeys on the canals and these horses are much bigger! Each team only works every other day and they usually do a max of 5-6 trips. It is probably harder for the men walking with them :-)
Rose: We will have to meet somewhere one of these days...we live so close! I was hoping to get to the Parke County covered bridge fesitval but I think it is the same week as the Des Moines, Iowa quilt show which we plan to go to. I'll miss Grousland in Vincennes, too probably.
Hi Mary, back again. I left something for you on my latest post. It is an award I was given that I would like to pass on to you.
Enjoyed all of these but that covered bridge one, wow!
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