Good morning!! There are a couple of Loopers leaving just before 7 am to catch the first lock opening at Lock 23 in a week.  We waited until closer to 8am because we wanted to get “pumped out” and needed the dock hands for that.  The crew showed up around 7:30am and were very helpful.  We left with a song in our hearts!  Glad to be moving again.

It was cool and cloudy with a chance of rain.  The forecast was sunny skies in Oswego.  Wonderful!

Which way do we go?? Left to Buffalo or Right to Oswego?  Our boat is too tall to make the many bridges from here to Buffalo.  Besides, quite a bit of the western Erie is still closed.  We will go right toward the Oswego Canal.  Thank you!

View from our flybridge.  Still cloudy but calm.  Up ahead it the last lock we will be going through on the Erie Canal.  Lock 23.

This lock has ropes attached to the sides.  I was able to snag the ropes rather easily now that we are skilled rope snag’rs after 22 locks along the Erie.

The Oswego Canal goes north from the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario.  It is 24 miles long and has 7 locks. Locks 1-8.  There is no lock 4.   All going down.  We will be going down 118 feet or so.

Lock 1 is in the town of Phoenix, NY.  There is a free dock there with a power.  Looks like a fun little town.  We moved on toward the Lock.

Lock 1 has cables and ropes.  I was able to snag the rope.  Down we go!

There is a 7 foot high bridge right after the lock.  I was wondering how this worked.  The bridge raises in conjunction with the lock.  Makes sense.  20 ft clearance.  No problem!

We locked through with 2 sail boats and 2 small 35 foot power boats.  Lots of room for us all.  We should be locking through with the same 4 boats all the way to Oswego.

There was a rumor at Winter Harbor that the Erie Canal and Oswego Canal were opened on July 7th for a cruise ship.  Sure?!  A Cruise ship goes down the Erie?  Really?  Some rumors are true!!  Here it comes!!

We heard later that this boat fits into the locks with 1 foot spare room all around.  No need to tie up to the lock sides.  No room left for the boat to swing around.  It just sits perfectly in place as the water is rushed in/ out.  This cruise started in Chicago… rumor said.  Not too tall for all the bridges this boat has to go under.  Fascinating!

Approaching Lock 3.  There were still a couple of boats tied to the wall.  I guess they were in no hurry to move on like we were.

Here we are in the lock.  Where are those cables?  Recessed into the wall?  Where??

Oh – there.  Can you tell that the cable is below my deck?  Just how do I reach that??  My arms are just not long enough!!  It is a good 4 feet away.  Wayne yelled at me to get down on my belly.  I am going to hold a 47000 pound boat on my stomach against a lock wall?  I don’t think so.

I jumped up and hog tied a bollard or post and held on!!  I read that may be the only way to secure the boat until the boat lowers enough to get a line around the cable.  Acchhhh!

We did swing a bit in the lock but none of the other boats were close by.  How in the heavens are we going to do this another 5 times???  There has to be a way…. think fast!

Whew.  Are we thinking fast?  Here comes Lock 5!!  ( remember there is no lock 4)

I have no pictures of Lock 5.  Again, the cables were recessed.  I tried to run our line through the cable but it was like threading a needle with a wet noodle using one hand.  I just couldn’t get the line around the cable!  Finally, the lock master came around and wound the line for me.  He even had trouble.  “The water is high right now.  I think I need three hands to go this.”  HE SAID.  Exactly!!   We could hear the other sail boats and power boats struggling as well.  The cables were oddly spaced.

A lot of water is rushing near Lock 6.  Current was pretty stiff.  Wayne held the boat steady and I got prepared for another lock.  Lock 6 is supposed to have ropes and cables.  We will try for a rope first.  If I can.

I must have had no problem getting a rope or two if I was able to take a picture of the slimy wall!!  It reminds me of the primordial ooze that life springs from.  Yes, I actually nudged some of the darkest goo with my gloved finger.  It didn’t grab my finger… all good.

We found the Oswego Marina right out of the last lock 8 on the Oswego Canal.  Whew.  We were exhausted!!  No pictures.  The worst locks ever!!  Lake Ontario is right around the corner.  Tonight a storm is coming through.  With luck we will be on our way across the lake tomorrow…. weather permitting.

Wayne did get a kick out of this little boat as it was passing by.  Just how many fishing poles do you need??