Happy birthday to me!

[Harry]

We took the grands into Lockport today to visit the Lockport Caves. It's a cave that businesses used as a raceway for water from the Erie canal. They directed it into a penstock that then dropped to a turbine that turned a generator for electricy for two businesses. The business made fire hydrants back in the 1800's. Another used the water to turn shafts to power a grist mill. The tunnels were carved out with chisels and hammers back in the late 1800's. I've lived here all my life and never went through the caves. Part of the tour was walking and the last part was a boat ride. The boat was powered by a electric trolling motor. Water dripping off the ceiling so everyone got a little wet. The caves are next to the locks of the Erie Canal which was originally five locks. They were small and the water was moved by gravity only. Later in the early 1900's they created two locks much larger and pumps move the water in and out of the locks. Today the locks are only used for pleasure boats, not barges and no charge to use them.
A birthday I won't soon forget.

Keep the Peace