Day #348 – Oswego, NY

Another beautiful day in Oswego.  Although the high is only 68 the skies are clear and sunny.

We rode our bikes over Fort Ontario and did some exploring.  Not sure these were supposed to be bike racks, but we found them quite handy.

The fort sits on top of a hill overlooking Lake Ontario.

Fort Ontario was one of several forts erected by the British to protect the area around the east end of Lake Ontario. The original Fort Ontario was erected in 1755, during the French and Indian War in order to bolster defenses already in place at Fort Oswego on the opposite side of the river.  The fort was used during the American Revolution, the War of 181and the American Civil War.  During World War II, Fort Ontario was home to approximately 982 Jewish refugees.  In 1946 the fort was transferred to the State of New York  and it was initially used to house veterans and their families during the post-war period.

After Fort Ontario we rode our bikes into town and across the Harbor Rail Trail River Walk.  It crosses the Oswego River diagonally and over the Lock #8 and the Oswego Canal.

Their City Hall is beautiful and located right in the heart of downtown.

We are looking forward to our trip north across Lake Ontario tomorrow.  Canada here we come, eh?

Day #347 – Oswego, NY

Yesterday when we arrived Brad arranged for divers to go down and check his props to see if that was what was causing the new vibration.  They came back up and reported that the props looked good so that was not the problem. Saga continues.

We were visited at the marina by a couple of gentlemen  from Canada.  They brought along their laptop and showed us pictures of some of the areas we will be visiting.

After that we walked up the hill and we had a great dinner at the Press Box not far from the marina.

This morning Brad and Patti took Salvage Crew out for a test run and the vibration was still there.  Finally after much deliberation and exploration it was decided that it indeed was the prop, so they switched it out with a spare they had.  Hopefully that will take care of the situation.

We all took care of laundry, boat chores, securing needed charts, etc. to make the run across Lake Ontario tomorrow.  Waves today were 4-5 feet.  As the day went on, the forecast changed and it looks like tomorrow will still be too windy.  Wednesday looks better so we will wait.

Oswego was first visited in 1615 by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain. The British established a trading post in the area in 1722.  Some of the buildings are quite old and unfortunately many are vacant.

We all got our cell phone and internet arranged so that we can use them in Canada so lots was accomplished today.  And, so we wait…

Day #346 – Oswego, NY

Our day began with calm waters on the Erie Canal this morning. We left Brewerton at 7:00 and took in our last lock on the Erie Canal.

Homes and cottages of all shapes and sizes line the shore.

Even little boat houses in all shapes and sizes.

We passed a “grave yard” containing old tugs and buoys.

The Oswego Canal is 24 miles long and takes you down 118 feet through seven locks beginning at the Erie Canal and ending on Lake Ontario.  Many of the locks have different configurations.  This one had a bridge with only a five foot clearance

until you are lowered down 18 feet and come out the other end.

You really don’t want to make a wrong turn in these waters as these falls are not very forgiving.

This picture shows Salvage Crew quietly making her way up the canal right before she hit a submerged buoy.  Now they have a vibration on their left prop.  Hopefully they can get it repaired tomorrow.

We plan to cross Lake Ontario into Kingston on Tuesday as the weather looks promising.

If you look into the distance you can see the view as we exit Lock 8.

As we exited you could see Lake Ontario in the far distance.  It had 20 mile an hour winds out of the west and 4-6 foot waves today.  Not a good day to be out there, so we will wait.  Glad to be here safe and sound.

Day #345 – Brewerton, NY

We left Sylvan Beach this morning at 7:00. It was a hopping place.

We had a 20 mile journey across Oneida Lake.  It can be rough when the winds pick up and the weather was expected to turn as the day went on with rain expected.  Homes and cottages line the shore.

It was a beautiful ride and we arrived at Winter Harbor Marina at 9:00.

The marina has tubs of herbs around their docks for the use of the boaters.  Nice touch.

