HI EVERYONE, WE ARE NOW BACK IN THE STATES AFTER SPENDING 6 WKS.IN CANADA. WE HAVE GONE THRU THE ERIE CANAL LOCKS 1-23, THE OSWEGO CANAL LOCKS 1-8, & NOW THE TRENT- SEVERN CANAL IN CANADA LOCKS 1-45 CONNECTING LAKE ONTARIO WITH GEORGIAN BAY, LAKE HURON.
WHEN WE FIRST CRUISED TO CANADA WE CLEARED CUSTOMS IN GANANOQUE. A VERY NICE OLD TOWN AT THE GATEWAY TO THE THOUSAND ISLANDS.
THEN WE WENT ON TO KINGSTON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY YET. THERE WERE MANY OLD LIMESTONE HOMES HUNDREDS OF YRS OLD.WE DID AN HOUR TROLLY TOUR THAT INCLUDED OLD FORT HENRY, WE COULD NEVER HAD WALKED THAT FAR.
NEXT WE WERE OFF TO PICTON IN A WELL PROTECTED HARBOR. WE SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE YACHT CLUB, VERY NICE PEOPLE THERE. THE TOWN WAS VERY ENJOYABLE TO WALK THROUGH.
ON TO BELLEVILLE NEXT. A VERY NICE MARINA FOR A NIGHT. AND THE DOWNTOWN WAS CLOSE & HAD MANY STORES
OUR NEXT STOP WAS TRENTON THE START OF THE TRENT-SEVERN CANAL OR WATERWAY.WE STAYED IN TRENTON 2 DAYS & WERE IN THE COMPANY OF 8 OTHER LOOPER BOATS, MANY OF WHICH WE HAVE TRAVELED WITH ON & OFF SINCE.
THE DAY WE DEPARTED (7/9) WE WENT THRU LOCK 1. NYS LOCKS WERE FREE BUT HERE ON THE TRENT IT WAS $193 FOR ONE WAY LOCKAGE. WE WENT AS FAR AS CAMPBELLFORD, MM 31 JUST BEFORE LOCK 13 -IT WAS A LONG DAY, 11 ½ HRS ON THE WATER. WE TIED TO THE WALL IN TOWN FOR A FEE & HAD FRE WIFI THAT NIGHT. A NICE TOWN AND IN THE MORNING I TOOK A BIKE RIDE TO RANNEY FALLS TO VIEW AND GET SOME EXERCISE.
WE WENT TO HASTINGS MARINA NEXT. MM51 AT LOCK 18. A NEW MARINA AND ONLY 5 ½ HR RIDE.
7/11 WE WENT ON TO THE TOWN OF PETERBOROUGH AT MM89 & JUST BEFORE LOCK 21. ON THE WAY THERE CRUISING THRU RICE LAKE WE GOT CAUGHT IN A VIOLENT THUNDERSTORM, WITH HIGH WINDS.WE HAD BEEN WATCHING IT ON OUR RADAR & THOUGHT WE MIGHT JUST MISS IT – NO LUCK.. LOCK 19 SCOTT MILLS WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. WE MADE THE DECISION TO TRY TO TIE UP TO THE WALL JUST BEFORE THE LOCK AND WAIT IT OUT. THE WINDS WERE IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT THEY PUSHED US AGAINST THE WALL PERFECTLY. THE STORM PASSED QUICKLY & WE WERE ON OUR WAY AGAIN.
PETERBOROUGH WAS A NICE TOWN WITH WIFI AT THE LIBRARY. THAT EVENING WHILE THERE THEY HAD A FREE CONCERT AT THE MARINA PARK FOLLOWED BY A GREAT BIG FIREWORKS DISPLAY.THE FOUNTAIN IN THE HARBOR WAS ALSO LIGHT UP WITH COLORED LIGHTS FOR A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY.
THE NEXT MORNING WE WENT THRU THE FIRST OF 2 LIFT LOCKS @ PETERBOROUGH.THIS WAS BUILT IN 1904. IT HAS 2 PANS AT THE 2 ELEVATIONS. THEY PUT BOATS IN FROM THE TOP & BOTTOM ELEVATIONS & THEN ADD MORE WATER TO THE TOP PAN & IT ACTS LIKE A SEE SAW BRINGING THE TOP BOATS DOWN & THE BOTTOM BOATS UP 65 FEET. QUITE AN ACT.IT IS BREATH TAKING GOING UP IN THE BOAT LOOKING OUT OVER THE SIDE.
CONTINUEING ON TO LAKEFIELD MARINA, MM98, AT LOCK 26 WE HAD STRONG STORMS AGAIN. WE TIED UP TO THE WALL AT THE LOCK TO WAIT FOR THEM TO PASS. ONCE ARRIIVING AT THE MARINA WE STROLLED THRU TOWN STOPPING AT THE FOOD STORE FOR SUPPLIES. LATER I WALKED TO THE LCBO STORE FOR WINE. THE PRICES COULD KNOCK YOU OVER AND MAKE YOU QUIT DRINKING. A 4 LITER BOX WAS $33 (CHEAP BRAND) NOW I KNOW WHY CANADIANS HAVE WINE CLUB STORES WHERE THEY MAKE THERE OWN FOR ABOUT $2 A BOTTLE.
FROM THERE WE WENT ON TO BOBCAYGEON, MM138, and LOCK 32 & STAYED AT THE GORDON YACHT HARBOR. VERY NICE PEOPLE AND A GREAT PLACE TO STAY.
