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Ship’s Log 6.25 Oswego-Rochester

 So here’s a quick rundown of the Canada issue: Americans can enter Lake Ontario via the Oswego Canal and can visit towns on the American side. BUT the only way to get out and into another major waterway (without turning around) is by going into Canadian waters. Canada has extended Covid restrictions and will not let Americans in unless they are essential workers. We are not. At one point, we considered going through the Trent Severn to the north (more locks, cute little towns, etc) but this is now completely off the table. The other option is to do the Welland Canal to Buffalo, but you have to have a professional captain take your boat through while you travel by land in the ole US of A.We have secured Cap’n Mike to take the helm in Youngstown, NY on Sunday, and he is kindly lending us his car to drive to Buffalo.

We wake up in Oswego, and the kids immediately beeline across the bridge to the historic part for fresh bagels. Wm is addressing a potential antifreeze leak in the engine room, and I am straightening up. Meade texts me to send the grocery list. How helpful! I send her a short one since they have walked a ways away. Twenty minutes later, I get a call saying the case of water was too heavy. We have a quick discussion about the fact water was not in fact on the list (but these have the squirty tops), and then Wm and I set out to help carry. We meet them midway on the bridge. Meade’s load is about to go splat but we get there in time and have a nice stroll back, taking in the beautiful surroundings.

We set out for another lovely run to Rochester along the southern coast of Lake Ontario. (It’s amazing how lucky we’ve been with calm waters. Fingers crossed for Erie and Huron.) Wm, Mason, and Meade jump in the lake midway. I do more of a dip - it is COLD. 

There is quite a crowd in the Rochester marina as there is a fishing tournament going on. Mason starts fishing off the dock, and Wm calls our old pal Randy to talk antifreeze. Randy gives him a few things to try to diagnose the problem. In the meantime, Mason catches a nice catfish which catches the attention of some captains. These guys are a few cups in and are at the hooting and hollering stage of the evening. Mason proudly shows off his fish before tossing it back. 

We all want to shower before dinner, so we pack up our shower totes and start our parade around the docks to the main building. All the captains and guests have set up lawn chairs on the docks for some hang time. We process our way right through the middle of them. They’re still hooting on the way there (pay the toll!) and on the way back (ooh, y’all smell good). It’s pretty hilarious.

We have a delicious dinner at Dominic’s On the Bay and play an impression game Meade has on her phone. It is also hilarious. 

We head back for the night to turn in. The hooters have retired for the evening.

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