TI: Winter Harbor Marina to Oswego O-7 Lock Wall

Monday 7/23/2018

Depart: Winter Harbor Marina, Brewerton, NY 9:05

Arrive: Oswego O-7 Lock Wall 2:10

Distance: 28 nm

Locks: 7 (E-23, O-1, O-2, O-3, O-5, O-6, O-7)

When we retired to bed last night, we still had not made a decision on travel for today. To stay or not to stay – that was the question! Looking at the relatively bright sky this morning and comparing that to the weather forecast for the next two days, we opted to depart. I worried that the predicted flooding might bring a stream of debris into the canal system rendering it hazardous or even potentially closed if sufficiently dangerous. I thought it best to get out of the canal system and on our way, so we headed out. All the other boaters in the marina stayed with plans to leave tomorrow.

After yesterday’s fights with the wind, I wondered how we would fare today. Fortunately, we had no problems in any of the locks. Better yet, none of them demanded sudden movement of fenders to alternate sides of the boats. Compared to yesterday, I was living a life of luxury on today's cruise. 

After Clark wrestled to capture a line at the second lock on the Oswego Canal, he suggested we try a reversal of positions. With the wind pushing us into the lock, he needed me at the stern to tie off and stop our forward progress. We tried this at Lock O-3, and it solved the “losing the boat” problem! Yay!

Locks on the Oswego Canal and numbered 1 through 8, but there is no Lock 4. We traveled through all but the last lock. Clark said we could stay on the lock wall after O-7 for free, or for the same lack of services, we could tie to the lock wall after O-8 and pay for the privilege. Having been to Oswego multiple times in the past, we saw no advantage to paying for docking beyond Lock 8.

We had an uneventful, quiet day on the water today and passed many familiar sights. Phoenix, on the Oswego Canal, has the Phoenix "Bridge House Brats" that will run for lunch for any boaters who wish to take advantage of their service. Since we passed through here at 10:30 a.m., we did not see them in action. Once, years ago, we had them bring us take out lunches. What fun!

Pictures from today's travel ...

Erie Canal Road Sign "1 mile to Lock 23"

Last lock on the Erie Canal for a while  - E-23 up ahead

Erie Canal Road Sign
Choices: Oswego or Buffalo

Welcome to Phoenix
Bridge House Brats (lunch service)

Bridge must open to exit lock!

Fulton Canal Park at Lock O-3
(drop of 27 feet in lock)

Cement Blocks with Bollards
for Barge Tie-ups

Greenery on the Oswego Canal

Welcome to Minetto
Erie Canal Mural

Lock O-5: come in high and drop 18 feet

Looking back at Lock O-5

Construction Worker
Tethered to Line as he surveys the area
(standing on the edge of the dam)

Entering Lock O-7 - Oswego, NY
Last lock for the day!
(drop 15 feet)

The weather held out for us throughout the day and only decided to rain on us while locking through the last lock - O-7. Being in the stern, I was protected by the upper deck. Clark, on the other hand, ran for a raincoat to protect himself from getting too wet.

The rain stopped long enough to allow us to tie to the Lock 7 wall. It started again later, but I did not care as I was blissfully taking a much-needed nap! Clark took this time to do travel planning.

We have no sunset picture for today due to the heavy clouds and wet weather.