July 21 - Oswego, NY

Finally Moving On

Oswego Lock 7 Wall

We woke up to a beautiful morning; just cool enough to create a little fog on the top of the water. It really was wonderful to be back on the boat and I enjoyed my coffee on the flybridge. About eight o'clock Gallivant and The Pearl finally were on the move again, after almost a month. We went through one more lock on the Erie Canal before we turned off into the Oswego Canal. The Oswego Canal opened in 1828, it is 23.7 miles long, and connects the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario at Oswego. The canal is the only route from the Atlantic/Hudson River system to Lake Ontario fully within the US.  The original 1825 Erie Canal bypassed Lake Ontario, but it was quickly realized that a connection to the lake would be beneficial. The Oswego Canal was one of the few canals built that was economically successful, largely in part because it allowed trade between the Atlantic Coast and the raw-material-rich Canada.

We went through seven locks today and lowered 114'…we are docked on the wall between Lock 7 and 8, lock 8 will lower us into Lake Ontario. The countryside was beautiful today; we went by lots of homes and quaint little towns. There are so many places that would be fun to explore, but there just isn’t enough time to see them all. We will stay in Oswego until we get a good day to move across the lake…hopefully tomorrow.

Our morning view

Erie Canal Lock 23

Cute town of Phoenix

Going into Oswego Lock 2, there is a bridge over the top of the lock. You have to be lowered to be able to get under it.

Exiting lock 2

Almost to the bottom of lock 3 a drop of 27'

Lock wall between lock 7 & 8 - you can tell they need a little rain in this area of the country.

Looking towards lock 8 and Lake Ontario