What: Metamora Canal & Grist Mill Tour
When: Friday, May 15th, 2009
Where: Metamora, Indiana
Time: 11:30 AM
Who: Homeschoolers of all ages
Cost: $2.00 a person

This is the plan: Meet at the Mill for a tour at 11:30 AM then go do the Canal Boat ride at 1 PM. They have several picnic tables around the town and a park with a covered shelter and play area if your family would like to get there early and eat lunch.

Here’s the website: http://www.metamoraindiana.com/index.htm

Link to town map (PDF): http://www.metamoraindiana.com/images/MetamoraMap.pdf

Metamora is Indiana's treasured 1838 canal town. Nestled in southeastern Indiana's beautiful countryside, Metamora is steeped in history and famous for its preservation of Indiana's oldest and still operating water-powered grist mill. Visitors can step back in time while taking a leisurely 25-minute cruise on the Ben Franklin III. Along the route they pass the Duck Creek Aqueduct, a covered bridge that carries the canal 16 feet over Duck Creek. It is believed to be the only structure of its kind in the nation. The Ben Franklin III, launched in 1989, was designed and constructed in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Designed as a freighter, the vessel is 75 feet long and has a beam (width) of 12 feet. Constructed of wood and fiberglass, it holds approximately 75 passengers and crew.

Directions: From Cincinnati:
Take I-74 West towards Indianapolis to Exit 169 Brookville/West Harrison (First exit in Indiana). Turn left on US 52. Travel Approx 14 miles. Go though the town of Brookville (Main Street) and veer left (west) to proceed on US 52. Travel approx 9 more miles.

What a great day! The weather looked a little iffy as we approached the town, but it turned out to be just perfect. We arrived early, ate lunch and then toured the grist mill, it was really cool to see how the mill the corn, using only the power from the water to run the machinery. After the grist mill, we had time to walk around the town before our canal boat tour. I didn't do much walking, Luke found some rocks and a puddle and was so happy just tossing the rocks in the water. We often don't have time to savor the little pleasures in life and I figured rather than drag him from shop to shop, watching him play was a better choice. The canal boat tour was really interesting and was something I had never experienced before. It was quite enjoyable, but I doubt that I would have enjoyed it had I had to do it for a living.... 16 to 24 hours to go the 52 miles between Metamora and Cincinnati, I get restless with the 1 hr 15 min drive. I don't know if I would like the town on a busy weekend, but it was a pleasant visit on a spring afternoon.