June 15, 2019 – Another day with wind in the forecast, but it was nice and calm as we left the marina at 6:45 to hit the first lock, 3 miles away, soon after his 7 AM opening time.
The two tugs we encountered pushing barges, one a double, must have been granted early locking, as we heard them on the radio, and encountered both before we got to the lock. It was just a bit dicey to pass them on the narrow, curvy canal, but we slowed at the widest spot we could find and they came around the corners wide so that there was never any trouble.
The view in the mornings is just beautiful, and reminds us of getting up early at Chateauguay Lake to waterski or wakeboard on the glassy surface before the wind kicks up.
We caught up to another boat, Justified, on this leg, and wound up going through the locks with them, and chatting along the way. They had stayed at the Ilion Marina, below, and done a tour of the Remington museum (unfortunately, the factory tours of at the Remington Arms factory had been discontinued a few years ago).
Lock 21 marked the point at which we begin locking down – entering the chamber that is already full, and then riding it down as the water is emptied into the lower segment of the canal. MUCH smoother. However, a little more challenging with a crosswind, as the boat’s superstructure is fully exposed to the wind as you are coming into the lock, and having to reach down over the side of the boat with a boat-hook to snag the lines is a bit trickier as well.
The closer we got to Oneida Lake, the more recreational traffic we saw, with pontoon boats, bowriders and fishing boats going up and down the canal, with some small marinas off in side creeks for small day boats. Law enforcement was quite visible, both the NYSDEC and the local sheriff.
Sylvan Beach is a resort community, with a beach, amusement park, and numerous shops and restaurants. We were probably fortunate that the weather was less than gorgeous (actually, overcast, cool, spitting rain and very windy), as there could have been even more congestion along the long free dock wall that accommodates both temporary and overnight boats. As it was, we had to go almost to the end of the wall to find an opening, and were quite exposed to the wind and waves that rocked us all evening.
We met up with the crews of Justified and 9 1/2, for dinner at the Crazy Clam, and then turned in early, after an 8-hour travel day through six locks.