Rain is Coming, We are Going

The stay on the City Dock at Brewerton, NY was nice.  Everything we wanted was within walking distance, and one thing we wanted was soft serve ice cream.  But first, we wanted to check out the pizza house across the bridge to the other side of the Oneida river called Top This.  It got great reviews on Active Captain and we had not had pizza for a while, so it was time to take a walk.  Top This did not disappoint.  We each got a huge slice of pizza with a drink, and it hit the spot.  The owner noticed our foreign accents and asked where we were from. We told her about America's Great Loop and that we came from the land of Alabama, almost 4000 miles away, by water.  She presented us with twot-shirts with her logo printed on them and we left in peace.  So, any Loopers behind us, be sure to stop by Top This Pizza.

The weather was expected to change into something not good for cruising, and being the weekend and all, it made sense to find a marina to duck into to sit tight and do marina things.  We had planned on staying on the dock for two nights but the wind would change, making it difficult to leave on the windward side.  The forecast predicted a calm around 2-3 PM today, so we decided to untie and make our way 8 miles west a day early to Pirate's Cove Marina in Belgium, NY.  After passing through E-23 and dropping 7 feet, we wound our way down the canal to Pirate's Cove.  Upon arrival, we were met by an army of dockhands who talked us in on the slip using a cell phone ; they practically hand landed Viridian for us.  We had not experienced such attention in any of the previous 100+ marinas we had visited.  During check-in, the Dock Master noticed our foreign accents and asked where we were from.  We told her we were from the land of Alabama, 4000 miles away, by water, and she presented us with two hand-knitted potholders and gave us the keys to the loaner car so we could drive out to get whatever we needed.  Once again, we left in peace and were warmed by the rich hospitality of people of upstate New York.


While staying put for three nights, we will let the weather pass, provision, do laundry, cleaning, etc. and start detailed route planning for crossing into Canadian waters next week.  We will leave here and turn north onto the Oswego River that leads to the town of Oswego on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.  From there, we will cruise north across the US/Canada border to the St. Lawrence River near Kingston, Canada.  The Trent Severn Canal System connects several lakes and rivers using locks to allow boats to travel east or west, to/from Lake Ontario, north of Niagara Falls, to the Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.

Today's short 8 mile run from the City Dock in Brewerton, NY to Pirate's Cove, Belgium, NY

Peace Offering #1 - T-Shirt from "Top This Pizza"

Exiting E-23

Close to the last lock until we get to the Trent/Severn system in Canada

This is our last lock to transit on the Erie Canal.  We will turn north onto the Oswego River and transit a few locks to get to Lake Ontario.

More great cruising in upstate NY

Several other Loopers boats here too

Staying here 3 nights to let weather pass

Fresh Water

Peace Offering #2 - Hand knitted pot holders