Summer 2022 Day 1

To be absolutely factual, this was only a half day as I worked for the morning, then finished up with what I need to do to leave, then drove about 3 hours to Utica NY. But because the car has had to be parked on the street for the past few days (the driveway was repaved), I actually started with a car wash to get rid of the heavy coating of pine pollen.

I don’t know if it was because of mid-week or not, but traffic was lighter than I’d expected. There were still too many trucks, but car traffic seemed light. That could be due to gas prices, I suppose, or it could be because I’m not used to doing these trips in early June vs. July and August.

The last 10 miles or so to Utica were the worst because of heavy – almost “biblical” – rains. I’ve never been quite so happy to get off at an exit, and now, a couple of hours later, it’s perfectly dry outside.

Tomorrow will hopefully bring an early start to get through Syracuse before their rush hour and then on to Columbus OH where I’ll spend two nights before tackling the drive to California!

Although it’s not much to look at, there’s a fairly significant building just beyond my hotel:

That “Division of Canals” building is the most intact remaining freight terminal remaining from the old NY State Barge Canal system. The water you see connects with the Erie Canal which runs through Utica. This building, dating from 1913-1918, is one of several that were build to facilitate transfer of freight to and from the canal barges.