August 28, 2024 Phoenix, NY - Home of the Blockhouse Brats

 Wednesday August 28, 2024   Oswego NY to Phoenix NY 21 miles, 7 locks and 4.5 hours

Sunshine State of Mind, our boat neighbor at the marina in Kingston, was also on the wall here with us but decided to make an early departure to catch the 8AM first lock opening.  We just weren't ready that early after our long previous day.  We had figured about a 10 AM departure would be fine to get through the seven remaining Oswego canal locks and dock in Phoenix.  But before we were fully ready, we heard a boat hailing lock 8 for passage and decided we might as well hook up with them.  By the time they were leaving lock 8 we were ready and waiting.  Then we saw them coming out the gates and realized it was a BIG boat. Decided to jump the line and head into lock 7 before them.  Really wasn't an issue as these locks are significantly bigger than any of the ones on the Rideau and we both easily fit using a port side  tie.   Boat was a 70+ foot Marlow.  Beautiful boat but felt huge next to us with it's high bow and 18.5 foot beam.  Found out it was corporate owned.  Crew of 3 were bringing it back south to it's hailing port of Key Biscayne for the winter.  

Big Marlow follows us into a lock

Got to lock 3 and had to tie to the wall.  Two smaller cruisers were waiting and explained there was an issue with the discharge valve function.  Waiting on a mechanic to either override the system or perform a manual discharge.  Good little break and it was fixed and ready for us within 1/2 hour.  Four boats in the lock got a little tighter but with the cruisers up front and the Marlow and us on either side we all fit fine.

Interesting bascule bridge had to lift before we could enter this lock

Made it up to  Phoenix and through Oswego lock #1 where we parted ways with the other 3 boats who were continuing eastbound on the Erie canal.  Phoenix is a pretty small town but it's known for "The Blockhouse Brats".  A community group of kids who welcome and assist boaters at their town dock. Oddly, no one was at the docks when we arrived so figured must be a summer program and kids are back at school.   Made my way to the bakery before it closed for a few items.  Nice waterfront park, lots of picnic tables, clean bathrooms, Laundromat right around the corner (Martha's favorite so far on this trip), even had a pumpout station. 

This mural was a High School art project. 

At one time Phoenix had multiple manufacturing buildings along both sides of the canal.

Most were destroyed in a fire in 1912. Oddly, Phoenix was named for the original town founder, 

not the way it rose back after the fire.

We made the most of the evening visiting most of the town businesses.  Duskee's Sports Bar had 60 cent Wing Wednesday.  Couldn't go wrong with that for dinner.  Ordered beer that never arrived and after reminding the waitress (who was swamped with a full house for wings night) we suddenly had 2 each with her apologies and a chip for a third drink.  We gave the waitress a big tip and the chips to the locals at the table next to us.  Certainly picked the right couple as they quickly listed several other bars we needed to visit along the Erie canal towns ahead of us. Then headed over to Tones ice cream shop for dessert where we found out Lock 1 Distillery had Music Bingo tonight.  So we headed there. Split a flight of assorted drafts and tried one of their bourbons.  Music Bingo was a hoot.   Each game had cards for a specific era with bands or artists in the squares.  DJ played a bit of a song and you tried to match the band to a name on your card.  We did good with the 70's card but the music of the 2000's gave us the most difficulty.  "Who are these bands".??

Woke up in the morning to the sound of kids playing in the park.  Apparently the "brats" work from 7 - 2 and we had arrived the previous day just after they left.  

Journey for August 28, 2024