A day of rest for us while Tom biked back to Utica to retrieve the car. His ride was longer than he expected, 31 miles, but he enjoyed it, especially the segment which took him right along the old Erie Canal (Clinton's Ditch,) and the first improved canal.
We had talked about a journey across the bridge for ice cream but that became unnecessary because an ice cream vendor came by in his truck just for us . There is NO room in the freezer (maybe a good thing) for such things so you can imagine the delight we experienced. There is nothing quite like ice cream on a balmy summer night!
Monday, June 11
Since our next leg takes us across Lake Oneida, the time for Tom to return home was upon him. We said our farewells and set sail for Brewerton on the western shore of Lake Oneida just before 8:00 am.
We reached the town dock at Brewerton, NY at about 11:00am after a very pleasant, calm, sunny passage across Lake Oneida.
Once secure at the dock and a brief nap, we took a bike ride that was cut somewhat short by the discovery along the way of a marina with a store that had a multitude of charts, boat gstaffear, etc. After loading up with a few "necessary" purchases, we headed back to the boat rather than continuing our bike ride because of packages. Gail was particularly thrilled to find a flagstaff to fly the great loop burgie and we are now proudly flying the flag on the bow. It is a great way for all the "loopers" to identify themselves.
The flowers that we saw both coming and going were breath taking. As you ride along you can actually smell them. People in even the most humble of homes have awesome gardens filled with every possible blossom.
By the way, we were talking to Durelle about an experience we had in Rome that led to an article in the local paper. She asked that we include the url to the article in the next blog, so here it is:
http://www.romesentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS01/106080190
Since Brewerton is not far from where Uncle Lee's daughter lives,we contacted Carol Sue McMullan. She and her husband Tom offered to pick us up at the boat and show us some of the very well preserved sections of Clinton's Ditch near their town of Jordan, NY.
We were thrilled, but we really needed a day to clean up
the boat, and rest up a bit.
Tuesday June 12
A day of rest and renewal. Felt good!
Wednesday June 13
Tom and Carol Sue showed up as promised (with fresh picked strawberries in hand) . Our first stop was the Salt Museum at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool. They had a fascinating depiction of Syracuse's salt industry with displays and exhibits including iron kettles, wooden barrels and other equipment used for making salt from the abundant salt springs around the lake. From there we went to see several sections of the original "Clinton's Ditch." We were really thrilled to see these remnants of the canal that constitutes the reason for this portion of our journey.
They then took us to their beautiful home, built in the middle of 100 acres of forest near Jordan. Tom has created a sportsman's paradise with its own population of deer and turkeys. We were treated to an unbelievable segment of nature when we observed from the window's of their house, two does, with yearlings nearby, nursing this year's fawns, while a pair of huge wild turkeys strutted by. Unbelievable!!
After a great dinner Tom and Carol Sue returned us to the boat.
Wouldn't you know ,we didn't bring the camera. The memory of what we saw is etched in our brains to relish for years to come ,but we wish we could share what we saw with all of you.
Thursday June 14
We moved the boat today to the:
Winter Harbor Marina
604 County Route 37
Central Square, NY 13036
The boat will be here until July 1st, while we will be returning to Pensacola on Sunday the 17th to begin preparing for the arrival of Sean and Kate who will stay with us while John and Sheila sail in the British Virgin Islands. We will meet the McVay grandparents on the 19th somewhere near Lake City, Florida and take the kids from there to Wakulla so they can experience the springs and all that entails. On the 20th we will return to Pensacola for fun in the sun!!!
Tomorrow will be spend doing laundry, changing the oil, cleaning the boat and sundry other worthwhile activities.
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