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Brewerton to Oswego to Kingston, Canada Page 9
July 10
We left Brewerton at 6:45 to catch the first opening of the lock 23 at
7:00. We locked through with 2 other boats: a 39 foot express cruiser
and a 65 foot trawler that was heading to Toronto. We finally came to
the turn off for the Oswego Canal. There are 7 locks in the Oswego.
Locking was pretty easy, no wind, however a few of the locks did not have
hanging lines or the lines were too far apart. We found center cleating for
locking was the best way to lock through any lock.
We arrived at Oswego around 12:30, tied up at Oswego Marina, and put
up our mast. There isn't much to do here, but it's a very well protected
marina. We ate dinner at the restaurant next door. The couple from
Sterling Lady trawler was tied up at the wall by lock 8, and they walked
over to see us and found us at the restaurant.
July 11 - Day at Oswego
We wanted to leave on the 11th, but forecast of severe thunderstorms
were predicted in the afternoon. If we left at 6:00 or earlier, we would
have made it to Kingston by 12:00 noon. The winds were from the south,
so we would have had a following sea, but the thunderstorms were a risk.
Do we go, or do we not go???? Sterling Lady captain decided to wait until
the 12th to leave...northwest winds, but 8 knots predicted, less in the
afternoon, and no thunderstorm threat because of the cold front moving in.
We did get hit with a major thunderstorm around 2:00. We would have
been in the storm just about the time we got to Kingston, so it's good
that we waited today.
We left Brewerton at 6:45 to catch the first opening of the lock 23 at
7:00. We locked through with 2 other boats: a 39 foot express cruiser
and a 65 foot trawler that was heading to Toronto. We finally came to
the turn off for the Oswego Canal. There are 7 locks in the Oswego.
Locking was pretty easy, no wind, however a few of the locks did not have
hanging lines or the lines were too far apart. We found center cleating for
locking was the best way to lock through any lock.
We arrived at Oswego around 12:30, tied up at Oswego Marina, and put
up our mast. There isn't much to do here, but it's a very well protected
marina. We ate dinner at the restaurant next door. The couple from
Sterling Lady trawler was tied up at the wall by lock 8, and they walked
over to see us and found us at the restaurant.
July 11 - Day at Oswego
We wanted to leave on the 11th, but forecast of severe thunderstorms
were predicted in the afternoon. If we left at 6:00 or earlier, we would
have made it to Kingston by 12:00 noon. The winds were from the south,
so we would have had a following sea, but the thunderstorms were a risk.
Do we go, or do we not go???? Sterling Lady captain decided to wait until
the 12th to leave...northwest winds, but 8 knots predicted, less in the
afternoon, and no thunderstorm threat because of the cold front moving in.
We did get hit with a major thunderstorm around 2:00. We would have
been in the storm just about the time we got to Kingston, so it's good
that we waited today.
Turn off for the Oswego Canal. We went left. Our mast is up again!
Approaching thunderstorm Thunderstorm directly overhead
July 12 - 13 The winds never let up for 2 more days. They were out of the west and northwest, and
boaters coming in reported 6-8 foot seas. We kept getting mixed reports about Saturday, the 14th. We
met some loopers who were tied to the wall by lock 8. They were planning to leave early Saturday. We
met a couple from Michigan who also wanted to leave for Trenton and were anxious about the seas as well.
Saturday was our last "window" to leave; calm weather wasn't coming until next week. The last report we
got was 2 foot or less, winds southwest.
July 14 - CROSSING LAKE ONTARIO - We got up at 5:00 AM. The fishermen on the dock were starting
up their boats for a tournament. It was breezy, winds from the southwest. We headed out past the
lighthouse, and of course, started rolling. Lily was trying to find a place to lay down. It got worse as we
got further out. Most waves, or rollers, were 2+-3+, coming in our port beam, There was an occasional
"rogue" wave, and we tipped sideways quite a bit. Golden Lily rolled twice on a roller, then settled back
down until another one came. I gave Lily 2 drops of Rescue Remedy, and once the boat got into a pattern of
rolling, she found a spot in front of the glass pilot house doors and settled in. As we approached the
Canadian shore, the water calmed down a little. I wasn't able to get any pictures because my camera was
in the salon. I didn't want to move from my seat! Crossing was like being out in the ocean - no land visible
for quite some time! I now know why our tug has grip handles all over the boat AND a table in front of the
bench seat in the pilot house....HANG ON!
