Day 17 July 6, 2022

Today was a fun day.  Weather started out chilly but ended sunny and low 70's.   We walked through town and headed to the Antique Boat Museum. Clayton is nice town with lots of little shops and restaurants. Last time we visited the museum was about 20 years ago.  

Made in Plattsburgh NY

Notice the name on the Elto sign  - Jerry Lacelle !!

New to us was a guided tour of the 106 foot houseboat, La Duchesse.  Not a very good photo, it is docked at the left side of the building.

Many amenities and luxuries for the time.  Two fireplaces, 7 bedrooms (2 for the maid and cook), 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, parlor, ballroom/patio and beautiful woodwork everywhere.

Canvas ceilings with gold leaf decoration.

Andrew McNally was known for his many pairs of hand painted pants.

Steinway piano was found abandoned and in disrepair in the Boldt boat house and restored.  Not originally on the boat the space was occupied by bands to entertain guests.

Tiffany glass ceiling in the band/piano area.

Originally built by George Boldt (owner and builder of Boldt Castle) it passed through 2 other owners, Edward Noble (of LifeSaver Candy fame) and Andrew McNally (of Rand McNally).  Boldt had built the boat as a guest house but abandoned it and the castle when his wife died.  The boat deteriorated and sunk inside the boat house.  Noble bought the boat, repaired and restored it with plans to make it an attraction and business.  Later it was sold to McNally who used it as a summer home for his family on the St. Lawrence river.  The McNally's maintained and renovated the houseboat using it for about 50 years.  Upon Andrew McNally's death it was bequeathed to the museum.

While on the tour we met our Tug Bussle friends Jan and Russ, also doing the Loop. Nice surprise.  They traveled from Sacket's Harbor today to Clayton.  Loopers make many friends along the way, often together for only a day, to meet again somewhere along the way.  We shared some snacks and beer together at the Wood Boat Brewery.

We will be staying another day in Clayton to take the Boldt Castle tour and try to make arrangements for picking up our repaired set of propellers.

Day 15 and 16, July 4th and 5th

Independence day was a travel day and a bit anti-climatic holiday for us.  NO fireworks to enjoy but we made the best of it.  We left Winter Harbor Marina in Brewerton and headed for Oswego.  This meant traveling our last lock (#23) of the Erie Canal and heading north on the Oswego Canal.  The Erie Canal is actually 338 miles long if traveled through Lock 30 to the Tonawandas (Niagara River).  From there you can travel to Buffalo and Canada.  

Can you see the eagle?

We traveled 155 miles of the Erie Canal before we "turned right" onto the Oswego Canal for 24 miles.  We traveled until the Oswego, with Gypsy Soul; they are continuing west to Buffalo.  The Champlain Canal compares at 60 miles long.  We left Winter Harbor at 07:45 and arrived at 2pm, another 6 hour day.  

Gypsy Soul off to Buffalo

Turn right for the Erie!

Remnants of the old Oswego Canal

They need to lift the bridge and lower the water for boats to get out of the lock!

Oswego Light

Welcome to Oswego Harbor!

                                  Freighter getting unloaded -- in pic behind Eric's Inheritance

Tired and hungry we decided we would eat out instead of cooking,  Unfortunately all the "restaurants near me" recommended by Google were closed on Mondays, closed for the holiday, or just out of business!  We ended up walking to Riverwalk Pizza.  Nice antipasto salad and individual Margarita and Hawaiian pizzas.  Leftovers for another no cook night!  It was sad how many businesses were closed.

Back to the boat it was time to decide our plan for the next day.  Weather prediction was less than ideal for our planned travel on Lake Ontario.  First thing -- check out all the weather resources, consult the locals (a charter fisherman at the dock), and talk to the other loopers at the marina.  Everyone had the same concerns but we were all headed in different directions!  Tortue de Mer was going home to Toronto and Dorothy Gale to Niagara Falls, by car.  So, next we plotted auto-pilot courses to Clayton and Sackets Harbor to give us options for the next day.   11:30pm, it's bedtime....

Tuesday July 5th

Still unsure what the best choice would be we knew that staying put would mean not being able to leave until Thursday due to the weather.  Oswego would not be fun for 2 more days...  So after a fit full sleep Jerry was up at 5:30 checking for weather updates.  Prediction 1-2 foot waves, 10 to 15 knot winds, scattered showers.  After discussion with the crew a unanimous decision was made to go to Clayton. 

                                                             Goodbye Oswego!

         Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Station Power Plant in Scriba near Oswego

                                                    Winds blowing the flag and bunting

In hindsight, Sackets Harbor would have been a better choice.  Route was closer to shore and a shorter travel day. We encountered LOTS of rain (no big deal as we are very protected in the fly bridge), variable winds AND BIG 4 foot waves.  Not so much fun.

We did see a couple freighters. Weather wasn't the best for pictures. 

We are staying in Clayton tomorrow, traveling on Thursday -- weather for travel onward to Canada on Lake Ontario is predicted to be very good.

