Oswego Canal - June 15

Monday morning we left our dock at 8am. We were followed into our last lock of the Erie Canal by another Looper boat named Kat in the Hatt and a non Looper Silver Tuna going to Saugatuck, MI. Seven miles later we turned north onto the Oswego Canal. The Oswego Canal is 24 miles long and has 7 locks which will bring us down to Lake Ontario. As we approached and contacted the Lockmaster at Lock #1 we were informed that we would be delayed as they were repairing the lift bridge at the lock exit. We tied up to the wall just outside of the lock and were advised that they were fixing the bridge just enough to get our group through because there were rumors of shutting down the canal due to flooding. Twenty minutes later they were able to lock us through and raise the bridge. Whew!  We continued down the river dodging logs and debris. We cleared through our last lock at 4:30pm and pulled into the Oswego Marina. We later learned that we were probably the last boats to get through the Canal as the New York Canal System shut down all travel through the Oswego Canal. The canal will remain closed due to flooding for an undetermined amount of time, possibly a week or more! We are so fortunate to have gotten through before this closure! We know there are at least a dozen other Loopers above the Oswego Canal that are now held up due to this closure. 

 Wild water over the dam.

 Captain finally working!

 Approaching Lock #8. 

 Wild Oswego River.

 Kayaking anyone?