We are staying here for two nights, right on the shore of Lake Ontario.
When will we learn that wind speeds at the ocean are two or three times what is predicted for the nearest coastal town? Last night around 10:00 we heard the wind pick up. We went outside and checked our lines, adding two stern lines. Our fenders looked fine. We went to bed. I woke at
3:50 am because the wind was howling, and the boat was moving in a new way. I went outside and was surprised by the power. Water was rushing by our boat. I did not want to wake George because everything looked ok. I sat up and read for a while. Then I felt a bump and knew the wind had shifted. Now it was more on our port side, pushing us onto the dock. I looked out again and saw that one fender had popped out. It was riding on top of the dock. Time for the captain to get up.
We put on clothes and went out for a fight with the wind. We needed to get that fender back in place, but it was hard to move Aunt Aggie off the dock even 10 inches. We pushed and pushed and finally got the fender wedged into place. We added another fender. We were wet and tired. We climbed back into bed but couldn't sleep because the wind and waves were loud.
I suggested we move to the guest bedroom which is not in the bow. That's where I had been reading, and it was quieter. We did and fell into deep sleep until morning. The sun was shining. The air was 20 degrees cooler, and the water was quieter.
We have had a great day doing laundry and research: George - medicare coverage; Martha - Trent-Severn Waterway in Canada. Around 1:00 pm we went off to explore Oswego and see which boats are tied to the canal walls. We found the Old City Hall, which is now a brewery and cafe, and had a tasty lunch.
Here is the Old City Hall Building.
After lunch we walked across a bridge and ran into Jean and Dave from Knot There. What a small town event! Standing on the bridge, looking out at the lake and the canal, we had a good chat, comparing our travels yesterday and our night. We both had uncomfortable, rocky nights. They recommended the Safe Haven Museum in town, and we told about our lunch spot. We will travel together across the lake tomorrow.
Safe Haven Museum tells the story of 982 European refugees who came to Oswego in 1944 as the guests of President Franklin Roosevelt. They were living in camps in Italy and were discovered when Rome was liberated. They promised to return to Europe after the war. They stayed for about 18 months in barracks at Ft. Oswego. After a month long quarantine, life improved: Eleanor Roosevelt visited. Children were allowed to go to school. Adults were given training for jobs. Twenty-two babies were born in the camp here. Once the war ended, most wanted to stay, so that was a big decision. Finally, they were allowed to apply for citizenship, and they spread out across the country.
An architectural detail from the Old City Hall, which now houses a cafe.
Tomorrow the wind is listed as "calm." We plan to leave around 8:00 am for the 48 mile trip across Lake Ontario. We hope to stop for the night on the free wall at Cape Vincent, New York.
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