Father’s Day dates back to 1909, according to Wikipedia, but did not catch on as a hallmark holiday until 1966 when Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation that recognized the day. Pres Nixon gets credit for making it a national holiday in 1972, officially designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day, a smart choice since that neatly coincided with the first weekend of summer.
Happy Father’s Day to all the sweet dads out there. Let the hot dog season commence!
It all started with hot dogs
For Mike Gillespie – happy 79th birthday young man! And Tyler Hendry, who likes hot dogs now!
Two hot dog legends were slightly ahead of the Father’s Day craze when they opened a hot dog stand in the late 1930’s near the Santa Anita racetrack in CA, followed by a drive-in BBQ joint in San Bernardino, CA, that became a legendary burger joint in 1948. Talking about none other than Richard and Maurice McDonald, the founders of Mickey D’s.
When crotchety Ray Kroc bought out the enterprise in 1961 he proclaimed “NO hot dogs will ever be served” but Kroc died in 1984, giving a rebellious little community in Sodus Point the opportunity to open a “McSnack” in 1989, making it the only McDonalds at the time serving hot dogs. The smaller version of a McDonalds was open for a total of 4 summers.
We spent a lovely respite in Sodus Point, while Tonto’s Reward completed her repair work. The former McSnack shack is now known as Hots Point, serving Capt Rick’s favorite snack, ice cream.
There are lots of great dining options, we loved the energy in this spot!
ALWAYS 5 o’clock
Boater’s Tip: We highly recommend Katlynn Marine, the staff is exceptional, and the village is delightful.
A tree for Robinson Crusoe
Thanks to Paul and Celeste, who gave us some great tips. Captain Jacks was a great choice, we went there twice!
The Beach at Sodus Point
Do you know the Great Lakes?
Our journey will cause us to traverse multiple great lakes, so I thought you might appreciate a little geography quiz. Depending on where you live, most American adults should be able to name at least 2 of the 5 lakes, without seeing a map. If you ever lived near the lakes, you should be able to name all 5. David B suggested we should make the quiz a little more challenging, thus the lakes are shown here in random order.
1 of the 5 Great Lakes
#2 of the 5 Great Lakes
#3 of the 5 Great Lakes
#4 of the 5 Great Lakes
#5 of the 5 Great Lakes
How many of the lakes can you name AND how many have you visited? Boat not required.
Navy Point Marine, Sackets Harbor, NY
We could have spent an extra night or two at Sackets Harbor, seasonal boaters seem to be arriving this week.
Thanks for the restaurant tip!
Tin Pan Galley was great – Gail had enough lettuce left over from her portobello stack to feed a family of rabbits.
The tuna was delicious, and more manageable.
The Great Lakes Revealed
Here’s the map, with labels. Captain Rick has been to all of them, on the water!
In the same order as the quiz: 1) Huron, 2) Erie, 3) Superior, 4) Michigan, 5) Ontario. And for the data Capt Rick requested:
Celebrating Milestones
Birthdays: June 22, Ann Hughes (65!),Scott Sherman; June 23, Gonzo Gillespie; June 26, Joe Occhino.
Finally, some Father’s Day Flowers from Sodus Point.
Next Up: Clayton Village, New York. Heading to Kingston, Ontario very soon.
Special note to our Cell Phone provider: Dear T-Mobile, please keep us connected, as advertised!
To lock through a canal each boat must carefully secure itself adjacent to the canal wall. Most canals provide long lines for the boat crew to hold. Beware, the process can be thorny – as you continually adjust the tension of the line in response to the change in water levels.
sliiiiimy green walls
The lines in the locks along the Erie Canal tend to be slimy, so work gloves are a MUST.
Lesson learned: Shortly after the first swarmy lock on the canal, Capt Rick intentionally placed his soggy gloves on the foredeck, hopping to confine the grimy mess while they dried off. An hour later, the right glove of his favorite pair was nowhere to be seen, presumably it blew away.
