The Oswego Canal

Phoenix NY - the 'nicest town in the world'

Today saw a lot of rowing and no writing. By mid-day, Al had completed the 12-mile slog to the town of Oswego and the end of the Lake Ontario portion of the row, battling wild winds and huge rollers. He rowed past a nuclear power plant, all the while hearing the message 'You are in a restricted area. You are being targeted by armed security.' Apparently there were buoys much further out in the lake that marked the boundaries. Having no choice, Al decided that they wouldn't see him as a threat and maintained his course, and luckily, that worked.

Lake Ontario

He discovered that the Oswego Canal is really a river with locks (8 of 'em), flowing into Lake Ontario, and that he had traded a battle with wind for one with current. (For those of you who followed 'Row Canada,' it was reminiscent of the Richelieu River.)  Al discovered that the locks on the Oswego are open until 10:30 vs the 6 PM closing on the Trent-Severn. He took full advantage and spent the rest of the day rowing 25 miles uphill to the town of Phoenix.

Al stopped in the town of Phoenix on the recommendation of a couple of guys he met on the canal who are attempting to pilot a solar-powered cabin cruiser to Chicago. They filmed a short video of Al which hopefully will eventually end up on their website, piratesofthesun.com. I'll post a link on the blog when and if that happens. 

Tomorrow Al will turn left at the Erie Canal and be on familiar waters.