Day 6 - On a Whim

Hmm.

Today, I had planned to drive around the upper reaches on Lake Champlain on the U.S. side, to visit Vermont and a particular museum and visit the most nommy fish & chips shop this side of the pond.

They're closed on Sundays.

Grumph.

So, what mischief can I get into?

There is a squishie location. Difficulty level: it's quite a drive to the north-west, away from our chosen route.

Well, what else are we going to do?

Off to Eisenhower Lock, on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

I'm not an engineering person. That's my hubby's department, and he loves to geek out at the mechanics and suchlike at places like this. So when we got there, and went through the tunnel to the north side to look around, then came back and through security to the museum...

I lost my husband.

And no squishy machine.

That last one isn't their fault, though. They want it back, pretty please. It was removed when they built the museum. The new place isn't even a month old! And, I gotta say, quite nicely set up for the boat watchers, with a deck and countdown clock to when the next ship comes through.

Lots of things to learn! The history of the lock, why it is still critical to shipping, the engineering that went into it, the navigation, the weather impact, those awesome giant suction cups to keep it centered as water is pumped. 3-D mapping and models and guess what is shipped and try loading a boat and keeping it afloat and see a speeded-up video of a year in the life of a lock.

We finally ambled out of there, and returned to our hotel. We also stopped at a grocery store to top up some supplies on the way, as we worked our way through rolling hills with lots of historic signs. We took our time, because a rental with Georgia plates attracts attention. No speeding through tiny hamlets for us, no thanks.

Picturesque landscape, even in the fog and mist. Yes, while back home was under a scorching heat dome, we were getting rainy clouds and mist and overcast and ooblek mixed in every night.

So we, well, ambled.

One thing of interest happened while we were at the grocery store. Hubby went in for the few supplies, and I relaxed in the car (I'm the primary driver, it's a way to split chores.) A van pulled up aside – and in something out of a silent movie, bunches of Latino young men came popping out. They were looking around furtively, and some headed into the store, and the others went over to the side of the parking lot, sliding cell phones out of their pockets. No, it wasn't what you're thinking. I glanced at the van logo, and saw that these were roofing contractors getting off work for the day. These kids were scared. I know that look. Terrified, but trying to hold it together with stone faces. The eyes told the real story. I couldn't tell if they were being trafficked, but being the only people of color that I'd seen in days, that close to the northern border... That hurt. I felt so sorry for them. Once their buddies came back with supplies, they piled in and were off again. I wonder how many people had to be fed with those few bags of food.

We called it an early night, went back to the hotel, and made ourselves a meal. I would have ordered something from the steak house nearby for the hubs... They were closed.

I should have take it for the omen it was.

But, hey, baseball on TV!