South Shore Lake Ontario

We had a great drive around the south shore of Lake Ontario over the past weekend.  We left Ottawa Friday afternoon and headed south, crossing over the St. Lawrence River at the Ivy Lea Bridge into New York State.  We stopped at the duty free and met a retired corrections officer, Reg, who now works at the duty free in the summer and winters in Florida. He and his wife sold their home and purchased a 5er a few years ago.  They planned to wander different places but after finding a spot in Florida they decided to go there each year. (not what we want to do!!).  They eventually got tired of dragging the 5er back and forth and now have it parked in Ontario for the summer.  They purchased a little park model in Florida for the winters.  He invited us to drop by for a visit when we are down in December. We might just take him up on his offer. 

The colors along the highway were beautiful.  This was taken just south of Ivy Lea.

We spent Friday night on Syracuse  and in the morning we headed to the Erie Canal Museum located in the Weightlock Building which dates from 1850.



This Weightlock building is one of three built in New York State and is the only remaining building of its kind in the world. The building was used to weigh canal boats as they passed, charging them according to the weight of their cargo.  After a boat was drawn into the lock beneath the overhang, the water gates were closed at each end, the water was drained out, and the boat settled onto a massive cradle suspended from the balance beam overhead.  The registered weight of the boat was subtracted from the measured weight to determine the weight of the cargo.  
   
The city had the distinction of hosting a confluence of waterways within its city center. The old Erie Canal (from New York City to Buffalo) and the Oswego Canal (from Lake Ontario to Syracuse) both ran through the heart of the city and the confluence connected the Erie Canal with Lake Ontario to the north.  Canal tolls were abolished in 1883.    Eventually this portion of the Erie Canal was no longer able to accommodate the   larger barges being used.  The old Erie Canal from Utica to Syracuse was filled in and the new Erie Canal was opened from Utica through the Onedia Lake, bypassing Syracuse.  The Weightlock building was to be demolished but they were able to obtain historic designation and retain the building.  It was an interesting visit and well worth the time.

A war memorial in downtown Syracuse that looks like a gathering place for street people.

We left Syracuse and drove north, along the Oswego Canal to the Port City of Oswego which is situated on the shore of Lake Ontario.  Oswego was originally a British trading post established in 1722 and the British built a fort there in 1755 which was later destroyed by the French during the French and Indian War.  A second British fort was built on the same site in 1759. During the American Revolution the British abandoned the Fort and 1778 American troops destroyed it.  In 1782 the British reoccupied Oswego and didn't forfeit it to the US until 1796.  During the War of 1812 the British forces needed to stem the flow of supplies from the interior of New York State along the canal system.  They overpowered the weaker American garrison and recaptured Oswego.  The Fort Ontario that stands today, was built in 1839.  At the end of WWII the fort was used as an emergency refugee center for victims of the Nazi Holocaust, the only one of its kind in the US.  In 1946 the Fort was transferred to the State of New York and initially used to house veterans and their families during the post-war period and in 1949 is was changed to a State Historic Site.  

In a little valley near the fort is the Post Cemetery (1759 - 1943) .  There are 77 graves of British and American soldiers, along with their wives and children.  Also there are  12 graves of unknown soldiers.  It is a pretty spot and reportedly haunted!!.

We found a gate at the edge of the cemetery which leads down to the lake shore where we found a sunny spot on a rock to have our lunch.

 After lunch we headed west, traveling along the Scenic Route towards Rochester.  We stopped in to take a look at a state park along the way and found a marsh with a couple dozen white swans, resting and feeding getting ready for their journey south for the winter.

 And apple orchards!!!  Loaded with apples of all sizes and colors.  Lots of pickers busy and lots of crates of apples ready for market.  You could smell the apples in the air as you drove along the highway.

 One small town we drove through was having their "Scarecrow Days".  There were scarecrows of all shapes and sizes tied to the trees and lamp posts throughout the main street area.  Tons of pedestrians strolling around taking in the festivities.  Children dressed up in their Halloween costumes getting an early start on the candy collections.

 We arrived in Victor NY which is just south of Rochester to spend Saturday night.    After checking into our hotel we headed out for Saturday night dinner at Chili's.   

This is where I will stop for now.  The rest of the weekend journey to follow.