First Move

With Distant Horizon on the Great Lake Ontario, there are a variety of ways to cross the ocean. Actually, there are three ways to reach the ocean.

The simplest and most direct route to the ocean would be to sail down the St. Lawrence River and depart from St. Johns, Newfoundland. With the highest water levels ever recorded for Lake Ontario, much of this route has wake restrictions. This doesn't affect Distant Horizon, as she doesn't put out more than a ripple. However, the big ships are affected and are traveling very slow; backing up shipping traffic. This may create extended waiting times at each of the locks.

Also, St. Johns is known for its fog and June is a foggy month. However, I am able to navigate through the fog using radar. You would think there would be a clear path to Ireland once reaching the ocean. However, the top tourist attraction for St. Johns in June is going out to see icebergs! That would be very cool! I can imagine some great photos of a behemoth iceberg... then I realized I would most likely have to navigate through the fog using radar and dodging icebergs, day and night for several days. I would not be dodging just a couple icebergs either. The International Ice Patrols reports:

"As of 17 April 2017, 648 icebergs have been sighted south of 48° N in the transatlantic shipping lanes. On average 212 icebergs drift south of this latitude by the end of April based on data collected between 1900 and 2016."

I am the adventurous sort... just not that adventurous. So, I ruled out going that way.

The next way was never given a lot of consideration. It consists of going down the St. Lawrence to Montreal. Then, heading south through the Champlain Canal to the Hudson River; and taking the Hudson to New York Harbour. I would still have any associate problems with shipping traffic along the seaway.

The third way to the ocean is by transiting the Oswego Canal to the Erie Canal, traveling east to the Hudson River. Then taking the Hudson to New York Harbour. That is the route I will take.

Due to low bridges along the New York State (NYS) Canal System, Distant Horizon will start the journey with her mast down; powered solely by her diesel engine.

Configured to travel along the NYS Canal System

The first leg of the journey will started by traveling along the south shore of the Great Lake Ontario from Fairpoint Marina in Little Sodus Bay, to Oswego.

Navigation Chart for Lake Ontario

Although this is a short journey, it must be done with extreme caution. With the mast being carried horizontal above the deck, the boat is top-heavy. The best weather window will have winds with a southerly component (from the south, south-east, south-west). In this way, with winds blowing from shore to the boat, there is very little distance for waves of significant size to develop. We would motor along in smooth water.

As we slowly motored into the Oswego Harbour, we couldn't help but notice the how the Oswego Lighthouse's condition had deteriorated since were last there. If you look close at the lower portion of the light and the grey area at the bottom, you can see the much needed repairs have started.

Oswego Lighthouse

In Oswego we will start our transit along the Oswego Canal transiting through Oswego Lock #8. We are heading up the Oswego River; against the current. When I hailed the lock operator on the VHF radio, he already had the lock ready and waiting for us. He saw us coming in off the lake.

As we motored past the Oswego Port Authority and the Oswego marina, Grace readied herself for the first of eight locks that will be going through today. I slowed the boat; using the current to help. Distant Horizon slipped past the Lock doors and into what seemed like a small cavern as the lock walls rose above us.

View from the top of Oswego Lock #8

We went through seven locks on the Oswego River as we headed south towards the Three-Rivers Junction.

Then we headed west to our home town of Baldwinsville, NY. Distant Horizon will remain above Lock #24 for a few days. This is where we will provision and prepare for the rest of the journey.

Distant Horizon (center) at the B'ville town wharf.

The high school graduation ceremony is this weekend. So, the marine traffic was very light. You can see in the picture above, there were few boats at the town wharf.

Distant Horizon at the town wharf in Baldwinsville