Oswego is a port city with an industrial lakefront along the canal and west along the lake. The city was first established in the early 1700’s as a post by the Dutch and then the French for fur trading. The English took over the port and later built Fort Ontario on the east side of the canal and directly on the lake during the Revolutionary War. The fort remained in use until the end of World War II. After the war it was used as a refugee camp. Today it is reconstructed to reflect the use of the fort in Revolutionary War times.
Later in the 1830’s, when the Oswego Canal was completed, Oswego became an important shipping and ship building center. Goods changed from beaver fur to salt and potash, then to lumber and grains, feeding Oswego’s mills. Today shipping consists of coal, fertilizer, aluminum, petroleum, wheat and soybean.
We spent the first part of the day stowing the last of our supplies and checking our leaks. So far, so good. We then took off and explored the city. Heading across the canal bridge, we began to explore the west side of the city. Lots of apartments and small businesses are beyond the port loading and storage facilities. After lunch we found a hardware store to replenish our supplies for fixing leaks. Just in case! Then we walked through Breitbeck Waterfront Park and back to the boat. Oswego has a nice walking trail all along the waterfront.
Later we shared stories and docktails with a couple who were moving their boat back to Lake Ontario for the season. Turned out that they lived many years in Florida!
After dinner and planning our cruise for the next week, we hit the sack.
Day 3. May 23. To Cape Vincent
We left Oswego and we’re lifted down 11 ft in Lock 8 to the level of Lake Ontario.
We cruised past the port and it’s lighthouse out into the lake proper, then settled in for the 3 hour lake crossing. Bill got bored and decided to dance his way across Lake Ontario.
Was worth waiting a day to cross. As we moved onto the lake we had ideal conditions of light wind and flat calm. Just the way we like it!
Was a bit chilly as we started out- 49 degrees, so we bundled up and gradually shed layers as the weather warmed to 70 degrees.
During the crossing we past Sackett’s Harbor, a large natural port on eastern Lake Ontario which was a major shipbuilding center during the War of 1812. The first naval battles of the war were fought over control of this port, which is just 30 miles from Canada. The armed brig Oneida managed to hold off the a British fleet of five ships. Information for you history buffs! Thus Sackett’s Harbor became the base for naval and marine operations during the War of 1812.
As we traveled further, the wind turbines of Canada’s Wolfe Island rose up before us.
And then the lighthouse at Tibbet’s Point, NY came into view.
A little further on the entrance to the St Lawrence Seaway opened in front of us. We traveled another 6 miles to up the St Lawrence to the town of Cape Vincent and tied up to the fisheries dock.
After settling in we walked through Cape Vincent, a small tourist town which caters those in the larger cities. As we walked around many of the businesses were not open, waiting for the Memorial Day weekend and the tourists to arrive.