All locked up

Late start this morning after all the activity yesterday we felt like a cooked breakfast. Topped up the engine coolant and made certain everything was as it should be before shoving off at 9:05am. There is no Lock 4, they designed it then decided they didn't need it and rather than re-number all the locks they just left it out! So............ next is Lock 3 which raises you 27' then Lock 2 18'.

Entering Lock 2 raising us 18'

We're starting to get the hang of locks but you're never absolutely sure what to expect so have to stay alert. I usually take the bow and Mary the stern with Ron at the helm. Its a case of grabbing a rope or line down the wall of the lock and hanging on while the water raises you up at the same time making sure you stay parallel with the wall - its a matter of hook work!

Lock 1 at Phoenix, thankfully they raise this road bridge!

This lock raised us 10'. The road bridge rises just enough for taller boats to get under on the left (port) side, we are about 15', the maximum you can be is 21' to be safe. The weather improved as we headed toward Brewerton just before Lake Onedia. Sorry Greg we didn't get to stop in Phoenix.

These bridges are just 23' which is lots of room - but you still duck.

Turning up the Onedia River at Three Rivers off the Oswego River. If we'd kept going we would enter the Seneca River - check the chart.

And this is lock 23 (don't ask) raising us just 7'.

Actually Lock 23 is on a short stretch of the Erie Canal that takes a short cut from the Onedia River and back again just before Brewerton. Let me explain (duh) where ever possible they used the natural waterway (river) and where needed they dug the Erie Canal to go the better route. Once across the Onedia Lake we'll enter the Erie Canal again which later becomes the Mohawk River on and off till Waterford at the Hudson River.

On a free dock at the entrance to Onedia Lake behind us

Where we came from and the sun setting.