Trip Day:
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105
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Latitude:
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43°13.67 '
N
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Locks Today:
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3
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Miles Today:
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38
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Longitude:
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076°17.94' W
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Locks Total:
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31
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Total Miles:
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2,114
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Location:
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Phoenix, NY
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After a good night’s sleep we got underway early with the temperature around 60 as we entered Lock 21 for a 24 foot drop. This section of the canal is man-made but still beautiful with thick forest on both banks and very few homes. We miss seeing Osprey nests on channel markers but there are many opportunities to see geese and ducks. Most of the marinas ask people to refrain from feeding the birds, especially the geese which are capable of making a real mess on sidewalks and docks. 
As we approached Sylvan Beach after Lock 22, the entire atmosphere changed. This area was like a little Coney Island with a Ferris wheel and tilt-a-whirl, hot dogs and ice cream. We saw more boats in five minutes than we had seen in 5 days and suddenly there were homes in view. We found it interesting that the marina where we took on fuel was an enterprise belonging to the Oneida Indian Nation.
We were also excited to see the famous tug Urger which was built in 1901 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She was retired from canal service in 1980 and now serves as a floating classroom.
When the waterway opened wide onto Oneida Lake it was like we had been released from the dark, dungeon-like walls of the locks and a magnificent view was revealed. Oneida Lake is 21 miles long and 5 miles wide with depths of 20-30 feet and must be filled with fish because we passed a hundred boats trying their luck this morning. The lake freezes solidly in the winter so ice fishing is popular, but in the summer the locals enjoy the beaches. We crossed the length of Oneida Lake which feeds into Oneida River/Erie Canal.
When we locked through Lock 23, we officially departed the Erie Canal which continues West to Lake Erie. We turned north toward Lake Ontario, stopping in Phoenix which offers a free town dock with electricity. We met a couple from Merrit Island who told us this is the home of the Bridge House Brats which is a group of teenagers who work for tips to assist visiting boaters. They will pick up food orders and deliver to a boat or these tables along the docks. We will check this out for breakfast!
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