8/30/10 - Sylvan Beach - 9:50AM

Someday is today-Rt 481

Dalliance left Oswego on Saturday 8/28/10.  We entered Lock #8 at noon having made the decision to let the traffic clear the harbor.  It proved to be the right decision and we only had the company of  one boat at the locks in Fulton and Phoenix.  Conditions on the Oswego River were very challenging with strong currents and floating debris.  Navigation aids were off line in many places and covered with debris in others making identification impossible.  The worst stretch was between Minetto and Fulton where we simply did our best to keep Dalliance in the middle of the river.  We finished the day by clearing Lock #23 on the Oneida River at 8pm.  We tied up on the south wall at Lock #23 and spent a very quiet and restful night on the river.  The following morning was clear and the winds were calm making for a very enjoyable crossing on Oneida Lake.  While crossing the lake we pondered the question, if you blow your whistle at bouy 127 does anyone really hear it?  We left Lock 23 @ 7:50 AM and arrived in Sylvan Beach approximately 1 PM just before the route 13 bridge. We found a spot on the south wall of the barge canal and tied up to spend the night.  Family members joined us throughout the afternoon to wish us bon voyage.  My sisters Becky and Marsey, my brother-in-law Alan, my neice and nephew Shona and Michael showed up.  Kris's mom and dad, sister Kathryn and brother-in-law Michael joined in the celebration.  We had dinner at Eddie's a famous beach restaurant and ran into two former co-workers at the CNYDSO Kathy and Virginia.  Leaving the restaurant Kris also ran into her cousin Patty with her husband Chipper.  We plan to leave for Rome later this morning and meet a few more friends before making tracks down the Erie Canal.

Farewell Fair Haven

Farewell Fair Haven

We have been asked by many of our friends and family members if we planned to set up a blog to report the highlights of Dalliance's Journey.  Although we had discussed it devoting time to set it up was low on the list of priorities.  However, fate interevened closing the Oswego River locks 0-8 from 8/23 thru the morning of 8/27 which is the time of this posting.  We have been waitng for the locks to open since our arrival in Oswego Harbor @ 5:50PM on 8/24.  We've put the time to very good use and our blog is now on line.  A few highlights of our journey thus far include an aborted docking attempt on the west wall of the Oswego River tuesday evening.  Several large trawlers and one sailboat were tied up leaving only room on the floating dock in front of Coleman's Pub.  Upon our approach we noticed the dock was pitching 8-10" from the river's extremely strong current.  A man from one of the trawlers took our bow line but did not get it on a dock cleat.  Dalliance's bow was being pulled in toward the dock while her stern was being pushed up river by a counter current.  All crew remained calm and the skipper "politely" asked the man to release the bow line.  Dalliance's three bladed prop provided sufficient power to fight the current, turn us around in mid river and bring us to the safety of the OYC dock.  OYC offers the first night free for reciprocals at the southern most dock in the International Marina complex.  If you stay beyond the one night you need to register with International Marina.  Fees are $1.50 per foot and include power and water hook ups.  The Marina is not well protected from northery winds.  During our hold over in Oswego we have met a number of people who have made multiple trips south to the Florida keys and the Bahamas.  We'd like to give special mention to Slade and Sue aboard Sojouner a Defever 44 trawler.  Slade and Sue spent over three hours with Kris and I yesterday afternoon briefing us on marinas, anchorages and services from NY Harbor to Lake Worth Florida.  Additionally, they introduced us to the ActiveCaptain.com website as well as CruisersNet.net.  We looked at both and the information is excellent.  Stay tuned for our next posting