WE FIND
OSWEGO!
IN EPISODE 3 WE FIND OUR INTREPID MARINERS ADRIFT IN LAKE ONTARIO
IN THE COLD GREY LIGHT OF DAWN…. AGAIN TOTALLY BECALMED
HOWEVER, THE NAVIGATOR,KEN HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS DAY READING THE
QUICK START MANUAL FOR THE GPS.
SUDDENLY I HAVE DIRECTION, SPEED MADE GOOD AND TIME TO
DESTINATION……………………… INCLUDING
MAPS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
WHAT A GAGDET !……….WHAT
A GUY! ………….EXCEPT FOR THE SNORING.
WE START OFF AND PULL INTO OSWEGO AROUND
NOON. THE MARINA OWNER INDICATES THEIR STAFF MUST DOWN THE MAST AND WE
MUST USE THE “VIDEO-PHONE “ TO CALL INTO CUSTOMS ……….NO
PROBLEM… NEVER USED ONE IN MY LIFE…………SO I START TO EXPLAIN
HOW A N.Y. BOAT,OWNED BY A CANADIAN, CREWED WITH AN AMERICAN IS GOING TO
THE AZORES, EXCEPT THE AMERICAN IS GETTING OFF IN NYC………..
ALL OVER A PHONE WITH A 2X2 SCREEN AND A
SCANNER TOO SMALL TO TAKE ANY OF THE SHIPS PAPERS ……………..CAN
ANYONE OUT THERE SEE A CLOUD LOOMING ?
HEY! HE SAID! WELCOME TO THE U.S………………………………….HOWEVER!
YOU WILL NEED TO CHECK IN WITH CUSTOMS IN PHOENIX AND GAVE
ME A PHONE NUMBER FOR THEIR UNIT………KEN WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE
HAD TO CALL ARIZONA………………………..REMEMBER,
READERS , THIS IS A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY FOR BOTH OF US!
FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW YORK BARGE CANAL
SYSTEM, THE CLEARANCE IS INSUFFICIENT FOR SAIL BOATS UNTIL THE ENTRANCE
TO THE HUDSON RIVER AROUND TROY N.Y………THUS, THE MAST COMES DOWN
AND CLUTTERS UP THE WHOLE DECK AREA, FILLS THE INTERIOR WITH MORE SAILS
AND RESTRICTS MOVEMENT EVERYWHERE!
THE GUYS AT THE MARINA (WHO HAVE PROBABLY DONE 10,000 MASTS) TOOK
ONE LOOK, DROPPED IT INTO THE BOOM CRUTCH IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND
DIDN’T EVEN CHARGE US FOR THE EFFORT . REALLY NICE PEOPLE WITH A GREAT
ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE………AND A BAR NEXT DOOR
WE DECIDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT AND HIT THE
FIRST OF THE LOCKS BY DAWNS EARLY LIGHT AS IT IS NOW AROUND 3:30 P.M.
NOW, AS THIS IS AS MUCH MR. HUCHERSON’S ADVENTURE AS IT IS
MINE, WE SHARED EXPENSES……KEN PAID THE MOORING AND THE GAS FOR THE LITTLE OUTBOARD AND I BOUGHT THE MEALS
AND DRINKS.
WE WERE UP WAY TOO EARLY FOR FINDING BREAKFAST
DURING THE TRIP AND LUNCH CONSISTED OF BALONGA SANDWICHES FOR KEN. SO
THAT LEFT US TO FIND A NICE PLACE FOR DINNER AT EACH STOP. NEXT DOOR
FILLED THE BILL COMPLETELY……… JOHNNY WALKER BLACK AND CHEVAS REGAL
AND MORE FOOD THAN WE COULD EAT! (MORE ABOUT THE RESTRAUNT LATER)
WE STUMBLE BACK TO THE BOAT………HE SNORES AND I FAKE
SLEEP FOR THE 3RD NIGHT…………….BUT I HAVE A PLAN !
us