Scrounging up a backup pair of gloves to handle the next set of dreadful lock lines, perhaps Capt Rick was suffering from short term memory loss, or misplaced trust that lightning won’t strike twice. Once again, he left the goober green pair of gloves on the deck floor to dry. And once again only the right glove flew away – leaving him with two left gloves for the remainder of the canal locks. Favoring the Left. Is it a political message? Nah.
Favoring the Left
If you want a deeper understanding of the NY Canal system, follow the blog of our fellow traveler, Gail Bernstein, Tonto’s Reward
Here’s a link to Gail’s fantastic post, including a fascinating history lesson – enjoy! New York State Canals
Riverlink Park, Amsterdam, NY
A quiet spot along the water.
Little Falls, NY
Nothing, I mean nothing was open in Little Falls. Timing is everything.
Rome
The next stop on our itinerary was Rome, but we opted to keep going since it was less than appealing with bars on the windows of the buildings near the canal walls. Buttercup did not understand how we could get so close to land without stopping. Pobrecito.
Wondering about that live grass patch? She stands on it, but she refuses to pee on it, even when the weather outside is miserable. Maddie was a LOT smarter.
Sylvan Beach
Tourism is the life blood of Sylvan Beach, typically beginning Father’s Day weekend – well after our visit.
As smoke from the Canadian fires filled the air, our walkabout was kept brief.
A little update on the fires: As of June 13, there were 450 active wildfires burning in Canada, with more than 4.8 million acres burned, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Raging wildfires in Canada have already scorched about 15 times the normal burned area for this time of the year: nearly 11 million acres — more than double the size of New Jersey — with more than 2 million acres concentrated in Quebec alone.
The wildfires started from lightning strikes in the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta and have spread to the eastern regions of Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario. Yes, the fires are still happening in Nova Scotia, our summer destination. Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain.
Dodging the smoky air, we recommend the Canal View Restaurant in Sylvan Beach. Rather unique, the house wine is served in a handmade chicken carafe.
Chicken Pitcher #1
Chicken Pitcher #2
Ess-Kay Yards, Brewerton NY
Caryl, Ray and Brock Lee, M/V Lit’l Houlegan, met us in Brewerton. Surprise dinner the day they arrived: crab cakes, flown in fresh from Annapolis, handmade by Sandy and maybe Iron Bear! They were so delicious I forgot to take a photo. Thanks again, Caryl and grill master Ray, for the scrumptious lamb dinner on night 2!
Extra thanks to Ray, Capt Rick got to provision at Costco. Sorry, there are no photos of that event, either; but here’s one from the archives.
Never very far away. Life is Good when Rick can shop at Costco
For Piper
The meandering route along the Erie Canal offers lovely scenery and an occasional splash of local art. This is for our dear friends, the Jackson family in Belmont Shore – fans for life. Come join us!
Oswego, NY
Wondering where the heck are we? Starting at the Federal lock in Troy, we headed west at Waterford on the New York canal system. In total, we completed 30 locks in the State of New York when we finally arrived in Oswego.
La Parilla On the Water, Oswego
Local trivia: What do Gen. Colin Powell, Jerry Seinfeld, Barbara Walters and La Parilla have in common? Private chef, Raymond Jock! Read More Here
Our tastebuds were enchanted by the magnificent Mediterranean bistro found within steps of where we were docked. La Parilla On the Water, 24 E. 1st St., Oswego. Thanks, Chef Ray, for dropping by our table and for sharing your exquisite creations.
Seafood special: mussels, shrimp, scallops, and much more.
Sirloin chimichurri, cooked to perfection.
Meet power duo owners, Deanna and Brandon Lagoe. Ask for their privately bottled red wine from Portugal, Monte do Carrapatelo. The experience was top notch!
Oswego Lighthouse
Next stop: Detour to Katlyn Marine, Sodus Point, Lake Ontario – for a special Fleming moment (we shall let Gail tell that story in her next post!).
