| We all know from Roman antiques history that | | | | Stonehenge. As it is, this is a fine renewal |
| Hadrian had a wall built in north Britain to | | | | of the canal that inspired the Erie Canal |
| keep the Scots from coming over and killing | | | | that opened up America. As we have admitted, |
| Roman soldiers in the night. We now know that | | | | this little canal did no grand things such as |
| a canal crosses Scotland and somewhere in | | | | that, and had finally been abandoned the |
| that area a Roman tunnel was expanded to | | | | past forty years. |
| allow a futuristic looking canal to become a | | | | |
| waterway that comes out of that tunnel to | | | | This grand renewal, one might imagine, if |
| soar into space and onto the one massive | | | | placed some where on the old abandoned Erie |
| Archimedes Screw to replace the previous | | | | Canal somewhere between Albany to Buffalo, |
| eleven canal locks. | | | | would likely also inspire tourists by the |
| | | | millions as it is nearby fabled Niagara |
| I had just watched a documentary of the | | | | Falls. You would naturally go over and paddle |
| building of this project, which was part of a | | | | your honeymoon canoe over to and the thrill |
| Millennium Project for this economically | | | | of a new life ride up, up and away all the |
| challenged area. The science involved has | | | | height distance between Buffalo over to old |
| been so sweeping and combined with the | | | | Fort Orange as the Dutch called the city up |
| architecturally spectacular magnificence of | | | | the Hudson from New Amsterdam. |
| this modern marvel that uses the ferris wheel | | | | |
| effect invented by young lad Archimedes to | | | | If you get to see this amazing, joyous ferris |
| lift water out of the Nile. | | | | wheel from the ancient Nile, you can just |
| | | | imagine some fortunate town around Rochester |
| Now we see four boats in the upper tub enter, | | | | or wherever, caught in a slump now and then. |
| as do four boats more than 75 feet below into | | | | Like Niagara, this wheel will go on and |
| their tub. The spin cycle lasts only fifteen | | | | around for some time. They give it a lifetime |
| minutes as you must enjoy quite a thrilling | | | | of two million turns before they do whatever |
| sweep out into space and arrive in a | | | | it takes. By then the happy tourist towns of |
| different place and time, as you paddle your | | | | Falkirk and where the science and the tourist |
| canoe out of this space ship from Mars it | | | | industry of up state New York decide is the |
| would seem. Hello, down here on earth. Keep | | | | best location for a larger, of course, Erie |
| moving, four more boats are coming down. | | | | Wheel. |
| | | | |
| The citizens of this town by this hill are | | | | Sweetly ironic it would be, that once again |
| told to expect their new Falkirk Wheel is | | | | the Erie pick up on an idea from this same |
| expected to draw two hundred thousands of | | | | canal that inspired it. The wheels of |
| tourists each year from now on. And the | | | | progress through history, as with the |
| reflex of many, including a retired Innkeeper | | | | Archimedes screw, do keep turning. And we |
| such as myself, is to select the finest | | | | applaud that. Quite in awe, really. Fun funds |
| location for, say, a new Roman style Inn, and | | | | well spent to revitalize. People from all |
| restaurant with finest views of the Wheel | | | | over the old Roman Empire will come and |
| reserved for luxury suites and place | | | | marvel, even the scholars of Alexandria. |
| settings. | | | | |
| | | | Although on the Falkirk Wheel, it could be |
| That is just how things happen, and if there | | | | that they have a sign, No Roman Warships |
| were any hot springs nearby they would be as | | | | Allowed. And charge any citizen from old Rome |
| like Roman Bath, now a heavenly attraction in | | | | double to paddle their canoe here. |
| the south west of England not so far from | | | | |