We could not get a reservation at the marina in Kingston since they were full, so we continued ahead. We
stopped at a small marina to lower the mast. The kid at the dock did not know anything about tying boats,
and he pulled us way into shallow water. We finally got against the dock, and we lowered the mast. Two
men came over to help us leave the dock since the wind was pretty strong at this point.
After leaving, mast down, we continued about a mile, under a low bridge ( good thing we lowered the mast!).
Lock 49 in Kingston Mills was just ahead. We tied to the dock, and Jim walked over to customs to check in
and to pay for a pass for the Rideau Canal. The lock keepers were very helpful, and told us exactly how to
use the cables and the cleats on the boat. They stood right by in case we needed assistance. We locked
through 3 locks in a row. We completed locks 49-43 and tied up on the wall just after lock 42.
There were several boats tied at the upper part of the lock. It was a park-like setting with picnic tables,
grassy area to walk Lily, and a great view of the locks. We began to have showers which continued
throughout the night. We found out not to use any of the water on the Rideau. Our tank had about 125
gallons, so we hope we can make it to a marina with municipal water to fill up. I also realized I should have
done a load of laundry in Oswego before we left! There were no lights on the dock or lock area, so we
needed to use our lantern once it got dark. It was a very remote area, but luckily there were 7 more
boats tied up with us - very remote, quiet, and peaceful...PERFECT!
boaters coming in reported 6-8 foot seas. We kept getting mixed reports about Saturday, the 14th. We
met some loopers who were tied to the wall by lock 8. They were planning to leave early Saturday. We
met a couple from Michigan who also wanted to leave for Trenton and were anxious about the seas as well.
Saturday was our last "window" to leave; calm weather wasn't coming until next week. The last report we
got was 2 foot or less, winds southwest.
July 14 - CROSSING LAKE ONTARIO - We got up at 5:00 AM. The fishermen on the dock were starting
up their boats for a tournament. It was breezy, winds from the southwest. We headed out past the
lighthouse, and of course, started rolling. Lily was trying to find a place to lay down. It got worse as we
got further out. Most waves, or rollers, were 2+-3+, coming in our port beam, There was an occasional
"rogue" wave, and we tipped sideways quite a bit. Golden Lily rolled twice on a roller, then settled back
down until another one came. I gave Lily 2 drops of Rescue Remedy, and once the boat got into a pattern of
rolling, she found a spot in front of the glass pilot house doors and settled in. As we approached the
Canadian shore, the water calmed down a little. I wasn't able to get any pictures because my camera was
in the salon. I didn't want to move from my seat! Crossing was like being out in the ocean - no land visible
for quite some time! I now know why our tug has grip handles all over the boat AND a table in front of the
bench seat in the pilot house....HANG ON!
We could not get a reservation at the marina in Kingston since they were full, so we continued ahead. We
stopped at a small marina to lower the mast. The kid at the dock did not know anything about tying boats,
and he pulled us way into shallow water. We finally got against the dock, and we lowered the mast. Two
men came over to help us leave the dock since the wind was pretty strong at this point.
After leaving, mast down, we continued about a mile, under a low bridge ( good thing we lowered the mast!).
Lock 49 in Kingston Mills was just ahead. We tied to the dock, and Jim walked over to customs to check in
and to pay for a pass for the Rideau Canal. The lock keepers were very helpful, and told us exactly how to
use the cables and the cleats on the boat. They stood right by in case we needed assistance. We locked
through 3 locks in a row. We completed locks 49-43 and tied up on the wall just after lock 42.
There were several boats tied at the upper part of the lock. It was a park-like setting with picnic tables,
grassy area to walk Lily, and a great view of the locks. We began to have showers which continued
throughout the night. We found out not to use any of the water on the Rideau. Our tank had about 125
gallons, so we hope we can make it to a marina with municipal water to fill up. I also realized I should have
done a load of laundry in Oswego before we left! There were no lights on the dock or lock area, so we
needed to use our lantern once it got dark. It was a very remote area, but luckily there were 7 more
boats tied up with us - very remote, quiet, and peaceful...PERFECT!
Oswego Lighthouse heading to Lake Ontario Kingston, Canada
The water looks calm, but beyond the light house,
we hit 4+ footers!
we hit 4+ footers!