Changing Tide

Here are a few “before and after” photos (or possibly, “after and before” photos) of the canal by the bike path. Half were taken when it was recently drained for the annual(?) inspections and repairs, the other half, either before or after

This was the first time Sam and I had seen the canal empty at the south end. Of course, before this year, (and maybe a little bit of last year), walking this section of the bike path was not something we normally (or even, abnormally) did - certainly not on a regular (or even irregular) basis. Kind of neat to see, though.

I was hoping to be around whenever they filled the canal back up. The canal must be five or six miles long and I've wondered about the logistics of letting the water back in. When it was drained, there were some kids exploring the puddles down near the power plant (throwing mud and swearing, natch) and further up, there were people standing on the mudflats, fishing in a few of the larger puddles(!). (Not sure I understand the logic of this puddle-fishing but, whatever. I guess it gets them out of the house.)

So, when they fill the canal, what do they do to make sure the people are out of the canal? Do they station volunteers along the sides, maybe with some old-tyme-type megaphones (think Rudy Vallee- look it up kids) - hopefully yelling something like, “Head’s up! Water’s a-comin’!". 

If so, to complete my fantasy, I would (and do) imagine said volunteers wearing those 1920’s style bathing suits - the kind with striped tank-tops and maybe even bathing caps (look that up, as well). Maybe all the town-folk come down from the hills to watch what must be the biggest event in town since, well, since they did the same thing last year.

Or maybe whoever lets the water back in doesn't give a hoot* (*insert any word you prefer). Maybe they just go ahead and release the water and whoever wasn’t observant enough to notice the oncoming rush of a tidal wave gets washed into the turbines at the power plant on the far end. Either way, I wonder how you get a job like that.

Anyway, here are the photos...