Boating with Sunset Delight: TI: Kingston Canada to Oswego NY

Tuesday 7/31/2018
Depart: Kingston, Canada Portsmouth Olympic Marina 8:30
Arrive: Oswego Lock Wall (O-7) 2:20
Distance: 48 nm
Locks Today: 1 (O-8)

We had five hours of travel today to cross Lake Ontario from Kingston, Canada to Oswego, New York. We could not have picked a better day for a lake crossing. To quote Clark, "It was like a lake!" We had very slight waves on the Canada side and by the time we were midway across and the rest of the trip to Oswego, we had only ripples in the water. Unbelievably calm waters!

Calm Lake Ontario Waters

With 5 hours of time to kill, we talked about the Thousand Islands. I said that my favorite spot on the trip was Sackets Harbor and going back in time to the early 1800s and the War of 1812. Clark found that surprising as his favorite part of the trip was Clayton and the Antique Boat Museum. Figures!! We could both agree that biking in Brockville and walking through the 1860 railroad tunnel there were highlights of the trip.

Crosssing Lake Ontario, we passed Duck Island, where Clark briefly considered anchoring last night. As we passed nearby, Clark spied several vessels of varying sizes anchored there, so if we had stayed there, we would have had company.

Boats anchored at Duck Island
on Lake Ontario

As we approached Oswego, Clark prepared to check in with U.S. Customs. He has an application on his phone to check in. The only problem - he could not remember his login and password. Oswego kept getting closer and his ability to login continued to be thwarted. Finally with Oswego only ten minutes away, he decided to reset the password. Thankfully that went smoothly, and he was able to check us both back into the country with no other issues.

On the way to Canada, we had success with our stay on the lock wall at Lock O-7, we decided to stay there again tonight. At lock O-8, Clark requested the dock master's permission to stay the night on the wall. Since we arrived rather early in the day, we decided to pull out our bicycles and tour around. Clark wanted ice cream!

Map of NY Canal System
highlighting the Oswego Canal

Lock O-8 on the Owego Canal
Viewed from nearby bridge

Oswego, NY

Oswego City Hall

We crossed over the canal to find a drug store and then some ice cream. We found both! Wayne's Drugs and PJ's Ice Cream. I ordered a small vanilla cup of ice cream. The server gave me a dish with at least two scoops of ice cream in it. I said, "This is a small???" I would hate to see the size of a large!

After our ice cream treat we found the Harbor Rail Trail Riverwalk that crosses the canal back to where we were docked.

Mural on old Train Station that dates back to 1910

Entrance to the Riverwalk

Clark poked the camera lens through the openings on the fence to get some good pictures of the canal below.

Looking towards Lake Ontario

View of Lock O-8 from above

Lock O-8 closer in view

On the far side of the Riverwalk, we found the Bicentennial Peace Park, where we managed to become educated about local history.

Oswego Park

A series of educational markers adorned the park. We learned about the origins of the canal, commerce in the area through time, the battles fought over ownership of Oswego due to its strategic location for trade, and a variety of other interesting facts about the area.

An odd-looking cement structure sat on the edge of the park property. Here was yet another piece of history preserved for future generations.

Railroad Switching Guardhouse Shanty

Only remaining one of 20 of these structures
This one, per plaque above, was about to fall in the river
when it was recovered and preserved.

We followed the path along the side of the canal to return to our boat. On the way we passed under the railroad trestle that now supports the Riverwalk.