Herkimer and Rome

Tom arrived earlier than expected by car, so we all drove back to see the museum and Fort Plain. It was closed, but we did get a chance to visit a very early indian mission church which has been restored by a local society.

We also passed an entire field of daisies. For some reason I am unable to upload any pictures, but will try later.


Tuesday, June 5th

We left Little Falls early and ran down to Ilion, NY. There is a great little marina there and the fuel is less exorbitant than elsewhere on the Erie.

Father Tom rode his bike back and got his car, returned and we drove to the famed Herkimer Diamond Mines. We only found 6 or 7 diamonds, they were very small and ,truth to tell, not really diamonds, but some other clear crystal, but it was fun until the rain started.

We returned to the marina and shortly a cold front fell upon us and it began to blow very hard. We doubled up the lines and went to sleep.

Wednesday June 6

We awoke to a very cold and bleak day and felt that we couldn't send Tom out on a bicycle trip, so it would be a good day to do some more-sight seeing. We drove to Rome, NY and visited the Erie Canal Village. This is a reconstruction of a village along the Erie Canal and is situated at the location of the first excavation for the old Erie canal. The remnants of the old Erie, as well as the improved Erie, built 10 years later, are clearly visible. We took a ride in a wagon pulled by mules down to the reconstructed canal boat, but it was not yet giving the rides on the improved canal this year.

We next visited the Rome city museum, the Fort Stanwix museum and the reconstructed fort. This National Park Service facility is really interesting and worth more time than we were able to give it. Including the museum at the village, we visited a village, 3 museums and a fort.

Sleep came easily.

Thursday June 6

Today is laundry day! We planned to visit the Remington Arms museum here in Ilion, but missed the tour. Hope to visit a cheese factory and a memorial to the Challenger later today.