This is a continuation of last week's story on traveling through the scenic New York state canals and rivers.

What we saw through the binoculars, we soon witnessed in its full majesty: the canal in its entire width covered with thousands of Canada geese and their goslings. They were enjoying a day on the water oblivious to the approaching cruiser. After all, this was their home and we were the intruders.

We slowed down and then came to full stop just a few feet away from them. They still ignored us and that gave us a chance to enjoy looking at them. The boat was now drifting into unsafe waters so we had to make way. Slowly the birds parted to let us pass, and we rewarded them with some bread crumbs.

Going by buoy R500, one sees a smaller canal which branches off to the left, makes a complete U and rejoins the Erie Canal a little past buoy R498. From this point on the canal is also referred to as the Seneca River. This body of water surrounds Haiti Island. For those who might be tempted to explore, keep in mind that it is not marked with any kinds of aids to navigation.

Near R494, soon after you go under the Route 38 bridge, there is a marina. We continued our trip enjoying some very impressive estates on the banks of the canal with well manicured gardens. Hickory Island is up ahead and another marina is located at G455.

In several spots, we enjoyed looking at large expanses of water chestnut plants. Acres of them. At one of these “fields” we observed a boat harvesting them. Left unchecked they may take over the entire canal and create hazards.

The canal now enters Cross Lake. Many may not have heard of Cross Lake. It is small, picturesque and an enjoyable exploration. Stay at the Sunset Park Compound located on the east side of the lake. As we enter Cross Lake, the Little Island stands a few feet off the marked canal. We pass it on our starboard side since the water is deeper. Buoys R416 and G417 mark the entrance of the canal on the other side of the lake.

Care should be exercised when approaching buoys R408 and R409. Although the canal will appear to be going straight, and it is, the preferred channel is to your left. It is a State Ditch shortcut and clearly marked with aids to navigation.

At 10:25 a.m. (almost 3.5 hours after our departure) we passed G381 with its opposite, R382. This happens to be a campground, but there are no services for boaters.

As we approach Baldwinsville, there is another U. It branches off the right side of the channel and rejoins at buoy G343. It surrounds Maloney Island.

Spending some time is Baldwinsville is a rewarding experience. I did this in an earlier trip and thoroughly enjoyed taking in the sites including Paper Mill Island, which in years past was a major manufacturing site. It is now a recreational park. Since Baldwinsville is a canal town, it provides all kinds of facilities to boaters.

Shortly before reaching Cold Spring and after passing a marina on our port side, G275 marks the route to Onondaga Lake and Syracuse. We maintained our course.

At 2 p.m., we reached the three rivers junction, the intersection of Seneca, Oneida and Oswego rivers. For those who wish to go to points east and south, e.g. the Hudson River, New York City, etc., this is the time to branch off. We took the Oswego River, the final leg of our trip.

The Oswego River is much wider than the Erie Canal and the Seneca River. It is beautiful to navigate. The drawback is that one has to go through seven locks. Here there is a significant change in the aids to navigation. Up to this point, red markers and buoys were located on the west side of the channel. Green markers and buoys marked the east side of the channel. Remember, we passed the red buoys on our port side and the green on our starboard.

In the Oswego River red buoys and markers are on the east side of the channel and the greens on the west. Because of this, the principle of “red-right-returning” applies. As long as you remember that, the red buoys should now be passed on your starboard side and the left buoys on your port side, you remain in the channel.

The numbering system for buoys and markers changes as well. As we enter the Oswego River, we notice that the green buoy, which now marks the left side of the channel is No. 1, and the red buoy on the opposite side is No. 2.

Approximately 12 minutes after we entered the river, lock No. 1 in Phoenix appeared. Fortunately, the gates were open and we did not have to wait.

Waiting for the lock to open, due to previous locking other boats can often take 15-20 minutes, sometimes longer.

We were at G15 when we called the lock master on channel 13 to inform him that we were traveling north. The reply came that there was no other traffic and he would “lock us” upon arrival, which he did.

The distance between lock No. 1 and No. 2 is approximately 60 minutes depending on speed, wind and current. Keep in mind the “no wake” rule.

We reached lock No. 2 in Fulton at 2:25 p.m. No luck here. We had to wait. By the time we exited the lock it was 3:08. The next lock was only five minutes away. No waiting here. We were on our way in a little less than 20 minutes. There is no lock No. 4 on the Oswego River but 40 minutes later we were entering lock No. 5. It was 4:30 p.m. Three more locks to negotiate. The crew was getting tired and so was the skipper. Worse yet, the white decks of the boat were changing color from all the slime and dirt the fenders were scrapping off the walls of the locks. That was making me unhappy, to say the least. That dirt and slime had to be removed before it dried on the decks or on the white fenders.

At lock No. 6, which took 30 minutes to reach, we had to wait again. We took solace from the fact that lock No. 7 was only a few minutes away. We cleared it at 6:27 p.m. On to the final lock No. 8 just around the corner from 7. A short wait and we were let in.

As we entered the Oswego harbor, the lake came into view. The temptation was to run and greet her. But we chose to wait until the next day. There are many things to see and to do in Oswego. And don't forget the annual Harborfest.

Hotels and restaurants are visible on both sides of the channel as well as a busy marina. However, we did not need a slip in a marina. We were headed to the Coast Guard Station in Oswego, just around the corner, and adjacent to the second marina. Our slip there was ready and four pairs of hands helped us maneuver through some good size boats and enter the assigned slip.

The trip from Cayuga Lake to the Oswego station took 12 hours and 10 minutes.

Although the next day we had training to attend, the boat and fenders had to be thoroughly rinsed, scrubbed and rinsed again and again. We managed to get rid of most of the dirt.

Somehow the idea of going through all this again on the return trip left me wondering if I should just spend the winter in Oswego.

John E. Keshishoglou is the commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22