Day's 32 -33

• Cape Vincent NY - Baldwinsville NY (Lock 24)
• Start 8:00 am
• End 6:00 pm
• Underway 7:50 Hours
• Locks -8
• Distance 72 miles
• Av Speed 9.2 knots

Back to the Erie Canal. Leaving Cape Vincent we planned to get to the Oswego Canal. With the conflicting reports that we heard, we were not sure if we would be able to make it. The plan was to head out, and see what the lake looked like. If we needed to instead of going directly across the lake, we could either stay along the shore, or if was really bad head back to Sackets Harbor. The decision point was about 10 miles into the 24 mile trip.

At the 10 mile point there were 2 to 3 foot waves, but they were long smooth rollers. We decided to continue on the direct route. It was definably the right choice, the farther out we got the nicer it got. As we pulled into the Oswego River we decided to go to Lock 3 where there was supposed to be a free wall with electric. The wall and electric was there but there was no space available. Plan B was to push on to the Erie Canal Lock 24. Lock 24 has 1200 feet of docks and wall with electric. After not having power for the last three nights with no electric or Air Conditioning we really wanted it.

We ended uptraveling much longer than we wanted to, and far exceded our 5 hour/50 mile travel day. But it was worth it.

Baldwinsville has several restaurants, and stores nearby and the dockage is excellent. We spent two nights here so we could prepare the boat for the low bridges we will need to get under. The clearance for the bridges is only 15'6". I had to remove the radar and a couple of antennas to fit under these bridges. A fellow looper also helped me install a whisker pole on the front of the boat. The whisker pole is mounted at the very front of the boat, and is a couple of inches higher then the highest point on the boat. As I approach the bridges, as long as the pole does not hit the bridge, we can safely make it under the bridge.

We also spent the time here catching up on boat chores. The boat really needed to be washed, laundry had to be done, and a bunch of little things to round out the day. Once the chores were done, we took the paddle board and dinghy out for a quick ride.

Tomorrow we will be moving