Contributed by the Champlain Canalway Trail Working Group
In this bicentennial year of the Champlain Canal, the Champlain Canalway Trail Working Group held two celebratory events in May and June, including a historic walk, bike rides, and bike rodeos.
In Waterford, as part of the Canal Festival, Town Historian Russ Vandervoort led a historic walking tour on the Champlain Canalway Trail from Lock E2 to the historic old Lock 5 and back.
Also in Waterford, a bike ride along the Champlain Canalway Trail from Lock E2 to Upper Newtown Road in the Town of Halfmoon was led by John Gillivan and narrated by local historian and fellow bike rider, John Mitchell. The Albany Bicycle Coalition joined us to help spread the word about trails and bicycle safety.
The ride followed the trail along the Old Champlain Canal through woods and fields with opportunities to view wildlife (especially beavers). It also featured the remains of the former Lock 5 and the Old Champlain Canal Historic Waste Weir (an engineering marvel) at McDonald’s Creek.
In Fort Edward, about mid-way on the Champlain Canal, Washington County agencies such as Public Health, the Youth Bureau, Feeder Canal Alliance and the Adirondack Health Institute joined the celebration with children’s games and bicycle safety instruction. The 25-mile round trip bike ride started with a presentation by local historian Jim Bennefield, who talked about the history of the canal near Fort Edward. At Lock C9 in the Town of Kingsbury, riders were greeted by another local historian, Dale Grinnell, who described the history there and the hamlet of Smiths Basin, which in its day was not a hamlet but a large community. In Fort Ann, the turn-around point, geologist Eric Potter pointed out fossils still visible in the original canal walls. This is the longest off-road segment of the CCT. The trail runs along the canal through beautiful open farm country, giving the rider time to imagine horse drawn farm equipment in the fields and mule-pulled barges on the canal.
Both events also featured bike rodeos for the youngsters. New helmets were given to children whose helmets were worn or no longer fit. Children practiced their riding skills while learning about bike safety rules. The number of children participating seems to ensure the third century of the Champlain Canal will be healthy.
Thanks to the generous support of the New York State Canal Corporation and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the Champlain Canalway Trail Working Group was able to give away commemorative t-shirts and bicycle bells while supply lasted.
Canalway Trail Times 