August 29, 2024 On the Erie Canal and over to Brewerton.

 August 29, 2024.  Phoenix to Brewerton   11.5 miles and 2.25 hours

Not a long travel day so no real hurry to leave.  Decided to let the Blockhouse Brats assist with getting a pumpout.  Not essential yet but the hook up was right there - so why not.  Plus, it gave the brats something to do other than picking up trash, chasing away geese and welcoming the town seniors at the waterfront picnic tables.    

We have reservations at Ess-Kay Marina for a few nights.  We'll use the time to drop the radar arch and bimini to provide the necessary lowered height to get through the shorter bridges on the western Erie canal.  Also need to be sure we've got good internet to continue updating the blog and most importantly to watch the Clemson - GA football game on Saturday. (a terrible start to the season for us).  The marina asked that we not arrive before noon as another boat needed to leave to make room for us. Departing Phoenix by 10 worked perfect.  Easy cruising up to the three rivers junction (Oneida, Oswego and Seneca Rivers).  Scenic wooded shorelines.  Even starting to see a few trees with some autumn colors starting to show. 

Easy scenic cruising day.  10mph speed limits.

Touches of color in the trees, shorter days and cooler weather are all
telling us the cruising season is winding down 

Made a turn to port onto the Oneida River and the eastern Erie Canal.   There's a 20' bridge we need to get under.  Our measurements say we're at 20'10" to the top of our anchor light but we're able to rotate it down giving us just enough clearance.  We make it to Erie lock 23 and need to wait a few minutes for them to clear the lock and lower the water.  

Waiting at Erie lock 23.  Flood gate in the up position in background

Passing by Winter Harbor Marina.   As You Wish will spend the winter here in heated storage.

Arrive at Ess-Kay right at noon.  Tight spot to stern in with a boat on our port side and wind blowing against our starboard side, but the dockhands are good and get us secured without any issues.  It's a marina we're familiar with as we left As You Wish here for a week when doing the Great Loop to let us make a trip back home to check on things.   No such trip needed this time.  "Lock it and leave it" is working just fine with the condo.

Colorful sunset over the boats  at Ess-Kay Marina

Journey for August 29, 2024