Pirates Spotted off Lake Ontario!

*Before I continue, I just have to point out that today (September 19) is national Talk Like a Pirate Day! How convenient!!

There have been numerous Pirate sightings in Oswego this past summer, so I decided some investigative work was in order. I invited my new coworker, Cassie, to aid me on my mission of discovering these so-called pirates. We headed over to the H. Lee White Marine Museum, where the rumored pirate sightings were taking place.

The rumors were true!

We found ourselves surrounded by pirates - young and old, congregating at the museum! Apparently, every summer, they meet up for a special "Pirate's Day" event!

I think Oswego County must be pretty awesome if pirates choose us for their meet up destination. It must be all of the water... we have Oneida Lake, Redfield Reservoir, Salmon River, Oswego River and of course... Lake Ontario! Did you know Oswego County has more shoreline along the lake than any other NY county? 

The strapping young pirates, all dressed to the nines, began their day by making treasure maps! After creating maps, the pirates split up to hunt down buried treasure. It could have been buried anywhere... at the museum, on the historic LT5 tug boat, or the Derrick Boat 8. All of the pirates found treasure in candy and other goodies!!

They all worked up a hearty appetite after hob nobbing on the deck and playing an intense game of musical chairs! It became cut-throat when not one, but TWO chairs were taken away each round until the last two pirates were left to square off. It was a head-to-head fight and everyone watched intently until a young buccaneer was finally crowned the victor.

The hungry pirates sat down for lunch, which was grub so grand they were stuffed in no time. My mouth was watering as plate after plate was brought out by the young lasses helping accommodate the pirates.

Before the day was over, the mates tried their luck at winning dubloons for their journey back home.

If you have a little pirate who would like to participate in the Marine Museum Kids' Pirate Days next year, you can call 315-342-0480 or visit their website at http://www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com/.

If hanging out with pirates isn't your cup of tea, there are a lot of other things you can do at the Marine Museum:

• 9/24 Sat. “Lighthouses of Oswego,” 1:30pm. Part two of a three-part mini lecture, featuring Ted Panayotoff, lighthouse historian and City of Oswego Lighthouse Committee chair who will discuss the various lights, the lighthouse keepers and related topics that spanned Oswego’s rich maritime history. H. Lee White Marine Museum, 315/342-0480, info@hleewhitemarinemuseum.com.
• 10/1 Sat. “Lighthouses of Oswego,” 1:30pm. Part three of the mini lecture, featuring Ted Panayotoff, lighthouse historian and City of Oswego Lighthouse Committee chair who will discuss the various lights, the lighthouse keepers and related topics that spanned Oswego’s rich maritime history. H. Lee Whtie Marine Museum, 315/342-0480, info@hleewhitemarinemuseum.com.
• 12/11 Sun. Christmas at Sea Open House, 1pm. Traditional holiday decorations, music, refreshments, and Santa.  Miniature train displays courtesy of the Oswego Valley Railroad Association. H. Lee White Marine Museum, W. First St., 315/342-0480, info@hleewhitemarinemuseum.com, www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com. Admission free.

Fishing Seminars, Project Healing Waters and Pro Am, OH MY!

What a busy spring and summer we've had here in Oswego County! I've been all over the county taking photos and helping out with numerous events. I normally dedicate an entire post to each of the following, but since they're all fishing related, I've combined them in one.

Women's Fly Fishing Seminar:

The women's fly fishing seminar took place on May 14th and 15th. Every year women from all over get together, thanks to Trout Unlimited, and learn how to fly fish on the Salmon River. 

This year the women fished on the Upper Fly Zone on the Salmon River in Altmar. I showed up on Saturday to document the event. It was a very rainy day, but the women were tough and had no complaints while they fished. It was also a great memory for many of the women who fished alongside of Pulaski resident, Ellen Boyle, who had helped out with the event for years along with Project Healing Waters and numerous other organizations. Unfortunately, Ellen passed away a month after the event. I remember talking to her while she was standing in the river, soaked head to toe, and when asked how she was doing her response was, "GREAT... I don't care if I'm wet I'm still having fun!" I think it's safe to say that was the attitude of all the women on the river that day. May Ellen rest in peace and may her memory live on through women who love to fish!  

(Continue past these photos to read about Project Healing Waters and the Pro Am Tournament)

 Ellen Boyle - She will be greatly missed!

