This is a view of the Potomac from the GW Parkway on our drive up to the Falls.
Here's some deer we saw along the way.
Finally at the falls. But we had to cross two islands to reach thm.
On our way back, Alyssa pointed out these tracks in the mud below. What could they be?
On this side of the river, the canal system built to bypass these falls is still present today, and working, with locks based on the design of Leonardo da Vinci. The C and O Canal (Chesapeake and Ohio) was meant to connect Ohio with the Chesapeake Bay. However, the B and O Railroad (Baltimore and Ohio) was completed on the same day (both July 4, 1828), and the railroad eventually won out. The canals were preserved as a monument.
Mule-drawn boat trips along the canal are offered and the girls and I rode this boat today.
We were pulled into Lock 20 by one person!
This is the key used to operate the locks, It is very heavy. It is used to open slot within the lock gates to let the water in/out.
Once the lock had been filled, we were then on mule-power!
It was an entertaining and peaceful ride until it was time to return to the lock and notify the lock keeper of our arrival.
Here's some of the games they entertained the kids with.
After the ride, we had some lunch.
We also had an inquisitive visitor.