Raindrops keep coming

Fireboat docked next to us named "Last Chance"!!

Day 13 and 14, July 2 & 3rd

 Lucky us, more company!  Plan was to wash the boat but that changed quickly when Katie contacted us and asked if we would like to do lunch!!  We never turn down a opportunity to eat out, just ask our friends Donna and Al.  Katie, Steve, Emily, and Abby arrived and got the grand tour of the boat.  The girls were very excited and full of questions.

Lunch was yummy, outside at The Angry Garlic in Baldwinsville.  Looks like we are having a run on "angry" restaurants.  Girls had to stop at the candy store to check out the treats and then we headed back to the boat.  Always fun to see family.  What a treat seeing both Syracuse clans in less than a week!  

Docktails and meeting more Loopers, sharing great experiences and laughs.

Wouldn't you know it - we refueled yesterday, July 1 and today there is a July 4th holiday fuel sale! 

      They go through a lot of fuel here!  2 diesel deliveries and 1 gas.

July 3rd,  Day 14

Attended 9:30 mass at Sacred Heart Church in Cicero.  Thanks again Winter Harbor for the loaner car.  Loaner car rules -- route 11 south, 7 miles max, 1.5 hour limit.  Good thing the priest wasn't long winded!  Beautiful church, very friendly parishioners.  Social distancing efforts in place with no missals, no collection basket (!!), music and readings projected for everyone to see.

Winter Harbor certainly goes the extra mile.  2 gas barbecues for boater use have appeared as well as US flags in all the planters, flag banners and hanging flower baskets in the gazebo.  AND they added a gas fired fireplace to the gazebo. 

We spent the afternoon researching which food on board could be brought into Canada.  We need to eat/cook 2 pounds of chicken and our eggs.  We have some lettuce and carrots that we also need to eat but otherwise we should be okay.  We decorated Eric's Inheritance with bunting and joined docktails.  

Dinner was chicken (of course) and then fireworks, the reason we came back in the first place.  The firework show by the neighbors rivaled that of the towns. 

Tomorrow we head to the Oswego canal and Oswego Harbor Marina.  From there it's Lake Ontario, Clayton NY, and then to Kingston Ontario for the beginning of our Canadian adventure.

Day 12 July 1

 July 1st already.  As mentioned before, plans change and we have had to be flexible due to weather and boat repair.  Today we had the shortest travel day yet.  The plan was travel to Oswego Marina, 26 miles and 8 locks.  We had a leisurely breakfast of bagels (thanks Alyssa and Johanne), and headed to the fuel dock for a pump out and top fuel. Nice chat with the dock hand about the upcoming fireworks celebration on the 3rd.  Fireworks fired from a barge in the middle of the river.  People come by boat and streets are closed so that spectators can stand on the bridge to watch.  Many loopers are sticking around to see them.  

We were underway at 9:30 headed to the 1st lock and debating if we should have stayed put.  We have found it a bit stressful deciding our travel stops.  How far can we travel the next day, where would we stay, what was there to see or do and what are we missing if we leave.....  Long story short, we confirmed that the marina had room for us and we turned around.  15 minute ride, back to the very same slip.

Lazy day, staying out of the 90 degree heat, fussy little boat jobs.   More docktails, leftover pizza and a movie on Hulu.  

Some pics of the boats in the marina.

                                                    54 foot Nordic Tug - on the hard

"The Nest" Rosborough 25ft  from California.  We are docked behind them.

75 foot just passing through!  Hired Captain and 4 crew transporting the boat.

Miss OSB -  Made of Oriented Strand Board, complete with massive jet drives!

This little guy was spied by Jerry inside one of the locks.

 

Rinse and repeat every time the lock goes up and down. 

Day 11 June 30

Well, plans change!  Props and shaft issues addressed on Wednesday but still concerned about a coolant leak on the port engine.  No problem says John, we'll take a look.  By 9am he was on the boat and diagnosed the leak as a clamp that needed tightening.  While he was at it he checked other connections and tightened the alternator/circulator pump belt.  He was very instructive, giving Jerry tips on what to look for.  

Decision was made to spend another day so we took the opportunity to do 2 loads of laundry and use the loaner car again.  The car was a 31yr old Mercedes with 230,000 plus miles.  It's true what they say about meeting people in the laundry -- we got invited to docktails that evening!  Easily 10 Looper boats at the Marina!  

We enjoyed docktails, exchanging boat cards, hearing about everyone's plans and sharing stories.  Pat and Steve of Calypso, were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.  Steve shared his musical talent for an impromptu sing along on his ukulele. Fun to hear Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" in Bugs Bunny voice.  

Ring of Fire sung by Bugs Bunny   

      Steve later serenaded us on his trumpet!

Plan is to leave for Oswego Harbor and then on to Clayton, NY to see the Antique Boat Museum.  I'll keep you posted.  Changed plans and flexibility often mean more fun!!