Exploring Oswego New York Before The Total Solar Eclipse.m
I didn’t stay in my hotel room very long after I arrived in Oswego . After reading about the total solar eclipse events the city had planned I left the Clarion Riverfront Hotel and walked down to the Oswego River. 
There were a lot of people fishing on the walkway above the banks of the river. The city’s downtown could be seen across the river. Large grain elevators could be seen where the river enters Lake Ontario. 
Preparations for the solar eclipse could be seen along the river and throughout the city.
I walked toward Lake Ontario, I was trying to find my way to the historic Fort Ontario overlooking the lake. However. the road along the river was closed near a private marina,
and I had to walk through the street of the city to get to the fort. 
I had visited the fort before, on a previous fishing trip to the area. It was early in the morning and the fort was closed then so I only walked around the perimeter of the star shaped fort.
This time I was able to enter the fort. It is usually closed until May. I was advised it was open for the many tourist in the area for the total solar eclipse the next day. 
The fort built in the 1840’s near the ruins of three earlier forts. It is now an historical site operated by the State of New York. 
Volunteers dressed in Civil War uniforms greeted visitors at the entrance to the fort,
and directed me to one of the building that housed exhibits and historical information about the fort.
I visited the building that housed the mess hall and learned much about the history of this fort and the earlier forts in the area, including the battles that occurred during the French and Indian War and the War of 1812. 
I learned the fortifications were increased at this fort during the Civil War in 1863 and again in the 1870’s. The fort never seen any battles but was occupied by the U.S. army in World War II and served as the only refugee camp in the United States for mostly Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust. 
After visiting the exhibits in the building I walked on the grassy ramparts of the fort,
enjoying the magnificent views of Lake Ontario. 
After my tour of the fort I walked back into town, 
and crossed the bridge over the Oswego River where i saw some wildlife swimming on the river including these long -tailed ducks, 
this red-breasted mergansers, 
and a couple of mallard ducks wading in foam along the shore of the river. 
Dozens of ring-billed gulls flew overhead. 
I crossed the bridge and made my way to the West First Street and the total solar eclipse concert that was being sponsored by the City of Oswego
.
Once again I was surprised that there was not more traffic or crowds in the city. I was in Idaho for the 2017 total solar eclipse and was stuck in traffic for hours. 
I walked past the exhibits,
and enjoyed the music, before
walking back to my hotel taking in the sights of the city. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog site with some more photos from my afternoon walk. New York: Oswego afternoon hike April 7 2024. 
It was now early evening and I had made reservations for dinner at La Parrilla On the Water for 7 p.m. After showering I walked the short distance to the restaurant where I enjoyed a wonderful meal starting with a Caesar’s salad, 
and a fried soft shell crab sandwich. The food was good as well as the view of the setting sun. I returned to my room and anxiously watched the local weather forecast. It didn’t look good. They were calling for cloudy skies during the total eclipse. I fell asleep hoping they were wrong.
I awoke early the next morning, and watched the local forecast again while I drank my coffee. It wasn’t good, Cloudy skies were still in the forecast for the eclipse. Again, I hoped they were wrong as I dressed and left the hotel to explore some more of the city of Oswego. 
I crossed the bridge over the Oswego River while the sun rose in the east, 
and walked on the road along the river through a business district,
to the commercial area with the large grain elevators I had seen from my hotel. 
The streets of Oswego were deserted. I saw only a few cars and no people as I walked through the empty streets. I was surprised to see a lot of old, and new residential buildings right across from the commercial area and grain elevators. 
I came to the H. Lee White Maritime Museum, where one can see one of the last derrick barges that was used on the canal and a tow boat that saw action in World War II.
Leaving the shipyards and grain elevators I walked through a residential area, 
and came to Cahill Pier. 
I walked out on the pier taking in the views of the ocean,
the shipyards, grain elevators, marinas,
and large power plant in the distance. 
There was so much to see, and I took a lot of photos, so you can take a look for yourself. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog site with some more photos from my morning walk. New York: Oswego morning hike April 8 2024. 
I left the pier and walked up a steep hill and explored quaint Brietbeck Park.
Preparations were being made for the total solar eclipse festivities, 
scheduled for the afternoon. 
I left the park and followed Ontario Street up through a nice neighborhood, 
with well maintained yards,
most with Spring flowers in bloom, including glory-of-Spring flowers,
and daffodils. 
The street took me up a hill, and near the top, on Van Buren Street I came to some larger old homes and estates. 
It was a beautiful and quiet neighborhood.
I walked past the beautiful St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 
located near Franklin Park. I walked through the park,
and left the residential neighborhood, crossing Bridge Street,
and entering the business section of downtown Oswego. There was still not much traffic on the streets
as I walked past the local shops, restaurants, and businesses. 
Walking back over the bridge spanning the Oswego River I seeing the red breasted mergansers I had seen the previous evening. 
I had walked about 4 1/2 miles when I returned to my hotel and learned a lot about the city of Oswego. Here is a link to another gallery on my blog site with some more photos from my morning walk. New York: Oswego morning hike April 8 2024. 
Unfortunately, clouds had moved in during my walk, and the forecast called for cloudy skies for the start of the total eclipse at 2 p.m. I was still hoping they would be wrong and the skies would clear as sat down and had breakfast at my hotel. 
“There’s something about arriving in new cities, wandering empty streets with no destination. I will never lose the love for the arriving, but I’m born to leave.”
―
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