Virtual Tour of the Lehigh Canal

The Lehigh Canal

The Lehigh Canal
A Virtual Tour


Everette Carr on the canal

Epilogue

The Virtual Tour!

It is my sincere hope that you have enjoyed the virtual tour of the Lehigh Canal. It has been my pleasure to bring this historic canal's story to you for your enjoyment. Although I greatly enjoy creating web pages and believe that I have certain talents in that area, I can assure you it was far more enjoyable and thrilling to have actually experienced the canal, or what remains of it, out there on those crisp fall mornings and early spring afternoons.

I looked forward to and planned each outing knowing that it would likely prove to be an adventure or at the worst, a day out in the fresh air experiencing nature. Where it was possible to do so, I traveled the towpaths on my mountain bike. Where the canal had not been maintained or restored, and the path was overgrown or non-existent, I walked. Because of my rheumatoid arthritis and deteriorating knees, on the days that I walked, the going was slow and difficult. But with determination and perseverance and a great deal of faith in the idea that everything would turn out alright, I succeeded in accomplishing what I set out to do. The venture was not without it's mishaps...however. I slipped, I tripped and I fell on my A.. on several occasions while attempting to get a better vantage point from which to photograph the locks and the canal. I suffered a cut above my right eyebrow when trying to maneuver on a lock wall partially hidden beneath fall leaves. I also suffered numerous bruises when footing became precarious. I destroyed the deraileur on my mountain bike (spring 2003), when a stick became jammed between my chain and the rear deraileur. The stick went into the spokes pulling the deraileur into the spokes and twisting it like a pretzel. The bike came to a screeching hault but stayed upright. I walked, pushing the bike, the last two miles back to where I had parked.

It would truly be an accomplishment if the Lehigh Canal were restored and preserved for it's full length from Whitehaven, PA to Easton, PA. This is not going to happen. Nor is it realistic to think that it will be restored from Jim Thorp to Easton, Pennsylvania. Segments of the canal are gone forever and there is no hope that anyone will ever be able to travel the full length of the canal by towpath. But, when you stop to consider that the canal has not operated commercially since 1934 and that the last boat to travel the canal did so in 1946, it is truly amazing that much of the canal has been preserved, in one state or another. We are indebted to the forward thinking individuals in the communities along the canal that had the vision and foresight to attempt to preserve portions of the canal for recreation and for the enjoyment of future generations. The portions that were preserved and are maintained get a lot of traffic from joggers, walkers, fishermen, bicyclist and casual strollers.

When Everyday Is Saturday!

Many who view this web site, dedicated to the Lehigh Canal, may well wonder what the fascination is and why I would bother to spend my time exploring it, much less creating a web site to glorify it's existence. All too few appreciate the wonders of things old and long past. But I, on the other hand, glory in the past and of things that were, as I am sure many who will view my work do. But I worry that we do not do enough to preserve our past and I worry when we begin to appreciate the rarity of what was, only after it is too late to preserve it.

So, it is of little or no consequence to me if others fail to appreciate my small contribution, for I have experienced the joy of having researched and gathered the information necessary to present a cohesive virtual journey. And, I have experienced the joy of actually having made the trip from Mauch Chunk (a word in the Lenni Lanape language meaning 'Bear Mountain'), to Easton over a brief period of time.

In truth, I covered the distance in far too short a time, although I didn't finish it in 2002 as planned. Even though I was not faced with an absolute deadline, for, after all, I have the rest of my life to complete the project. (Note: One does not think of life as finite while living it). But, weather was a consideration and a problem. I wanted to finish before the extreme cold weather came to this part of the country. But alas, I didn't make it! Cold weather caught up with me before I could complete the project. But, on a few sunny days, when the temperature wasn't too cold, and there was no bitter wind blowing, I got out there and made an effort to conclude this project. You no doubt took notice that there was snow and ice on the ground and in the locks in some of the scenes. But, eventually, the towpath became treacherous and impassable and the project had to be abandoned until spring (2003). Once the project is finished, whenever that is, I will miss the joy of pedaling my mountain bike along the canal as the sun filters through the trees. I will miss the beauty of the early spring flowers and the multi-colored leaves of the fall, as they fell from the trees and blanketed the path and surrounding woods. I will miss the whisper of the breeze blowing through the trees. I will miss the lunches eaten while dangling my legs over the wall of a lock or sitting at a trail-side picnic table soaking up the warmth of the sun. I will miss the sound of the water flowing over the spillway of a long unused canal lock gate. I will miss the singing of the birds as they flit from tree to tree, seemingly following my progress down the waterway. I will miss the sound of the Lehigh River creating white water as it rushes over boulders that were placed in the river bed way back in the ice age. Yes, I will miss it, I will miss it terribly....

No I won't!

No, you can bet that I will return to the canal, time and time again. Yes, time and time again, I will return, riding the towpath past Weissport, Freemansburg or Glendon. I'll be out there every chance I get, and in every season of the year and although I will be riding where I have ridden before, I will never tire of the experience or the joy of discovering it again, for the first time.

Life is wonderful, when everyday is Saturday!

Oh!, by the way, I have a new mountain bike and it's a beauty.


Everette's new Trek 4100 mountain bike.

 

                                  See you on the canal, Everette

Oh! Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed!

 

    Continued

 

View a map of the area of the Lehigh Canal

View a more detailed map of the Canal System


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