Monday, June 2nd, began with the crossing of Oneida Lake. This is a easy journey of about 20 miles with a favorable wind. We had a south wind, which made for a smooth easy ride. A bonus was that our boat's GPS Chartplotter began to function again because we were now close enough to Lake Ontario for the chip to supply the chart data needed to plot a course and set the autopilot. Tony got to sit back and relax and let the boat to the steering.  On the other end of the lake is the city of Brewerton. We chose Ess-Kay Marina because we needed our regular engine and generator maintenance taken care of and they received many great reviews by loopers and boaters using Active Captain. After we were settled, Island Time came in. The marina had a courtesy car, which we took to Wegman's grocery and to West Marine. Wegman's Grocery was an outstanding store. We bought all sorts of goodies. Crab stuffed mushrooms, Sushi, cookies to die for just some of the treats we have been enjoying since shopping there.  Bright and early Tuesday morning brought Gary, the tech, to the boat.  He and Tony worked on changing oil and filters on both the engine and generator and checking the bow thruster. Everything worked out well. Gina and I took the car to the local laudramat and took care of washing clothes.  We had docktails with Island Time and Bon Foyage.  On Wednesday, June 4th, we bid a fond farewell to Island Time.  We will probably not see them again because they are taking the Trent-Severn Canal into Georgian Bay and we are taking the Welland Canal onto Lake Erie.  First stop was lock E23, which is the last lock on the eastern Erie Canal.  After this lock we continued to a place called Three Rivers Point. This is the meeting place of the Oswego, Oneida and Seneca Rivers.  We took the Oswego River to the city of Phoenix, where Lock 01 is located (first lock on the Oswego Canal). If you are a James Fennimore Cooper fan and read his book, THE PATHFINDER, you will recognize the Oswego as the setting of this novel. The first three locks on the Oswego were not an easy lock through, we had a wind and each lock had a different tie up system. We were successful however, even though there was a significant rise in Sharon's blood pressure.  We found a wonderful anchorage behind Battle Island. A boat came by to inquire if we were in distress, they told us that there was a free dock just before the next lock that had power if we wanted to stay there for the night. Tony had already had a glass of wine so he thanked them, but explained we were anchored for the night. However, we were on the lookout for the ghosts of the British and French soldiers, who lost their lives in the battle here in 1756. After a quiet night (alas no ghosts) we pulled up anchor with no issues. Thursday we were blessed with easy lock throughs of O5-O8. (There is no lock O4?!) We were docked in Oswego by 11:00am.  We walked into town and had lunch at the Oswego Tea Co. They brewed Starbucks Coffee.  Later in the day we walked to the local farmers market.At the market we purchased some asparagus, a bottle of pinot grigio  from New York State and fresh bread which we enjoyed with dinner.We decided to stay in Oswego another day  to take in some history.  The city has been influenced by the Iroquois Indians, French and British Armies, of course the Erie and Oswego Canals, and the Underground Railroad. We discovered the most fascinating piece of Oswego history, when we visited Fort Ontario. The fort played many roles during American history, but during WWII and after, it was the only location in the United States, where refugees from the Holocaust were given shelter. Today, Saturday, June 7th, we entered Lake Ontario.  We travelled a whopping 14 miles to a beautiful anchorage in Little Sodus Bay and enjoyed the quiet and the sunshine. We are slowing down because if we traveled at our normal rate we would be home before Fourth of July and we are going to the Great Lakes Cruising Club's rendezvous in Leamington, Ontario starting July 12th. So we will have plenty of time to explore the bays, inlets and small towns on both Lake Ontario and Erie.

                                                               Oswego Canal

                                                           Oswego Canal

                                                 View from top of Fort Ontario

                                                        View from top of Fort Ontario

                                                             Officers' Quarters

                                                             Fort Ontario Cemetary

                                           Oswego Lighthouse to guide us into Lake Ontario

                                                              Lake Ontario Shoreline

                                                        Anchorage in Little Sodus Bay

Can you find the swans?