Brewerton to Oswego, NY

Tuesday - June 19, 2018     Winter Harbor/Brewerton to Oswego, NY     


After a rainy night we are ready to depart Brewerton for our last leg of the Erie Canal. Today, we lock through the last lock we will use on the Erie, before turning north onto the Oswego River and Canal. The Erie Canal continues west to Erie, PA and Lake Erie, but this is not our direction for there is a low bridge that Zoey's Adventure is not able to get under. We've spent more than 8 days on the Erie and I have to say it was extremely interesting for most of it, including the 23 locks. One thing for sure, it was an honor and a privilege to be able to travel on one of the most historic waterways in this Great Country of Ours! In fact, after 3 years in planning this adventure, it's a dream come true.

Dam next to lock

Interesting Lock - had to wait for the bascule bridge to open after 7' lift in lock

Back to the Oswego Canal/Oswego River - our trip today included 8 locks, one on the Erie and 7 on the way to Oswego, NY.  This section of the canal system was only added 3 years after the Erie canal was completed and is 23.7 miles long linking Lake Ontario to the Erie Canal.

By the time we pass through the locks and dock in Oswego, we will have descended 155 feet. One interesting thing happens at lock 5. The lockmaster told us that there may be up to a 1 hour delay getting through lock 6.  This is because the lockmaster at lock 6 had to let the boats through then drive up to lock 8 to run that lock.  Usually the boats made it through lock 7 before he could drive to lock 8.  We were lucky that the timing for our journey through the locks was perfect and we did not have to wait at any of the 3 locks.  We caught up with 2 other Loopers at lock 6, they were the unfortunates that had to wait the hour, and now we had 3 boats in the chamber at the same time. Not crowded but just enough to make it interesting and an opportunity to exercise lock etiquette.

Boats waiting for Lock to open

Boats rushing to enter lock. 
There is a barge and tug in the lock and the gates had not opened

3 boats in the lock. 
There is room for 3 more but we like space
This lock is descending 14'

After securing the boat and paying the dockage, we were able to walk to Fort Ontatio.  Built in 1727 it is perched high on a hill overlooking Lake Ontario. Unfortunately, the fort was closed but we where able to walk the grounds. The fort also served as an emergency refugee location for Jewish families escaping the Holocaust during WWII. You never know where you will encounter history.

Outer walls of Fort Ontario

Inside Fort Ontario - it was closed the day we were there

Cemetery at Fort Ontario
Officers and soldiers from the late 1700's  and early 1800's buried here from both the US and British Army's
Of course they were buried on different sides of  the cemetery

Fort Ontario Emergency Holocaust Refugee Shelter

Oswego Marina, was host to at least 7 Looper boats. This makes for a nice docktail party with 6 boats partaking in the evening social. At the docktail we met a couple from Australia . They came to the USA, a few mouths ago, went boat shopping in Florida, found a boat, did all the surveys and paper work and in 2 weeks began their journey. Because of visa requirements they will dry-dock their boat in a few mouths and return home for awhile. At some point they will return to the USA, to complete the Loop.