Needed a change of scenery

June 23-26

Our Brewerton stop was enjoyable but I needed a change of scenery. Our guidebook indicated the town of Phoenix located at Lock 1 of the Oswego had wall space and docks, so off to Phoenix we go.  Scott and Jean who we met a while back in Little Falls were there and helped us tie up on a wall as all the dock space was taken. We settled in hooked up our portable generator and were completing a few house keeping items when a guy sticks his head in the door, hey I'm leaving in about an hour, want my space on the dock?  You won't have to run your generator as there is electricity on the dock, Without hesitation we thanked him disconnected the generator, restarted the engines and watched for him to move!  Now we have a table and chairs at our spot, water, electricity, and are beside the park! This town has done a phenomenal job with their water front for boaters and it is all free! We had shower and restroom facilities, a group of seniors that came out every morning to empty garbage, water flowers, even wipe off the tables!  There is also a teen group of volunteers that call themselves "brats" who help out the seniors, and will pick up meals from local restaurants for the boaters. We were here for four days but there was enough to see and do to keep us busy! The mayor even came down one evening. We met some very nice people who live in Florida in the winter and on their boat in Brewerton for the summer. They came to get a good spot on the docks for the strawberry festival on Friday. Sounded like fun but I hope we were on our way by then.

                Our initial spot tied to the wall. There are picnic tables on the other side of the fence.

            The remaining cement pieces from a trolley bridge that crossed the canal.

                                       The great fire that burned down most of Phoenix

                                                      Our trip from Brewerton to Phoenix

                          A distillery had recently opened. They also had about 40 kinds of beer. I enjoyed                                 doing a little taste testing of bourbon and tried cruse juice.

                                             

                                          The docks, you can see the fly bridge of Laughter

                     The third graders at the town elementary paint rocks and place them here. Be sure to
                                            read the sign as the rocks are based on a book.

                                                    Can you believe how nice these docks are!

              A local specialty, a large salad in a warm bread bowl. Took us two days to get it all eaten

                The building on the left of the photo is the original bridge tenders building. The bridge is gone but the mechanics of the lift are still in it. It is also a little museum dedicated to the native Americans from this area.

                                Looking out at the boats from the top floor of the museum

                                   The barrel used by the gentleman below to go over the dam at Lock 1.

         A few of the brats and their leader in their office, which is also in the museum building

                                                                A view of the park

                                                                           The park shelter