Most folks skip over Lake Oneida as they cruise the Erie Canal. It’s a 20-mile run over open water and few see it as a destination in its own right.   We had an extra week in Brewerton in late July and rather than spend it at the dock we wanted to spend it on the hook where we could also tend to some varnishing chores on the flybridge teak.

We spent 8 nights among three separate anchorages, choosing the spots on their merits of protection from the expected winds. For the first night, southerly winds were expected so we anchored in Maple Bay, located on the south shore, west of Lakeport.   It was a great night, but the tall grasses tangled in the rode and it took over 30 minutes to bring the anchor in.

For the next anchorage, we moved to the north side of the lake in Bernhard’s Bay, east of Clough Point for protection from the northerlies.   After two nights there, the wind shifted back to the south and we headed to South Bay for the last five nights of our sojourn in Lake Oneida.

Several times a boat cruised close-by to see if everything was okay with the Traveler.  He offered to take us to shore for provisions.  I suppose that we could have taken the dinghy and gone ashore especially in South Bay, but the weather was uncooperative and any time that it wasn’t raining we were on deck, varnish brushes in-hand. When it rained there was meal prep, eating, and books to read. We love the time at anchor and enjoy each other’s company, stories, and dreams.  We watch the birds, the water and the trees, rocks and shoreline features.   All is well.

Lake Oneida

Sunset on Maple Bay.

Long strands of water-grass collected on the anchor as Bob raised it.

Sunset on South Bay.

Sailboat race in our backyard!

The captain on deck.

An afternoon storm brews up. It is one of many.

Sailboats cruising by are an added attraction on the lake.

A common tern joins the neighborhood for a brief visit.