Project Healing Waters:

The Project Healing Waters event, a national program that has been coming to the Salmon River for a few years now, took place the following weekend, May 21st and 22nd. 

In short, Project Healing Waters is a program where wounded soldiers and veterans get to learn fly fishing for rehabilitation. You can learn more about it on their website, www.projecthealingwaters.org.

This year's event took place along the Douglaston Salmon Run in Pulaski. I stopped by on Saturday and hung out for a while, taking pictures and talking to some of the fishermen (and one fisherwoman)!

Douglaston was the perfect location because it was quiet, calm and extremely accommodating to their physical needs. All of the participants had a blast hanging out, joking around, and fly fishing; as they do every year when they come to the Salmon River.

*A HUGE thanks to Fred Kuepper for all of the work and effort he has put into the Women's Fly Fishing Seminars and Project Healing Water events. Fred has decided to take a break from these events to focus on other endeavors. He will still be around to help out and I'm sure you'll see him out fishing the river from time to time!

(Continue past these photos to read about the Pro Am Tournament)

 The whole gang!

 Above: Wounded warriors getting ready to fish the Salmon River!

Below: River guides who donated their time to support our troops!

Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon and Trout Team Tournament:

2011 marked the 17th year for the Oswego Pro-Am tournament, a tournament where professionals and amateurs take over the lake trying to catch the biggest fish imaginable to win cash and prizes. I love helping out with this tournament because it's the one place you get to really see the size of the fish that come out of Lake Ontario.

At the early hour of 5 am on Sunday, I was down at Mexico Point (mouth of the Little Salmon River) to collect disclaimers from the teams fishing out of that port. The phrase "it must be in the water" took on new meaning after the tournament because both of the winning teams claimed the Little Salmon River as their home port. (Or maybe I'm just good luck!)

On Sunday afternoon I went to Oswego to help photograph the event. For years it has rained during the pro-am tournament, but this year the sun was out in full force. Thank goodness the Econo Lodge was accommodating all of us on their riverfront property, as well as serving us delicious burgers and keeping us hydrated with water and other beverages. A big thanks to them for their continued help with the tournament.

This year’s pro division winners were Trout One/Fish Chopper. The am division winners were Horsin' Around. Congratulations to both teams and all of this year’s participants!!

 Check out my huge fish on the top right!

Thankfully some participants let me pretend I caught their fish.

Am winners, Horsin' Around - weighing in, checking their score and showing off their catch (I wanted to pretend I was part of the winning team - thanks guys!)

 Congratulations Am Division Winners, Horsin' Around!

Congratulations Pro Division Winners, Trout One/Fish Chopper!

Enjoying the ‘Good Old Days’

R & J's Good Old Days Petting Zoo.

For those of my followers who aren’t aware, I am pregnant – 8 and a half months along to be exact (which explains the lack of blogging adventures from me this year). This will be my last blog until after I come back from maternity leave. You won’t have to wait long, however, because the minute I’m back I plan on missing deer, not catching fish, and tripping over air just for your amusement!


I had to make my temporary blogging departure a good one. Since no one would let me shoot any animals while pregnant, I chose to spend a day petting them. (I know that sounds harsh – but remember my actual hunting record. I don’t see many frightened animals when they cross my path – or any for that matter).


I invited my friend Autumn, her three children, and my 12-year-old friend, Hunter (you may remember her from my letterboxing adventures), to go to R & J’s Good Old Days Petting Zoo with me.


Our tour guide, young Lauren Klein, met us at the beginning of the first barn and so began our journey. We first viewed pigs (huge, fat ones) and their adorable little piglets. Then we saw a goat, and what looked like an ox crossed with a camel. It’s 2010 and I figured anything was possible, although I’m not sure why anyone would want to breed those two animals. As it turns out, the ox-camel creature was in fact a zebu. They are domestic breeds of oxen found in India. Somehow this guy made it all the way to Mexico, NY!

Cute little piglets!

These animals are spoiled!

This is what a zebu looks like! I should have gotten a better picture of his hump.

Before leaving the first barn we saw some more pigs (and some more cute little piglets in the maternity ward), a rooster, donkeys and more goats.

Evan feeding the donkeys.