We took on about 350 gallons of fuel as this is the least expensive place to fill up before heading into Canada.  Nice kids on the docks.

Canada’s fuel prices are quite a bit higher so everyone takes on as little fuel there as possible.

Boaters and fishermen were everywhere.  It was nice to see people out enjoying the water.

After getting settled we all borrowed the courtesy car and did the usual errands, Walmart and West Marine.  We could do another entire blog on those two stops along the Loop.

Dinner aboard Good News tonight as the rain moved in and it is cozy inside so we decided not to venture out.  We are watching the weather to help make the decision as to whether we will move up to Oswego tomorrow or stay here for one more day.

Day #344 – Sylvan Beach, NY

This was one of the nicer weather days we have had in a long time.  Not a cloud in the sky and 80 degrees.  Even each lockmaster commented on the weather. Each and every one along the way has been friendly and so proud to tell you about their area.

Today we traveled 53 miles and five locks.  Three of the locks took us up and the last two brought us down. Along the way we saw a couple of interesting boats.  This is one of the New York State tugs that works the canal.

This one rowed by.  The boat is registered in Ohio and we wondered where they had started and where they were planning on going.  They looked like a couple of college kids off on a summer adventure.  Ahhhh, youth!

This was our beautiful view most of the way.

Our destination for the day was Sylvan Beach and Mariner’s Landing Marina.  All of the marinas in this area are owned by the Oneida Indians.

It is located on the eastern shore of popular Oneida Lake.

Back in the 1950s Sylvan Beach was a “go-to” destination

and the amusement park still operates today.  We had to go check it out.

Some people even decided to ride these old rides.

It was a great little town and we were glad we had made it our destination.

Day #342 – Little Falls, NY

This morning we woke to what looks like ice flows/glaciers going by the boat.

Glad to report they were only piles of foam.

Today we traveled a total of forty miles and worked through seven more locks.  It only rained on us twice while we were locking through.  Each lock seems to have its own piece of history.

The scenery was very lush green and hilly.  There were large farms in the distance.

This is someone’s little piece of paradise.  Note the train running by in the background and the fishing boat tied up at their dock.

Lots and lots of train traffic in this area.  They were running all night and ran alongside the canal many times today.  I particularly was interested in seeing all of the graffiti on the side of the box cars.  Such talent!

We passed by what used to be the headquarters of Beech-Nut in Canajoharie, NY.  They have since relocated.

Before entering our last lock of the day, Lock 17, we passed under this flood gate.  They use it to control the water levels in flood stage.

Salvage Crew cleared it, but not by much.  It appears that it has not been used in some time as a garden is growing inside of it.

Lock 17 looms ahead.  It is the highest lift lock on the Erie Canal (40 feet) and it is one of only two locks in North America where the entrance gate is lifted above the boater.

And so we hang on to our wet, soggy lines as they lift us up forty feet to the other side.

The locks that we have traveled through in the last two days have raised us up a total of 348 feet.  Wow!

Welcome to Little Falls, NY…

and we are glad to be here.

Day #341 – Amsterdam, NY

Well, today was the day we have known loomed ahead of us.  We took the extra day to relax yesterday as today was 40+ miles and ten locks.  We left for Lock #2 at 8:00 with Salvage Crew leading the way.

The “Waterford Flight”, as this section is known, is a series of five locks that are in quick succession.  As soon as you leave one, the other is just ahead.

This type of lock they drop long ropes from the top and you grab as you go by and hang on to the wet, cold line as you lock through.  This series is one right after another covering 1.5 miles and it took two hours.

The weather was predicted to rain.  About two hours into the trip the skies opened up and there was lightening.  Fortunately, we only had to navigate one lock in the rain.  Then, the skies cleared and it was a beautiful, although cool (70 degree) day.

The Canal was much more scenic and green than I had imagined it to be.

Lots of cottages and small marinas line the Mohawk River/Erie Canal.  Looks like this family was having fun!

