GL: Cayuga Lake & Goose Watch Winery - another update from Legrace

[Bob Williamson]

So much happened today that it requires a second post.

Last year our plan was to see the Finger Lakes but that was interrupted with
the flooding, etc.  So this year we made the side trip to the Cayuga-Seneca
Canal.  We left Seneca Falls this morning after a very nice weekend (a great
stop by the way), back tracked 4 miles to Cayuga Lake and turned south.  The
initial stretch of the lake is a buoyed channel that should have more than
12 ft of water.

All is well until we go under the last bridge - still following the channel
but the depth meter is going haywire - first in 15+ ft depths then down to 8
ft or some times 6 ft.  Mild panic attack, we are both looking at the chart,
looking at the markers, we are in the channel so where in the heck do we
go???  The depth meter still going all over the place, sometimes down to 2
ft or less under us then jumps up to 15 or more.  I finally start looking
over the side - WEEDS, lots of them clearly visible in the crystal clear
water.

I remember reading about weeds in some of these lakes with crystal clear
water.  Boy they sure play havoc with my depth sounder.

After clearing the channel we move into deeper water and no more weeds; much
deeper water, first 120 ft or so then over 200 ft.  We called Goose Watch
Winery to inquire about the dock, depths along side and if we could visit;
no problem they say, 5 1/2 to 6 ft depths on the outer dock.  Following
Skipper Boy's GPS coordinates we head for the western shore, we can kind of
make out a dock but can't read their sign until we get in close (1/2 mile or
less).

Slowed down as the water shoaled to less than 40 ft or so 100 yards off the
dock.  Now we are watching the bottom as we creep up to the dock - a note in
Skipper Bob say 5 ft at the dock.  Start to go on the south end but Lynn
sees a rock 10 ft off the dock - this clear water business it going to take
some getting use to, I mean actually seeing things on the bottom for a
change.  So we take a different approach, tie on side ways to the end of the
dock then assess the situation.  Oh what the heck, I take the boat hook and
walk along the one slip poking the water.  No problem, at the shallowest end
it is more than 4 ft deep so we untie and move carefully into the slip - not
too far in but we have docked in much worse places even after paying $2/ft
for the privilege.

When we called earlier asking about the dock they offered to come down to
pick us up; I asked how far and she said oh a 4 or 5 minute walk up hill.
That doesn't sound bad besides we can use the exercise.  Change shirts -
need to look a little presentable but before we can leave here comes a group
down the hill in the "Gator" utility cart.  It's the owners Dick & Cindy
Peterson and a TV crew.  Cindy apologizes that they are interrupting our
solitude (interrupting OUR solitude on THEIR dock !?!?).  It turns out the
TV crew is from the local PBS station WCNY and they are doing a documentary
on the New York canals.  They were there to interview Cindy using the dock
as a back drop, etc.  Then of course here we show up with a boat traveling
the canals of New York, doing the "Loop" etc. - so now it was my turn to get
interviewed; besides Lynn had all the TV interviews last year at "Lock 3".
Afterwards Lynn asked me what did I say??  I haven't the foggiest but I
don't think I made too big a fool of myself.  They also took footage of us
walking the dock, going up the hill in the "Gator" - yep no exercise today,
then it was all of us off to the wine tasting room.  That might prove to be
some interesting footage, Lynn is not a wine drinker but she tasted a few
and one got her to wrinkle her nose just as they were recording us.  Anyway
we don't have a TV on board but if by chance in the future you see a PBS
program on the New York Canals, please record it for us.

Bob & Lynn Williamson
On Legrace at Goose Watch Winery, Cayuga Lake NY
Aquanaut Drifter 1250

PS:  They do have some very nice wine here, now I have a slightly larger
problem to get through Canadian Customs!

PPS: Dick Peterson is a fellow boater and was in the Coast Guard way back
when, he loves to talk boats and gave us short tour of the grounds in the
"Gator", and we really had an enjoyable afternoon!