Headin North

Monday 7/4/11     After last nights marina cook-out followed by fireworks over Oneida Lake we couldn't find any reason to keep us from continuing on our adventure so at the early hour of 11:30am we cast off, leaving Brewerton in our wake.
Not far down the water we locked through lock 23. Our last lock on the Erie Canal. From there it was on to Three Rivers and the junction of the Oswego & Erie Canals. Tourist turned right on to the Oswego. Even if we wanted to continue on the Erie we couldn't because we are too high and wouldn't fit under the bridges.

Jct. of Erie & Oswego Canals. (There is a sign on the bank ahead of us giving directions!)

Our destination today is Oswego, NY. The only thing between us and there are 6 more locks.

One of the locks had this pedestrian bridge across it. Fortunately they dropped the water 27' and it became a non-issue.

We arrived at lock 7 an hour before the scheduled 6pm opening and tied to the approach wall. At 6 the gates opened and we and five other boats went in. We dropped about 18' and travelled 300 yards and tied up to the free wall between locks 7 & 8 for the night. It wasn't long and a happy hour broke out on the wall with the other boaters who were also spending the night.

Looking behind Tourist at Oswego.

Tuesday 7/5/11     Today we cross Lake Ontario. But not before checking the weather and sea conditions on the lake. Two footers and 10 to 15 mph winds from the west. Not flat calm but not too bad , so at 8:15 am we pulled away from the wall and into Lock #8. The gates opened and Lake Ontario was before us. We could see the waves crashing against the breakwater as we headed towards the open water.

Heading out to the lake.

On our way out of Oswego we passed Fort Ontario which was first built by the British during the French & Indian War. From 1944 to 1946 the fort was used as a refugee camp for holocaust victims.

Fort Ontario.



Our ride across the lake was a bit rocky so we used some of Tourists speed to get up on top of the waves and smooth out the ride. Our destination Sackets Harbor, NY., a quiet little town started in 1801 by Augustus Sacket.

Tourist at Sackets Harbor.

The town became known for the battle between the Americans and the British/Canadian forces in the War of 1812. A deep water port, it was a strategic location for controlling the trade route between the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. It became the headquarters for both the Navy and Army in the north during the war. In later years General Grant (from Galena) did two tours of duty here at Madison Barracks.

Sacket Mansion now a Visitor Center

One of the period homes.

Of course. Ice Cream!

Pam & I enjoyed our day in Sackets Harbor walking around the town and dining at the Sackets Harbor Brewing Company for lunch. Definitely worth the trip.