Lighthouses Here We Come!

Oswego West Pierhead LH

June 16 – Beautiful day for sightseeing!  We didn’t really have a plan but once breakfast and

Fort Ontario

showers were out of the way we headed to Lake Ontario to the city of Oswego.  Our first stop was a viewpoint on Lake Ontario of Oswego West Lighthouse and the grounds of Fort Ontario from the Revolutionary War.  The fort was closed as expected but we could visit the small cemetery where the soldiers and their families that came with them were buried. 

The hearth

It’s a lovely setting on the lake.  There’s also a nicely built big fireplace with a cooking hearth that was built to commemorate the women who perished during the war there and all of the people of color or nationalities that died for the cause.

We drove into downtown and parked along the Oswego River and Oswego Canal.  The canal joins the Erie Canal with Lake Ontario.  It was very peaceful there and no people.  I wish we had ended up

The canal and lock

on the opposite side so we could get a better look at the canal and the locks.

Bill had read that there was a memorial in Oswego to Dr. Mary Edwards Walker who is the only female to receive a Medal of Honor and it was for her performance during the Civil War.  

Dr. Mary Walker

Lunchtime view

Lunch was on our minds and seeing more lighthouses so we headed to the town of Sodus Point.  It’s a big boating community and Bill had Googled a seafood restaurant and found a highly rated one there.  The main street was packed with cars but we were so lucky that 2 pulled out a the same time and we were able to park right in front of the restaurant, Captain Jack’s Good Time Tavern.  With the Covid restrictions we were told we’d have a wait of 30 minutes for outside dining, but it was 45 by the time we were ushered through to the deck on the marina.  Once we were seated we started chatting with a local couple sitting across the deck from us.  They were very nice and offered some ideas for us while in the area. 

The service was very slow, from when we received water, menus, then our food.  Bill had a burger and had a choice of sides so I had him get cole slaw as my shrimp and clam platter came with fries, so we traded.  The clams were better than the shrimp, as the shrimp had a hard coating that was a bit on the crunchy side.  I only want crunchy if it’s coconut shrimp!  The portion was big and took me a while to finish!

The couple told us where the 2 lighthouses were which was very close so we first went to

Sodus Point LH

the beach area with a long pier out to Sodus Point Lighthouse.  Here I was with a jacket on and these people were swimming in Lake Ontario!  I can’t imagine how cold it would be for me and the air was cold but I guess if you live there you have thicker skin than we Floridians!

After lunch we returned a call to Sharon and Bruce.  They had received a “care package” I had sent and thanked us (me) for it.  I don’t want Bruce to suffer my being gone any worse than possible!

Lovely sailboat on the lake

Old Sodus LH

Plaque for the original

From the pier I could see the Old Sodus Lighthouse with my camera so I had a good idea where we needed to turn along the road.  It is truly a lighthouse on a lovely cliff looking out on Lake Ontario.  A short distance from the side was a white archway that I took a photo of the new lighthouse from.  Then I noticed a big flat rock with a plaque on it.  It sits in the center of the circle of base rocks from the very first lighthouse established in 1825.  So technically I was able to see all 3 lighthouses at Sodus Point!

Apple trees

The drive back to the RV was about 90 minutes but it didn’t seem like it.  We passed through quite a few small towns and the scenery was apple trees, quaint old 2 story homes and plush greenery. At lunch the couple asked if we noticed the apple trees.  We knew they weren’t grapes but since in so many fields the trees were only 18 inches apart at the base and kinda skinny, we were not sure what they were.  He said they are apple trees that have been genetically engineered to produce more apples than full grown trees as we know them.  I’m thinking he means based on how many small trees cover the same area as a big tree.  Interesting!

Once we got home we agreed we did not want a dinner with the chicken I thawed for tonight so eventually we both had a “snack” instead.  We watched a Hallmark Mystery while I prepped my photos and started on this blog.  Now it’s time to see if I have enough wifi available to get it posted.