Sunday, our plan was to spend another day in Sylvan Beach, but we wanted to be closer to town, so we checked out the free wall, closer to the action. Sure enough a boat was leaving and we slipped in. We heard a knock on our door and we met Tim an MTOA member who keeps his trawler in Oneida, great way to meet members. Later on Tim brought back his wife Joanne and we had a long discussion about traveling to Florida on the ICW. He and Joanne are contemplating that adventure.
The weather looked like it was going to hold off, so we decided to check out the festivities. Along the park there were vendors selling their art wares. There was a gentleman spray painting pictures, very unique. We walked down along the park and at the gazebo there was live music and they were getting ready for their first Canal Idol contest. Dick and I sat down and watched, lets just say there are a lot of brave souls out there. We did enjoy several of the participants. There was one young gal, probably a very young teen singing acappela. The contest finished with a tie sing off. Two contestants, Gregg and Brian who had 2 different styles but sang country very well. Gregg a young father in his 20's first had sung to his daughter on stage, she was quite shy and it was very cute. Brian a young man of 17 had the 'country' package and could sing but used the karaoke machine for the words in his first try. Brian much improved his stage presence and won the contest. It was great!
We took a break from the Karaoke singing in the gazebo and went for lunch at the local diner called Eddie's. Dick remembered this restaurant well from the Harlem cruise. After lunch we went back and found a military band setting up. How wonderful. So Dick and I sat down for a treat. It was the 10th Mountain Army band and wow they could play. They are a band of 40 members who have served valiantly overseas and are playing across the country. They played marches and there was a group of six that played Dixie style jazz. The small group went to Afghanistan and Iraq at Christmas to play for the troops.The full band then played the theme songs to each military division and if there were people who served they would stand. Dick proudly stood for the navy and claps were all heard for each division. The finale was a tribute to America and its troops and left a lump in ones throat, even a Canadians. What a fantastic festival!
Well we topped off the afternoon with wonderful ice cream and went back to the boat for the night. Had a wonderful dinner on board, settling down to a good movie and wouldn't you know it, that's when the skies opened up. We were safely tied up, but our boat was rocking because the winds were coming straight at us. Both of us jumped when a huge clap of lightening struck somewhere close by. We checked the local weather news and there were tornado warnings in several areas close by but we were fine. What a topper for the Festival!!!
Early the next morning, untied the Summer Wind and headed down the Mohawk River. Our destination today was Rome. Rome offers a 'free' floating dock and for people who require electric there is a wall, however the pilings weren't the best. There were a couple of things we wanted to do in Rome, all within walking distance. One was visit Fort Stanwix, a wonderful replica of a wooden fort known as the fort that didn't surrender and as the Oneida Carrying Place. They do have an original 'fireplace' that is in an air conditioned hut. We had a great time learning about the history and living conditions of Fort Stanwix.
The other thing we wanted to do was resupply some much needed groceries and the Freedom Plaza had a nice store with great prices and yes, we did purchase a 'few' things. That evening we enjoyed a relaxing evening on board. Our next stop is Little Falls, to be cont'd
Left Sylvan Beach early Monday morning. The sun was shining and there wasn't a whisper of a wind. Crossing Lake Oneida was wonderful. Lock 23 was an easy ride down and the last lock on the Erie Canal, but our 'locking' isn't finished.
Our destination today was Pirate's Cove marina, a lovely little spot Dick remembered visiting with the Harlem group from a few years back. Well we pulled into the marina and the alarms on the boat were screaming. The water is so clear, that the sea grass grows really tall in the water and gives the depth sounder a false reading.
Lock 1,2,3,5,6,7,8- No we didn't count wrong, there is no longer a lock #4. When the state diverts the canal and doesn't replace the lock, its too expensive to rename all the other locks, so the number is just skipped. The day was fairly uneventful going through the locks. Before exiting the first lock required the bridge tender to lift a bridge before we exited. Lock 2 had a walkbridge that spans the bridge, and we were lowered enough to go under the span.
The last three locks were tricky because the ropes were too far apart, it was windy and hard to get the Summer Wind to stay near the wall so I could wrap a line around the pipe.
Arrived late in the afternoon at Oswego marina, the wind had kicked up enough to give us a hard time trying to tie the boat in her slip. Paid at the office and planned our stop. Many late arrivals, and thats when we met Joanne and Larry and Katie (their dog) from Hamilton, Ont. Canada. They told us they were travelling with another couple Del and Shirley, and we were welcome to join them for cocktails. Thats exactly what we did and it was wonderful. 
Happy hour aboard Flamingo Princess, 34 ft. Marine Trader.That night all six of us went out to dinner together and new friendships were formed.
Woke up the next morning and the winds were not pleasant so we decided to stay and go explore Oswego. Within walking distance was Fort Ontario. Originally built in 1755 of wood by the Brits, and through wars has been rebuilt in 1839 of masonry. Its enriched in wonderful history besides the Indian, French, British wars. The Fort was used during the WWII as a refuge for Jewish refugees. We both had a great time touring the fort and delighted by it being manned by college students and seniors. 
In the afternoon we went for a lovely walk and purchased a 'few' necessities and Dick had a much needed hair cut. That evening we joined our Canadian friends for cocktail hour and the topic again was the weather and the sailboat that had crossed Lake Ontario in 8 foot swells with some crests. We decided to wait and see in the morning if the seas would calm down.