June 20                          Brewerton, New York

The beautiful, sunny weather was with us once more.  We left early from Little Falls and reached the lock before opening time.  Could have slept thirty minutes more!  In Ilion, the marina gas dock was conveniently located only a few yards from the canal.  Diesel fuel is not readily available and David is careful our tanks do not get too low.  Re-fueling was easily accomplished and we were pleased to see our fuel consumption was much less than anticipated.  At $4.00 per gallon, diesel is a major expense.

The locks were a challenge today as we seemed to be making fender and line adjustments for each one.  The turbulence kept pushing the stern toward the wall and David was constantly employing the bow thruster to protect the front of the boat.  Dave worked hard to keep everything safe.

Locks #21 and #22 were downlocking instead of uplocking.  The water in the lock goes out rather than coming in.  The turbulence is much less and we found it easier to handle the boat.  Leaving Lock #22, we encountered Oneida Lake, approximately 20 miles across and 4 miles wide.  We had been warned that its small size is deceiving as it catches crosswinds that can make for choppy water.  As we approached, we saw miles of white caps but Dave insisted they were no problem for a boat the size and weight of The Bottom Line.  He was correct.

We exited the lake at Brewerton, a small fishing/summer resort without frills.  Brewerton Marina had limited space for large vessels and we were docked adjacent to the fuel dock.  This gave us a great view of the river and the activity there.  The marina was a rustic facility but it had a beautiful green lawn with blooming plants and the dockmaster/owner was very pleasant and helpful.  Best of all, they had a courtesy car we could use to go to dinner that evening and take Dave to the airport the following morning.

We drove about ten miles (few restaurants and little shopping is located near the marina) to Red Lobster for a seafood dinner.  We usually prefer local places to chains but we have found this restaurant offers excellent seafood, good service, and pleasant ambiance.  Dave was incredulous but agreed with us after enjoying a delicious medley of lobster, crab, and shrimp in a great sauce.  Their cheesy biscuits are wonderful.