Brewerton, NY to Oswego, NY

Day             17
Depart         Winter Harbor-Brewerton, NY  8:40am
Arrive          Lock 7-Oswego, NY  2:45 pm  
Distance         27 Miles
Cumulative   450 Miles

What a beautiful day.  Clear, not too warm and smooth waters!  We traveled with another looper boat, Lifestyles II, and a little slower than we have previously traveled, about an average of 6-7 knots instead of 8-9.  At this speed we were still able to arrive at Lock 7 to make the scheduled lock opening at 2:30 pm and save on fuel at the same time!  Lock 7 is the only lock we have encountered so far that did not open on demand, but had scheduled openings of 8 and 11 am, 2:30, 6 and 9 pm. Along the Oswego River and canal there were some lovely homes with beautiful manicured lawns.  There has been an abundance of Great Blue Herons along all the waterways, fishing in the shallow, calm waters at the edges of the rivers and canals.
When we arrived at Lock 7, we also met up with Little Latitudes, who had left from Winter Harbor a bit earlier than us.  They had to wait for the 2:30 pm lock opening, so after locking through, all three of us tied to the lock wall and called it a day.
Bob and I took the dogs for a short walk and went to dinner at Azteca Mexican Grill in Oswego with Leo and Marion from Little Latitudes.  Tomorrow we hope to enter Lake Ontario and make our way to Sackets Harbor on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario.

Early morning "smoke on the water"

Erie Canal thisaway!

Homes along the Oswego River

I guess we make a right turn here!

Lock 1-Oswego Canal.  A bridge immediately after the lock gate must be opened if you are more than 12 feet high!

Lock 2-Oswego Canal.  A stop sign in the middle of the lock??

Lock 3-Oswego Canal.  Looks like it has its own waterfall!

Lock 7 Lockwall-Oswego Canal.  Erika Lin, Lifestyles II and Little Latitudes

Still in Winter Harbor, NY

Day             16
Depart         No travel today
Arrive          Winter Harbor, NY 
Distance          0 Miles
Cumulative   423 Miles

Decided to stay another day.  Bob had a couple more maintenance projects to finish before we moved on, so here we stay.  Not much else to report other than moving on tomorrow, heading to Oswego, NY.
Good Night!!

Full moon rising

Winter Harbor, NY

Day             15
Depart         No travel today
Arrive          Winter Harbor, NY 
Distance          0 Miles
Cumulative   423 Miles

Bob wanted to change the oil in the boat today, so Bob and Leo from a Mainship 390, Little Latitudes, used the courtesy car to shop for oil.  Bob was successful in locating the necessary oil at Walmart and spent the early afternoon changing the oil.  We learned there would be a free concert at a local park so Lynda went to the grocery store with Marion, from the 390 Mainship, and Diane from a DeFever, Toucan, to shop for sandwich makings for a picnic in the park.  The band that played was "Bone Castings" and made for an enjoyable evening. 

Erika Lin and Little Latitudes at Winter Harbor

Leo, Bob, Marion, Diane and Rick enjoying a picnic supper

Park concert

Sylvan Beach, NY to Winter Harbor, NY

Day             14
Depart         Erie Canal-Sylvan Beach, NY 7:50 am
Arrive          Winter Harbor, NY  10:45 am
Distance         22 Miles
Cumulative   423 Miles
 
Today we travelled across Oneida Lake.  The day started a bit breezy, so the lake was somewhat choppy, however, nothing we have not experienced before on Long Island Sound.  Because the wind was coming from the west, the closer we got to our destination, the smoother the water became.  All in all, it was a good ride.

The staff at Winter Harbor couldn't have been more helpful.  Tucker, our 17 1/2 year old Jack Russel has had a bout of diarrhea for the last two days.  As we were checking in at the marina, I mentioned that Tucker needed to see a vet.  One of the ladies in the office immediately called a local vet.  We had arrived at the marina at 10:45; at 11: 45 I was sitting in the veterinarian's office!  She had made me an appointment, they had a courtesy car for our use and I was on my way.  Now that is service!!  Tucker seems to be a bit better; the vet thinks it may have been caused by the extreme heat we have been experiencing.  Today was a little cooler, and since we are at a dock with electricity, we have air conditioning.  Hopefully he will be better tomorrow.

We were then invited to our first docktails party and met three other couples that are traveling the same route as we, but not necessarily doing the complete loop.  We will be staying here another day to do some chores, so no traveling tomorrow.  Now it's off to bed!!

