Chapter 64: Erie Canal to Oneida Lake

Log 64
Erie Canal—Oneida Lake

6:30 AM
Friday, July 07, 2000
Ess-Kay Yards
Brewerton, NY

Day 81

It started out cold today. When we got up, the outside temperature said 48 degrees. The sky was crystal clear so we knew it was only a mater of time before it warmed up. We wanted to make the 7 AM opening at our first lock of the day, so we left our marina wall at about 6:30. We had not gone a mile when it started to get pretty foggy. Where we were the fog had gone, but further down the canal, it was narrower, and the trees were taller, and the sun wasn’t high enough to melt the fog. The further we went the foggier it got, until you couldn’t see the banks of the canal, even though it was very narrow. No problem though, I just slowed down a little more, and used the radar to help guide us through. As it turned out it didn’t last but a few miles, and the sun was up enough to do its work, and by then we were almost to our first lock.
Speaking of locks, we reached the highest point of locks today. When we got to lock 20 we had climbed 410 feet and traveled 108 miles from where we joined the canal at Troy. As you can imagine we had been lifting all of this way, and the next two locks (# 21, and #22) we dropped down 25 feet each time to reach level of Oneida Lake.
We reached Oneida Lake about 11 AM. Earlier than we had planned. The trip across is about 20 miles of so, and I picked it up a good bit, so we made it in a little over and hour. I’m sure those Detroit engines were very glad to get some good use, after having to been at idle for so long on the canal. Shortly after noon, we found the other side of Oneida Lake, and rejoined the Erie Canal. Our plan was to stop here, and then go through the final lock on the Erie tomorrow, and then up the Oswego Canal to join Lake Ontario. As we were fueling up, ($1.49) the lady who runs the marina (Kim) and I were talking and she asked where we were headed. I told her our plans, and she said, “Why would you do that?” She said that the Syracuse airport was only 15 minutes away, and everything we needed to stock up was real close to here. She had room for the boat, and she would take good care of us, and the boat. Done! Plans changed, and we are here at the Marina (Ess-Kay Yards) where we will leave the boat for a couple of weeks.
With those plans done, we tied up the boat in our semi-permanent slip, and decided Steve and I would go fishing. He went with Kim, the marina owner, to a bait shop, and I worked on cleaning the dinghy, and getting it off the back, so we could find the big fish.
Well as you can imagine the big fish are still there, and we ended up coming back without dinner. The good news was the girls had been cooking, and had a great batch of spaghetti sauce heating up. We decided it needed time to slow cook, so we all jumped in the dinghy in search of the perfect Pina Coloda. (By the way just saying that should tell you we have finally reached civilization again, and there are marinas, and waterside restaurants all over the place) The first place we stopped at looked great, and Deb was all set for one of those fancy drinks, and take it with us in the dinghy. We had a little trouble getting anyone’s attention, and when we did she informed us that they had no “to go” glasses. Oh well, there are more places, lets jump back in the dinghy, and go somewhere else. The next place we went to they had this old lady bartender who looked like she could care less about what we needed, and it turns out that was in fact the case. Deb said do you have any to go glasses, to which she shook her head yes. Great Deb said, I’ll have a Pina Colada. “Don’t have any” was her response. “We’re all out of the stuff” “Got margaritas though”. Well Deb’s heart was broken, but Steve and Claudia took this lady up on her offer for the Margaritas. While we were paying for those drinks, the lady says, “Ever had a blue moon?” (If you saw this lady there would be a lot of things that would go through your mind about now) “No can’t say if I have” I told her “what’s it look like?”
It’s a beer she tells me, and then gives us two small glasses to sample. It turned out to be darn good, so Deb and I ordered a couple of glasses to go. She proudly fills up two medium sized plastic glasses, and then tells us we owe her $7. (No wonder she was pushing them, if you sell enough beer at that price you can do real well)
After a short dinghy ride to finish our drinks, we went back to the boat for some of the spaghetti. It was great, and we enjoyed relaxing with a good meal. After dinner Steve and Claudia went walking with a fishing pole in Steve’s hands, and Steve ending up catching a couple of fish.

Another great boating day. I’ll keep you posted…

BK.