Traditions…

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HARBORFEST- 25th Anniversary…Part 1

For 23 out of 25 years (we have only missed 2), my view has been from the waterline.  How else do you participate in a harbor event, if not by boat.  Floating to the harbor in Oswego, NY has been a yearly tradition for us and now at the 25th anniversary of the festival, I am reminded  how much some things change and yet somethings stay the same.

For those who venture down the canals and launch from various points along the eastern shores of Lake Ontario, this mid summer festifus never disappoints.   Fireworks, the climax of the celebration, put on by the famous Grucci Brothers…has never missed a beat.
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Weather has never delayed or cancelled the most marvelous spectacular in the sky I have ever seen year after year.  Although a few years storms have blown in immediately upon their conclusion that has actually sunk ships (at least one), and has made for interesting departures by those that have to leave by land or by sea.  Docked, we have only had to batten down the hatches as a blow has commenced as if there is an objection from the clouds to the color, smoke and noise.
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I will include some of my best of the fest over the years…so enjoy the view and share the tradition of Oswego Harborfest and luvin life on the lake…usny.  More to come…but I’ll start with the climax…

The sands of time…

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Along my slice of paradise, we enjoy shore sharing part of the worlds largest collection of fresh water sand dunes. 17 miles of sandy beach is the NYS part of the collection, unique only along a great lakes shoreline where the whole of the collection is kept. The sand is fine like sweet sugar, soft underfoot…a treat to the feet where it kisses the fresh water. The ways of the wind and the water shape sand castles that only mother nature can create.

My view includes the dunes which has been ever changing as she has twisted and shaped their silhouette with wind, water, and ice over time. Beating them down slowly and then rebuilding, almost taking away and then giving back the gift in a different wrapper…
a great lake indeed.

Shifting sands change the access from our safe haven inlet, shifting from north to south depending on the year, cutting through the dunes altering safe passage to the greatness of the lake.
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On a windy day when lake sings loud with its power the undertow and waves can not be under estimated. The channel has taken more than a few lives over the years with a force any ocean could muster for those unaware of the push and pull dangers of fresh water.

As we continue to play along the shoreline, we fight nature’s sands of time which limits the depths of our way…moving sand to keep her at bay long enough, so we can pass for the summer.
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A phenomenon of late is a new playground, one which exists smack in the middle of change and our body of water. Sand on the move from the power of the lake, a sand bar…now just several inches under water has risen from the deep like an Atlantis sand castle for our pleasure.
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A new place for exploration and fun in the sun. The drop offs are unannounced as several dogs and kids discover as they run across the bar.
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Blind to a distant eye, it appears as though we can walk on water like magic…
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Watching the world go by…
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we hung out on the bar instead of the beach…image
or is it the beach on the bar?
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Beach, dune and wave photos to come…luvin life on the lake…usny.
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