On July 6 we returned from the Hervey Family Reunion in Keosauqua, Iowa. We had a great time with family that we see only every three years at these events.
Upon our return to Syracuse Airport, Kim from the marina, Ess Kay Yards, met us and provided a ride back to Carousel. In anticipation of the time away we had let some of our perishable stores deplete so we borrowed the marina's loaner car and replenished our stock.
On July 7, we departed, topped off our fuel at Winter Haven Marina, the cheapest fuel in New York, and headed towards Oswego, the entrance point for Lake Ontario.
Oswego, New York
From Brewerton, we retraced some of the west part of the Erie Canal that we used to go to Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Then, where the Canal meets up with the Oswego River, we turned north. The trip is about 30 miles which is about the limit for daily travel on the canal. Even though the speed limit is 10 mph, we often travel between 5 and 7 mph in the long stretches of no wake zones. At 10 mph, Carousel throws about a 2-3 foot wake so we have to be very careful around other boats, cabins, and docks.
Mike is pretty familiar with Oswego as he traveled there for business a few times a year while working at LIPA. LIPA owns a portion of one of Nine Mile Point 2, a nuclear power plant outside of Oswego and, therefore, Mike was on the Owner's Committee for the plant. Oswego always has been an industrial town and there is a SUNY there also. Because of Lake Ontario, there are several very big power plants there which provides some economic support for the area.
In contrast to the highway approach to Oswego, the entrance by water is very impressive with massive spillway and dam that holds the Oswego River back from Lake Ontario.
We elected to stay at the municipal marina at Oswego because of the heat of the day. Carousel has air conditioning but we need AC power for it to run. Staying at marinas for AC power on very hot days is becoming a standard practice on Carousel. We figure that we are not doing this trip to be uncomfortable, so AC it is!
The first order of business once we were out of the canal system and would not have low bridges to worry about, was to raise Carousel's radio and radar mast. This a pretty quick job with some rope and a turning block and the crane that lifts the dingy from the upper deck to the water. Carousel is happier with the mast up and we will also get our radar back, a critical safety feature for getting out on Lake Ontario.
Since we arrived late in the day we would not be able to go to the historic fort. We thought that we might need to wait an extra day at Oswego for passing weather but that was not to be. We will have to catch Oswego's history on the next time around the Loop.
Lake Ontario
On the July 9 we left Oswego for the Lake. We have not been on the Great Lakes since we moved from Chicago in 2001 so it was nice to (sort of) be back. Everybody has a story about nasty weather on the lake but it was nice to us on this day. As we slipped past the harbor entrance light we found the lake was calm. Perfect motor boating weather. So, with Oswego disappearing behind us, Mike decided that Carousel needed a work-out after weeks of canal travel so he let her run to Sackets Harbor, NY at 16 knots.Sackets Harbor
Sackets Harbor is full of history, including some significant War of 1812 battles. As such it was home to a Navy base to guard against a Canadian invasion and to launch attacks into Canada. Since we let Carousel run faster than usual getting there, we had the afternoon and evening to investigate the town. On our first walk into town we discovered the ice cream stand and rewarded ourselves for the successful 30 mile crossing of the corner of Lake Ontario. Finding ice cream is a great tradition on Carousel.We had a great time going though the museums there and walking the quaint main street. Also, we found out that we forgot to buy veggies the last time we stocked so we broke out the folding bicycles and rode the 2 miles to the grocery store. After a great pizza for supper we were ready to head up the Saint Lawrence to the 1000 Islands region.
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