Friday 12th September (Cont)
We headed out across Lake Oneida where it soon started to rain on us. Just so you don't think this sailing thing is all sun and fun:

We got across the infamous (usually for people carrying their masts on board) lake arriving in the rain at Sylvan Beach on the start of the continuation of the Erie canal. Sylvan Beach is a real holiday town complete with fairground and rides. All closed for the winter, we presume, as there was no sign of life.

We spent the night at the dock there and witnessed the arrival of this hundred-year-old tug owned by the canal commision:
Saturday 13th September
The morning started gloomy and overcast, but after filling with fuel and water we headed off down the canal. Before long it brightened up which considerably improved the views along the way:

After transiting Locks 22 and 21 we were now at the highest point in the system, it was all downhill now.

We stopped at Rome for some supplies and then docked for the night on the wall just before Lock 20, at which point the heavens opened.

Sunday 14th September
We had a lazy start after our traditional Sunday omelet breakfast and by that time the gloomy weather had turned to sunshine and we went through our first 'down' lock and intended to stop at Utica Marina but that turned out to be locked up and deserted. So we dropped down Lock 19 and stopped at Ilion Village Marina where, although it cost us 34 smackers, we got showers and free Internet. But it's really hot here.

Ilion is famous for being the home of: