Travel day 17 – St. Johnsville, NY to Ilion, NY

As you can see from the picture, it was a smooth start to the day. We leave early to make lock 16 by 8 o’clock. We got there about 10 minutes early, but they open the gates and we go right on through. We learn from the lock master that lock 17 is also opening on the even hours. So, we take our time getting there and we don’t have to wait at all going through 17. Oh yea, lock 17 is the highest lock with a lift of 40 feet!

These three houses, all in a row were occupied. It seems that the one in the middle is almost IN the water but they do have a good view, ha ha.

It’s starting to get pretty hot, so Doug rigs up a fan just for CJ. He looks like he’s enjoying it, what do you think?

Our chart plotter has us going over dry ground. I didn’t know our boat was amphibious, giggle giggle.

As we approached this bridge, it looked low. We can fit under bridges that aren’t any lower than 19 feet or so, but this one looked close. I went up on the roof to take a look. Although it looked close, we had plenty of room.

We get through lock 18 and it’s only mid-day, it doesn’t look like we will make it to Oneida Lake before the locks close and there isn’t any good pace for us to stop beyond lock 18, so we decide to call it an early day. We stop at the Village of Ilion Marina, gas up and move down the wall to our spot for tonight. It’s a nice place with a small restaurant on-site. For lunch, it’s cheeseburgers and milkshakes (Doug-chocolate, me-black cherry). We head back to the boat to get out of the heat and relax. There was a small nap in there someplace; I don’t nap at home, but napping on the boat after sitting in the heat for hours is very nice.

This sign is at the marina and we do some digging, Ilion is where the firearms manufacturer Remington Arms was founded. Eliphalet Remington II built his first rifle in his father’s forge in 1816. After 200 years in Ilion making firearms, the plant closes and now is in Georgia under the name RemArms.

After a storm goes through, the sun breaks through for a beautiful sunset. A great way to end the day.

We hope to at least make it to Oneida Lake and if time and weather permits, go across it.