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