Herkimer, NY to Sylvan Beach, NY

Day             13
Depart         Herkimer, NY 8:35 am
Arrive          Erie Canal-Sylvan Beach, NY 2:50 pm
Distance         38 Miles
Cumulative   401 Miles

 NOTE - Double click on a picture for a larger view


We headed out to our first lock of the day, Lock 19.  As luck would have it, they were having a problem opening the door on the right.  We had to go into the lock with only one door open!!

Only one door will open!!

OMG, will we fit??

Yes, we did fit and were able to continue on!  This section of the canal is very straight and lined with trees.  Nothing much to see along this stretch.

Travelling down the straight and narrow

The next lock will lift us to the highest point on the canal.  We have gone up 420 feet.  The following lock will start taking us down.   

It'll be downhill from here!

Bob waiting for the downward trip

Yikes, how do we get down there!

So that's how it's done!

Our destination tonight is Sylvan Beach.  Some of the marinas are a combination marina and campground.

 We are staying on a wall right at the edge of Oneida Lake.  Another FREE night.  Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will travel 20 miles across Oneida Lake and stop in Brewerton.

Lock 11 Amsterdam, NY to Herkimer, NY

Day             12
Depart         Erie Canal Lock #11, Lock Wall, Amsterdam, NY 8:00 am
Arrive          Erie Canal-Herkimer, NY 4:00 pm
Distance         43 Miles
Cumulative   363 Miles

 NOTE - Double click on a picture for a larger view

Today was a great traveling day.  So much better than yesterday.  We went through locks 11 - 18 smoothly and without incidents.  Finally today, we had company in the lock.  Up until today, we were the only boat in every lock that we went through.  Even though it was a fairly long day, it didn't seem that long as the scenery and all the locks made for an interesting day. Another bonus night, we will be at a FREE dock again tonight.

I find it interesting that all the channel markers have a corresponding number on the side of the river or the canal.  All the green buoys are numbered on the side of the river/canal with a white sign with black numbers.  The red buoys are numbered with a red sign with black numbers.  See photo below.

    As we travel along the Mohawk River, on our left is the New York State thruway and on our right is a railway.

Trains on the right

Highway traffic on the left

Along the way we stopped at a small dock to view remains of the old Erie Canal Lock 33.

Bob with Tucker and Willow

Remains of old Erie Canal Lock 33

Lock 17 is impressive.  It is believed to be one of only two locks in North America where the entrance gate is lifted above the boater rather than swing open.  To enter the lock, you go under the door, better watch out, you will get wet!  This is the first lock that we finally had company in.  This is the highest lift on the canal, 40'.

I hope we don't get too wet!

We had a small pontoon boat in the lock for company.

Here we are going through a guard gate, plenty of clearance!

Lock 8, Scotia, NY to Lock 11, Amsterdam, NY

Day             11
Depart         Erie Canal Lock # 8, Lock Wall, Scotia, NY  8:35 am
Arrive          Erie Canal Lock #11 Lock Wall, Amsterdam, NY 11:45 am
Distance         16 Miles
Cumulative   320 Miles

 NOTE - Double click on a picture for a larger view

Got an early start and caught a nice sunrise.  We had plans to go a good distance, but yesterday's rains brought the canal water level up and increased the current and debris  especially around the locks.  At the entrance to Lock 9, Lynda had to get the boat hook and push branches and sticks away from the front of the boat!  Locking was much tougher today as the locks had ropes and no cables and the wind was blowing the boat around.  Decided to stop at 11:45 AM at Lock 11 on the FREE lock wall.

Sunrise at Lock 8

Mohawk River was very muddy after yesterday's rain

Stone arch bridge

 Tying up at Lock 11 was interesting.

This blue and yellow post is called a "bollard"

 This is what you are supposed to tie the boat to.  We had never done this type of docking before and didn't know how to wrap the lines around the bollard.  Every time we thought we had it tied, the line would slip!  Not to worry, Lynda went on the computer, googled "how to tie to a bollard" and found instructions complete with a short video!  Technology is terrific.

This is how to tie to a bollard!

Not too far from where we are docked is an abandoned factory.  On the top of the 80 foot smokestack is a Volkswagen Beetle.  Not something you see every day on the canal!

This looks like it is a bridge across the river, but it's not.  It is actually a dam.  Under the spans there are doors that can be lifted and lowered.  In the fall and all through the winter, the doors are lifted and the river runs straight through.

Tonight's sunset from the lock wall