Written on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 (The date above is incorrect)

The last log entry was from Lock 23 (Mile 153) at Brewerton on Monday August 4.

Tuesday August 5, we cruised 7 miles to the junction of the Erie and Oswego Canals. It was decided to go north 3 miles to Lock 1 on the Oswego Canal at the town of Phoenix.  Phoenix is a little town, with an assortment of small restaurants, a bakery, a laundry mat and the home of the Bridge House Brats. It is the later the enticed us to revisit Phoenix.

The Bridge House Brats (BHBs) have been on location for about 12 years.  They are an enthusiastic group of volunteer youths who take care of the little waterfront park, museum and café.  They apply for participation, but there is no schedule and no pay. 

They appear in the morning, some as early as 7:00, wearing a Bridge House Brats tee shirt and proceed to do various jobs, such as opening the umbrellas at the café tables, wiping off the chair and emptying the garbage before donning their serving aprons.  

Boaters as well as locals place orders for breakfast or lunch from a notebook filled with the local restaurants' menus.  The orders are called to the appropriate business and then picked up and served by the volunteer.  These kids fetch ice, carry laundry, or any other task.  They appreciate tips. Tips are one of the motivators, but camaraderie and experience are another.  There is an adult present, but the kids work together with the older high school age kids guiding and training the younger ones (age 10).  They are all learning many valuable skills in an informal setting.

The day we arrived, a small group of disabled seniors arrived by bus about lunch time.  The BHBs assisted in wheeling "the clients" to tables under a gazebo. After the orders were placed, food retrieved, and meals consumed, the BHBs entertained with an original Bridge House Brats cheer and danced to a couple of songs directed by programmed announcer. (Sort of like the old... put your left foot in, take your left foot out)   The volunteers then wheeled "the clients" on a walk around the town block.  It was a nice outing for the seniors.

The Bridge House is the historic lift bridge tenders building.  The three story structure is much like a lighthouse in its shape, with the old controls to the lock and the bridge in the top floor.  The "Brats" operate out of one small room on the ground floor, while the rest of the building is now a museum. 

About 2:00 the umbrellas are closed and the BHBs go home, leaving the boaters to fend for themselves.

We went through the lock to Oswego several years ago when the program was just starting and there was no dock with café tables.  The "Brats" had less to do, so we invited several of them to ride through the lock on Sadie B.  Most had never had the experience and were thrilled.   There were 5 boats docking that day at this location, varying in size from 50' to 27'.

Wednesday, August 6 after our morning walks and a stop at the farmer's market, we retraced our steps (3 miles) to the Canal Junction and headed west on the Erie Canal.

After about 7 miles, we turned south off the Erie Canal and into Lake Onondaga and proceeded to the far end, The Inner Harbor of Syracuse.  (Less than a mile from the famed Carousel Mall.)

This is where I jump ship again to attend a wedding in Maine.  With that on my agenda, packing was my primary concern.

Dennis took his bike and rode into Syracuse to visit the Weigh Lock Museum.

We have done this before, so I didn't feel like I was missing out.  He then rode to the Carousel Mall and purchased an MP3 player.  By the time he returned, my bags were packed, I'd prepared a couple of meals to eat in my absence and dinner was cooking.

Dennis learned that the Carousel at the Mall actually came from the amusement park at Roseland Amusement Park in Canandaigua, NY.  He probably rode on it as a child.

On Thursday, August 7, Gary and Wendy Mutchler  (relatives who lives in the area) arrived about 10. After a short visit with Dennis, we were off and arrived in Manchester, NH (actually Hookset) at my Aunt Ethelda's about 5.   We were happy to accept a dinner invitation at my cousin Doug's about 10 minutes away.  After a great dinner Gary and Wendy proceeded to drive to York, Maine where the wedding festivities will be held. I returned home with Aunt Ethelda.  For those who like detail,  Ethelda is my father's sister. She married my mother's brother.  We are attending the wedding of my mother's other sister's grand daughter.  Am I my own grand pa?

Dennis cruised to Baldwinsville, 10-12 miles and just one lock west.

Friday, 08/08/08 

Aunt Ethelda and I drive an hour to the Dockside Guest House in York Harbor, York Maine.  It is a picturesque place for an outdoor wedding.  Moments before the appointed hour of 10:30 AM, the skies darkened and it rained.  After a short delay, it was decided to proceed.  Umbrellas were the unexpected eclectic decorations. 

Of course the rain stopped when the reception moved inside for a lovely brunch.

The best part for me is that my 3 brothers were also there.  This doesn't happen often as we live in Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Florida.  It was great to see other relatives as well.  I was happy to be at Aunt Ethelda's  and be able to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.  Sadie B does not have a TV. 

Dennis stayed in Baldwinsville, NY.

Saturday morning, Aunt Ethelda and I went shopping and returned home for lunch.

Eldon and Joyce (brother and wife) picked me up and returned to their home in Johnson, Vermont.  

Dennis stayed in Baldwinsville, NY.

Sunday I visited with friends and family.  Wayne and Doris (brother and wife) returned to Vermont to visit Doris' Mom, before heading back to PA. This gave us a little more time together.

Dennis stayed in Baldwinsville, NY.

Monday, August 11, I drove our car back to Baldwinsville to meet Dennis. 

Dennis chose to stay in Baldwinsville for a number of reasons: a good grocery store, wifi at the library, poor weather, and 20 miles to the next stop.  Twenty miles doesn't sound like much, but on a boat that goes about 5 miles an hour against the current WITHOUT an auto pilot, by your self, is a long day.   Remember... back in St Johnsville we shipped the auto pilot off for repair.  The sad news is, it can't be repaired.  So he stayed put and made friends with the local Police. They gave permission for us to park our car in their parking lot for up to a month.

There is a visitor center at the park next to the lock and boat dock in Baldwinsville.  Because it was a fair distance from the car to the boat, Dennis met me in the parking lot to help with my bags. One has to walk past the visitor center.  Two people were sitting outside. Dennis stops and says, " I've been putting personal ads in your paper for a week and I finally got a response. She's moving on the boat with me.  As soon as I learn her name, I'll come back and introduce her."  Ain't he a gem!!!

It was good to be home, aboard Sadie B.  I was delighted to see our friends Jessie and Gayle aboard Sea Gayle, a DeFevre 45' docked behind us. 

Tuesday, August 12, the car was used to provision and run a couple errands before being parked at the local municipal building.  The weather report was for a sunny day so we cruised to the only anchorage we know of on this section of the Erie Canal on Cross Lake about 13 miles west.    We rolled up the bimini and enjoyed the rare sunny afternoon.  The bimini was deployed before bedtime as overnight rain was expected.  While we have had rain everyday for weeks, we do not feel drenched.

It has not rained continually, just consistently.  The sun shines part of everyday.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008, we hauled anchor and cruised 20 miles to lock 25 at Mays Point.  This is a quaint little fishing settlement on the Clyde River which is a tributary to the Seneca River we are on.  It is located in the near middle of Montezuma Marsh, just north of where I-90 crosses the large Federal Wildlife Refuge. That is until tomorrow. When Sadie B. passes through lock 25, we enter "The Ditch", a dug canal from here to Buffalo. 

The days are pleasantly warm in the mid to high 70's with night temperatures dropping into the mid 50's.  That warm wool blanket is a blessing.

Ahoy from Mays Point, NY