In the Great Lakes

We are under way across Lake Ontario, bound for Cape Vincent and the start of the Thousand Islands. We thought we might have to spend another day in Oswego, but the forecast improved over night, and the lake is calm. The plotter is projecting a 4:15 arrival.

Vector at the free dock in Central Square, busy for the adjacent restaurant.

Monday morning we left the free dock in Central Square and proceeded just one mile west to Winter Harbor marina, just as we did the last time through, to take on fuel. The price dropped another ten cents overnight, and we bunkered 525 gallons at $5.70 per gallon, the best we'll see until prices come down even further. We also pumped out (and, sheesh, an extra 12 bucks for that, even as we rang up $3K in fuel) and topped up our water tank, with Louise starting two loads of laundry as we were bunkering.

This 62' Outer Reef Trident has been fitted with a lowering hard top to do the Great Loop. She passed us earlier.

We were off the dock before lunch and soon afterward locking down through our final lock on the Erie Canal. After lunch we made the turn onto the Oswego. This season we passed up the free wall in Phoenix just before Lock 1 and instead continued past Lock 2, tying up to the wall in Fulton (map). We thought we might have to lasso a pin about ten feet from the wall, but we found a few steel rings right on the wall.

The lockmaster at O-1 in Phoenix only raised the Culvert Street bridge half way, and I had to squeeze under to the right.

As we locked through O-2 I spotted a Walgreens that would be a short uphill walk from the dock, and after getting tied up we headed there for our second COVID-19 boosters. I had been all set to get my booster when we were still in Treasure Island, but had to wave off because I was on prednisone. Then we opted to delay our boosters for a couple of months after we both got the virus, giving us some natural immunity. If we continue through the Down East Circle, it will be nearly three months before our next opportunity, so now was the time.

As we approached lock O-2, lockmaster Call Metz snapped this photo of us and posted it to Facebook.

Vector in O-2. We enjoyed chatting with the lockmaster here. Photo: Call Metz

Walking back from Walgreens we stopped into the Tavern On the Lock for a cold draft beer and a snack. They had a nice dinner menu, but we're still on a mission to eat all our fresh food aboard before possibly entering Canada, so we left it at a beer and an appetizer. We sat at the bar, which we had to ourselves, enjoying the air conditioning, rather than on their expansive outdoor deck overlooking Lock 3.

Tavern On The Lock has put handy reading glasses on retractors above the bar. They know their clientele.

Yesterday was a short day, running just ten miles but locking down four more times in locks 3, 5, 6, and 7 (there is no Lock 4) before ending our day on the free wall in Oswego between locks 7 and 8, in exactly the same spot we had three years ago (map). We both had prescriptions waiting at the Walgreens about two miles out of town, and I made the excursion on the e-bike, including a big provisioning stop at Walmart. I made it back just before the rain started

Vector tied to the rings on the Fulton wall.

In the evening it cleared up and we walked across the river to our first dinner out since our family visit before the holiday. We ended up at the Red Sun Fire Roasting Company, just as we did three years ago. The town was quiet, and lots of places were closed on a Tuesday evening.

The "marina" in Fulton, too small for Vector, and empty save for the rescue boat.

I had left the e-bike set up on deck, thinking I'd be out and about today while we awaited weather on the lake. But the forecast improved and we made the decision to lock down into the harbor with enough time to drop the hook, raise the mast, and cross the lake in time for dinner. As it turned out when we got to the harbor, the lake was so calm we decided to just raise the mast under way, as we had done last time.

After-dinner sunset from our spot in Fulton.

Vector is now back in her cruising trim, with a working radar and a full set of navigation lights. And we put a couple of finishing touches on the mast lowering/raising procedure, which has now been printed for the binder. It will get another workout in a couple of months if we opt out of completing the Down East Circle.

As we waited for Lock 8, I snapped this photo of what looks to be a new skate park under construction in Oswego.

Tomorrow we should be in Clayton, New York, where we are once again having our accumulated mail sent. With luck we will have it by the weekend, but we might be in Clayton until Monday or so. On our last visit, all the docks were under water, so we are looking forward to visiting at a more reasonable lake level.