Celebrating Milestones: June 14, Flag Day, Anniversary Paul and Celeste Amish; June 15, Happy Birthday Heather Rutherford; June 18, Father’s Day
We returned to Half Moon Bay, wishing that #8 would arrive again by train. This location is convenient for car rentals (Enterprise closes early, check their hours). You can also tour by train.
The sunset is breathtaking.
Sunset over Half Moon Bay Marina
Boater’s Tip – the dockhands are “challenged”; trust your instincts when docking. RED FLAG: As you ease into a narrow slip also LOOK UP, if there is a chunky metal lift in the next slip protruding into your assigned transient slip, your docking space has suddenly narrowed. Beware, the sound of metal scraping is both loud and terrifying. AND, damage while docking is hard to resolve, especially in the midst of emotional confusion.
Samurai Sushi and Hibachi, Croton-on-Hudson
BEST sushi on the trip, so far. Highly recommended. It’s a long walk, or a short drive.
Sleepy Hollow is an easy drive (with a rental car).
Welcome to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Memorial Day flags commemorating Irving’s service
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery – Irving family plot
Gorge-ous Socks
As long as you are driving around, navigate to the Gorge, it’s a must see! Fashionable socks are just a bonus.
Touring West Point – History and Tradition Cemetery tour
Travelers tip: You can only book your trip to West Point online, the best tours sell out fast. Go early to enjoy the museum at the Visitors Center. The tour is a mixture of a bus ride and a LOT of walking. Bring water and wear comfy shoes. Our tour guide, Steve, was a wealth of information.
History: Overlooking the West Bank of the Hudson River, General George Washington recognized the strategic value of the fortress at West Point. In 1779 Washington moved his military headquarters to West Point.
Tradition: There are now seven chapels on campus, ranging in age and size. Some of them are shared by multiple faiths.
Our first stop was Cadet Chapel. We were told “attendance is no longer compulsory.” The lady next to me sneered, “maybe legally, but that’s not true in practice.”
Given the rigid placement of the hymnals, it’s hard to imagine anything is “optional” on campus.
Cadet Chapel, 1910.
The Old Cadet Chapel, built in 1836, is simple in its décor (sorry, no photos), with a wall commemorating past Commanding Generals – including a plaque for more than one of the men in the following quiz. Keep reading, Commodore Greg :-)
West Point Cemetery
We walked though the cemetery, appreciating the shady trees. Unlike a national cemetery, grave markers vary widely.
West Point Cemetery
Colonel Markus, West Point graduate, was a founding father of the State of Israel.
Fun stuff about West Point: Our tour guide said roughly 10% of the 12,000 annual applications are accepted. Fact check from Mr. Google yielded 10.7%, trust but verify. In 2022 there were nearly 14,000 applicants. Average GPA was 3.9 – serious academic rigor. Also required: excellence in sports, leadership, and extracurricular activities. He also said on average 80% graduate. Schooling is fully funded (valued at roughly $250k), unless that cadet doesn’t graduate, then he/she may be on the hook to fully reimburse the program. Ouch!
West Point Quiz:
Quiz: Which of these eight men are alumni of West Point:
President George Washington (1732-1799)
Brigadier General Benedict Arnold (1741 – 1801)
Washington Irving (Author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”) (1783-1859)
President Ulysses S. Grant (1822 – 1885)
General George Armstrong Custer (1839 – 1876)
General George S Patton (1885 – 1945)
President Dwight Eisenhower (1890 – 1969)
President Jimmy Carter (1924 – ) – He’s 99 years old and still kicking!
We said goodbye to Half Moon Bay, with another lovely sunset. Capt Floyd, you should have been here.
Hudson River Lighthouses!
Esopus Lighthouse
Kingston Lighthouse
Hudson River Maritime Museum
Boaters Tip – the museum is closed on Tuesday. Likewise, most (but not all) of the shops and restaurants are closed. It’s a nice time to cook on your boat.