You surely don’t want to take the wrong channel in this section.

We passed under more than twenty bridges today.  This one actually had a train on it.

We arrived in Amsterdam at the Riverlink Park and are glad to be here.

We were secure at the dock just before the storms came again.

Day #340 – Waterford, NY

The 7th Annual Steamboat Meet is officially over as the last boat pulled out of the harbor, steam rolling and tooting his horn.

This sign sits under a bridge next to the town docks.  At first glance it appears to upside down as these usually read in reverse and tell you the clearance under the bridge considering the height of the water.  If that were the case it would have taken off our entire flybridge so we proceeded through and it must be the water height.

Andy stayed behind this morning to catch up on a little varnishing as the weather was sunny, warm, clear and low humidity.  High today predicted to be 84.  Patti, Brad and I rode our bikes around town.  This pretty little park sits on the river’s edge.

The city of 10,000 has quite a bit of history.

It sits at the junction of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, and the junction of the Erie and Champlain Canals.  It is the home of the “Waterford Flight”, the highest set of lift locks in the world.

The buildings in town are quite old and people are very friendly.  Their Town Hall is the most predominant building in town.

We have enjoyed the relaxing, free day as tomorrow will be at least 11 locks and 45 miles.

Day #339 – Waterford, NY

We Left Catskill this morning at 8:00.  It was our first full sunny day in quite some time.  We are hoping we are back in our “good weather bubble again.”  High 79 and low humidity.  Ahhhh.

Right away we passed another unique lighthouse on the Hudson River.  I never tire of different lighthouses.

Albany, the capitol of New York, was off to our port.  This tired battleship rested along their docks.

The city is a contrast of old and new.  My sister, Kitty, was born here.  Yeah Albany!

Today we left the Hudson River behind and entered the Erie Canal.  Salt water, tides and currents are gone.  Unfortunately, locks are back.  Lots and lots of locks.

Lock #1, also called the Federal Lock, is in Troy, NY.  We had planned to stop in Troy, but no one was at the dock area to tell us where to stay so we pushed forward.  Here comes our first lock.

Five boats locked through and it only took about a half hour to pass.

Right after leaving the lock it was time to leave the Hudson and enter the Erie.

The Hudson goes straight and we stay to the left to enter the Erie.  We had originally thought that we would visit Lake Champlain and Montreal, but the time and distance has made us decide to move on up the Erie.

Waterford was our stop for the night.  They have been closed to pleasure boaters for the holiday weekend as they had an event where old steam engines were here for the public to view.  They said they had 2,000 visitors.

Nice name, caught my eye!

From Waterford you take a short walk up the hill and buy your Erie Canal pass.

This is Lock #2 as it looked at its origination.

This is the old canal as it sits next to the “new” canal.

We bought a 10 day pass for $50 and will stay at several free town docks.

My parents and grandparents were originally from Lockport, NY which is located on the Erie Canal.  We will not travel that far on the Erie, but it was fun to see Lockport being honored as part of the New York Canal System. I have many, many childhood memories there.

Day #338 – Catskill, NY

Happy 4th of July!

How lucky we are to be in a beautiful,  free country!

This land was purchased from the Indians in 1682

and the town of Catskill was established in 1788.

Norfolk, VA had their mermaids and Oriental, NC had dragons.  Catskill is very proud of their downtown and their cats.

Henry Hudson…

and Cornocupia, among many others.

This morning we walked to the Farmers Market, which even had entertainment.

It is located at the Point overlooking the Hudson River.

A boat parade went down the river right behind our boats.  They were all decorated for the 4th.

Patti spent all day making and cooking ribs.  They were on the grill for three hours.

And we are really glad she spent the time as they were outstanding!

The fireworks were great and we couldn’t think of a better place to spend the 4th of July than in Catskill, NY during the 400th Anniversary of the Hudson.

Life is good and God Bless America!