Hanging out with the pigs in the maternity ward :)

Our next stop was the barn where the kids could interact more closely with the animals. As we entered, we were greeted by a friendly pot-belled pig named Cheeto. The kids got to hold chicks, little bunnies, rabbits and watch a tortoise move. The excitement of watching a tortoise move two steps in twenty minutes is indescribable, so I’ll spare you all the astonishing details.

Greeted by Cheeto!

Eion and Evan playing with an adorable little bunny.

I think he wants one! Sorry mom!

Not so sure she does.

I'm pretty sure this is an angora rabbit - but don't quote me on that!

Employee Donna Woodruff hands a chick to Hunter.

He was plotting his escape here, he tried right after I took the photo but was unsuccesful.

Beautiful little creature.

Lauren using cheetos to bribe Cheeto to "sit". He listens better than my dogs!

The boys loved the tortoise!

After the tortoise excitement, I found Hunter in the goat pen wrangling up a goat. It was the closest thing to a rodeo I’ve seen in years. Instead of following suit of the younger kids, and holding out a handful of feed hoping that a shy little goat will finally come over to her, she took matters into her own hands. Luckily everyone survived and there was a big payoff for the goat at the end when Hunter gave him a handful of delicious treats.

He thinks he's safe...

Not for long! Hunter caught him!

Next we met Joe the Camel. Can I just say that camels are MUCH bigger in person. I guess I don’t get out much, but I always pictured a camel as the size of a pony, or a donkey. I was wrong. It’s a good thing I do these blogging adventures, because I learn a lot. I also learned Joe had a fondness for my friend’s stroller.

Joe tried to eat Ben...

...but he opted for the stroller instead!

We stopped by the llama and alpaca corral, where I watched Merle the llama try to put the moves on everyone who walked by. He made you feel like the only one, until you walked away and he was planting kisses on the next person. What a Player.

Merle's first kiss attack on Hunter.

Probably his 4th or 5th kiss by this point.

Hunter had to have a little chat with Merle to let him down gently, he just wasn't her type.

So he moved on to me!

The Mrs. looked on disapprovingly while she watched over their little one. Looks like Merle is sleeping in the dog house tonight.

Cutest little alpaca I've ever seen!

Straight out of a Dr. Suess book!

After we left the llamas and alpacas, probably breaking Merle’s heart, we headed over to the elk pasture. The kids had a blast feeding bread to the elk, especially the bold ones who stuck their faces between the openings in the gate to get closer to the food.

The kids waiting for the elk to run down the pasture for feeding time.

They loved bread!

Why hello there.

"Feed us!!"

I never realized how beautiful elk were until seeing them up close.

No animals were as bold as the cows that followed us on our last adventure of the day – the hayride. A few of them tried to get up on the wagon to get the food. It’s a good thing they don’t have the coordination to accomplish such a task or else Hunter would be wrangling cows – which are much bigger than goats.

He chased us down the trail.

He ran to the end and waited for the tractor to stop. He knows what comes next!

He kept trying to get up on the wagon.

Roger, owner of R & J's, gives in to one of the cows and feeds him some bread.

Someone needs to teach them not to beg.

While the cows continuously attempted to get on the wagon, we got to throw food to the fallow deer. There were tons of them and they were beautiful! There were some spotted, light brown and even some white deer!

All of the different colored fallow deer!

These were the brave deer, the rest hid in the back hoping a piece would fly to them.

Happy little fallow deer.

Finally, after exhausting the food supply, we headed back to the farm. The cows showed no interest in us by this point and left to go hang out under the shade of a big tree. When we got back to the farm we did the most logical thing after a rough day of hanging out with animals – we got some grub at the food mobile! No adventure is ever complete unless a hearty meal comes after. In our case the hearty meal was French fries and soda. I said hearty not healthy. They also had hamburgers, hot dogs, fried dough and much more!

Hunter waits for her food at the food mobile.

I want to thank the owners of R & J’s, Roger and Janet Delong, for providing such a great time at their petting zoo. It’s such a hidden little gem in Oswego County. They just opened this past year and if you haven’t been there yet – then you need to get moving! Admission is very reasonable and there is so much to do that even the adults have fun. They are open on weekends, and their address is 590 Co. Rte. 41, Mexico, NY 13114 (they are on the corner of Co. Rte. 41 and Spath Rd.). Their website is http://www.randjsgoodolddays.com/.

I can't forget to mention they have pony rides!

They have many more animals, like this buffalo above, I just didn't have time to photograph them all or write about them. Make sure you check it out for yourself!