If you time it right, you might get a local concert under the bridge, where the echo is perfect!
Donovan’s Shady Harbor
Another quiet stop.
I’ll spare you the battery replacement story. Let’s just celebrate that it was finished, and thank David Bernstein for the extra muscle.
This is for Ray and Caryl, obviously!
Waterford – Decision Point
If you read our blog from 2018 (found in the archives) you will know when you reach Waterford you must make a decision whether to traverse the Erie Canal or the Champlain. Height limitations, from fixed bridges, impact the choice. Since we took the Champlain route five years ago, almost to the day, this time we are headed west to explore more of New York!
Original Erie Canal
New York Canal System
Erie Canal, here we come. Dear Lockmasters, please be gentle in those locks!
Boaters tip: Wear Gloves! Have your boat hook ready, and plan to wash the boat when you finish. In the words of Capt Rick, Mister Toad’s Wild Ride now begins.
Schenectady Yacht Club, NY
Our first stop was quaint. Dockmaster Ed and the members of the yacht club were super nice. At $1.50 a foot, we were delighted. Thanks for the book!
Restaurant tip: Order Pizza to be delivered to the boat. Glenville Pizza & Deli Inc, 80 Freemans Bridge Road, Glenville, NY (518) 952-4101
Answers to the West Point Quiz – aka History Trivia.
Can you identify which of these 8 men, if any, were West Point graduates?
Washington, Arnold, Irving, Grant, Custer, Patton, Eisenhower, and Carter
Fortress West Point dates back to 1776; in 1802 it officially became the United States Military Academy, now known as West Point.
West Point Graduates = 4
President Grant, President Eisenhower, General Patton (Ole Blood and Guts) and General Custer (he’s buried in West Point Cemetery). Another example of the non-traditional military headstones.
Commander of West Point = 1
Not a graduate of West Point, Major General Benedict Arnold was given command of Fortress West Point in 1780 by President Washington, who was known to genuinely like, and admire him.
Wait. Isn’t that the guy whose name is synonymous with “traitor”. Yes. How did he fall so far from grace? Benedict Arnold claimed that he was being passed over for promotion by the Continental Congress, and that other officers were being given credit for some of his accomplishments. Maybe it was an HR thing.
Repeatedly, Arnold faced court martial. Charged with corruption, he was acquitted, more than once. But when Congress investigated his finances, it determined he had misappropriated government funds to maintain his lavish lifestyle. Forensic Accountants Rock, MO!
When the financial mess became public knowledge Benedict diabolically planned to seek revenge against his former ally, POTUS Washington. Conspiring with the Brits, he shared a wealth of military secrets and plotted the capture of West Point; in return, the Brit’s made him a Brigadier General.
Fortress West Point was never captured by the British.
A memorial plaque for Arnold hangs in the Old Cadet Chapel, sufficient details remain to clearly identify him, although his name is intentionally blotted out.
Not graduates = 3
President George Washington never attended college.
Washington Irving, author of “Rip Van Winkle” was named after the founding POTUS, he was also self-educated.
President Jimmy Carter graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, the heated rival of West Point.
Thanks for keeping us safe, Sideways, we love SeaBees!
Now, a Really Cool Boat Name: One Moor Day, saying Hi to boaters Andy and Lisa from Seneca Falls.
Celebrating Milestones:
Birthdays – June 1, Craig Adford, Anda Saylor, June Bug Skyllar, Mark Marlow; June 2, Sue Gillespie; June 3, Lorrie Swink; June 9, Finnigan; June 10, Debra McGhan.
Next Stops along the Erie Canal: Amsterdam Riverlink Park, Little Falls , Rome, Sylvan Beach, and Brewerton!
See you VERY soon, Sandy, Iron Bear, Caryl and Ray (aka Sideways)
Still Waiting for #8.
Once again we covered a LOT of ground in the span of a week, thanks for following us. Comments are encouraged!
Exhale on the Water 