Monday, May 25, 2009

May 22-25, 2009 ::: Oswego to Clayton, New York

Departure from Oswego gave us a quiet passage past the Oswego Light into Lake Ontario. Wind out of the SouthSouthWest 5-10 mph and a slight ripple on the water. A very pleasant ride on our course to the NorthNorthEast; our next stop to be Sackets Harbor, New York. After a couple of hours the wind went calm then shifted to our bow at 5-10, a pleasant ride continued.


Entering Sackets Harbor the first vessel in clear view as INN PLAY II, the 69' Sea Ray earlier mentioned. We stayed at the Navy Point Marina; mostly sail boats, all being readied for the summer season.


Next to the "4" you can see a narrow slip . . . yes, it was ours. Bonnie skillfully backed SONATA with our 14' 7" beam into the 15' 5" wide slip without touching either side. We then went to lunch at the Tin Pan Galley. A cute town with many tourist attractions. Brig. Gen. Pike, a war of 1812 general is buried there, he named Pike's Peak in Colorado . . . something you may need to know.


Departing Sackets Harbor you pass the historic residence of the former Commanding Officer of the 1812 Naval Station. We then turned to the North to enter the American channel of the St. Lawrence River.


The cruising guides, the books talking about the LOOP, warn of the "big" ships that pass through the St. Lawrence. It is nice, comforting, having spent so much time in the Norfolk area so that the "big-boys", while respected, do not create fear. This was our first of many ships we would see on the way out the St. Lawrence . . . "The River" as locals call it.


Passing the first ore carrier and then the Cape Vincent Light surely placed us on The River, Eastbound.


The view from SONATA alongside the pier in Clayton toward the marina office, Islander Marina and Lodge. Very gracious and accomodating people. We then took our bikes and traveled all over town.


Part of the bike ride was to secure lunch and locate the Baptist Church. We enjoyed a great lunch and found the Baptist Church was . . . for sale. Oops! Upon inquiry we found they had relocated so the search continued. We found them, The River Community Church. Sunday provided a terrific message by their pastor, Dr. D. James Lewis, using Joshua 20:1-9 as the starting basis for his sermon. A very friendly church, a Great message!



Back to SONATA and a delightful lunch by Bonnie . . . we watched a 42' sail boat, SENSATION I, arrive on the pier next to ours. SENSATION I had been with us briefly in Oswego. Mike and Janice Skjelmose from Thornbury, Ontario, had purchased their boat in Montreal, taken it down Lake Champlain and across the Erie, up the Oswego and into Lake Ontario. They are on their way through the "Thousand Islands" then across Lake Ontario to the Welland Canal, Lake Erie and Georgoia's Bay where they live. We had a very enjoyable afternoon and evening with them swapping cruising stories.


Clayton is the home of the Antique Boat Museum which we will visit today. This Chris Craft is an example of what one will see there. Look at the varnish job...................!!!!

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