this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2024
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History Ruins

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What is a ruin? We’re running off of “You know it when you see it” at the moment. Ruins should be non-functioning structures of some age, or their function reduced to tourism and the like.

Generally speaking, specific items from a ruin should go to [email protected]

Illustrations of ruins (or their reconstructions) should go to [email protected]

Photos of ruins back when they were functioning should go to [email protected]

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[–] PugJesus 34 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Surprisingly simple! I grew up near an old towpath that was converted into a hiking trail.

The rope configuration keeps it straight despite the horse being 'off-center'.

[–] lazycouchpotato 2 points 15 hours ago

Fascinating. Thanks for the images!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

These are great! Thanks Pug!

[–] AnUnusualRelic 2 points 21 hours ago

Also, when horses weren't available, people would pull the boats.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

muchos gracias

[–] [email protected] 2 points 22 hours ago

I figured the rudder would also be used to keep the boat straight.

[–] jaybone 2 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Did these guys really walk directly behind these horses? Do they die when the horse freaks out and kicks?

[–] ThePyroPython 8 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Well probably just kept an eye on it from the boat.

The real killer was when you approached a canal tunnel a few miles long with no side path. You'd send the horse on ahead to the exit of the tunnel with a rider, and then you and two of your besties would lay back against the top and sides of the boat with your feet against the tunnel arch and walk the boat through in pitch black darkness.

[–] jaybone 4 points 22 hours ago

Yeah there was a post on Lemmy some time back about people doing this. You’d think they would keep a lantern handy for such an occasion though.