THE FOLLOWIND DAY WE WENT TO FENELON FALLS MM153, JUST BEFORE LOCK34. WHEN WE ARRIVED THE WALL JUST BEFORE THE FALLS WAS EMPTY, SO WE TIED UP THERE WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE FALLS YOU COULD WANT. BETWEEN THAT AFTERNOON & THE NEXT DAY 4 OTHER LOOPER BOATS CAME & TIED UP WITH US.7/15 BEING MIRIAMS BIRTHDAY ALL 10 OF US WENT OUT TO A GERMAN RESTAURANT & ERIK FROM GERMANY COOKED FOR US GREAT VENISON & LAMB DINNERS. IT WAS A GREAT TIME & A BIRTHDAY NOT TO FORGET.
7/16 WE ALL WENT ON TO SUNSET COVE MARINA MM 176 FOR AN EVENING TOGETHER BEFORE GOING ONTO ORILLA MM 198. ON THE WAY WE WENT THRU THE SECOND LIFT LOCK AT KIRKFIELD. THIS WAS MORE THRILLING BECAUSE THIS IS A DOWN LOCK AND ENTERING FROM THE TOP YOU ARE HANGING OUT THERE. THE PORT OF ORILLA WAS VERY NICE WITH MILES OF WATERFRONT BIKE TRAILS THAT I EXPLORED.
ON THE WAY TO PORT SEVERN WE WENT THRU LOCK 44 THE BIG CHUTE. THIS IS A RAILWAY WITH SLINGS. YOU DRIVE YOUR BOAT INTO THE SLING & THE LIFT THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER & DRIVE IT OVER LAND A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS & PLACE YOUR BOAT BACK IN THE WATER. IT WAS BUILT THIS WAY TO KEEP THE LAKES SEPARATE SO THAT MARINE LIFE COULDN’T PASS BETWEEN THEM.
PORT SEVERN WAS OUR LAST LOCK, 45;( FOR MORE ON THE TRENT SEVERNhttp://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/Articles/BS02/trent.htm) WE STAYED THE EVENING BEFORE HEADING OUT INTO GEORGIAN BAY TO BAY MOORINGS AT PENETANQUISHENE FOR THE LOOPER RENDEZVOUS. BAY MOORINGS WAS VERY NICE WITH A HEATED POOL, RESTAURANT & MAYBE 60 LOOPER BOATS.
AT THE RENDEZVOUS THEY HAD SPEAKERS EVERY DAY TELLING US OF OUR TRIP AHEAD & WHAT TO EXPECT.THEY FEED US BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES, & DINNERS, ENDING WITH A STEAK DINNER CRUISE. THERE WAS A POKER RUN, WHERE YOU TOOK YOUR DINK & TRAVELED TO 5 CHECK POINTS TO GET A PLAYING CARD TO FORM A POKER HAND.BEST HAND WINS. OF COURSE TO MAKE THINGS INTERESTING WE ALL HAD WATER GUNS, CANONS, PAILS, ETC TO ATTACK OUR FELLOW BOATERS WITH, FUN, FUN, AND FUN.
WHEN THE RENDEVOUS WAS OVER THERE WERE 22 BOATS SIGNED UP FOR A FLOTILLA LED BY BOB & KAREN JANTZ (LOCALS) TO GUIDE US THRU THE 30,000 ISLANDS, GEORGIAN BAY & ON THE NORTH CHANNEL. WE STAYED AT MARINAS & 2 NIGHTS WE ANCHORED OUT, 22 BOATS RAFTED TOGETHER.
PICTURES WILL FOLLOW. WE TOOK THE DINKS FROM THERE TO MOON RIVER FALLS FOR A BEAUTIFUL DAY STOPPING AT A MARINA FOR ICE CREAM ON THE WAY BACK. WE ALSO STOPPED AT HENRYS FOR A FISH LUNCH ON ANOTHER DAY; HENRYS CAN ONLY BE REACHED BY BOAT OR SEA PLANE.
WHILE WE WERE AT BIG SOUND MARINA WE RENTED A SEAPLANE WITH ANOTHER COUPLE TO SEE THE 30,000 ISLANDS FROM THE AIR. YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE ALL THE ROCKS THAT YOU WENT OVER & AROUND WITH OUR BOATS. UPON LEAVING 5 OF US LOOPER BOATS STOPPED AT KILBEAR PT & ANCHORED & RAFTER FOR ANOTHER SWIM. LIFE DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS.
WE STOPPED AT MANY OTHER PLACES & THE LAST PLACE THE FLOTILLA STAYED WAS LITTLE CURRENT, AFTER WE AND ANOTHER LOOPER STOPED AT BAIE FINE TO RAFT AND SWIM. THE WINDS REALLY PICKED UP THAT AFTERNOON, 25 KNTS, & IT WAS CHALLENGING TIENG TO DOCK. THEY WERE HAVING A CIVIL HOLIDAY WEEKEND. PARADES, DANCING, CONTESTS, EXHIBITS, ETC. THEY HAD A CARDBOARD BOAT RACING EVENT THAT WAS FUN WATCHING. MOSTLY KIDS MAKING & JUMPING INTO TO PADDLE, (SOME WERE KIDS AT HEART). THEY HAD FIREWORKS THAT NIGHT THAT WERE SOME OF THE BEST I’VE SEEN.
WHILE ON THE FLOTILLA TWICE BOB & KAREN HAD A WINE & CHEESE SOCIAL WHERE THEY SUPPLIED ALL THE HOMEMADE WINE, CHEESES, & SMOKED FISH, YUMMY.
WITH THE FLOTILLA ENDED & ALL OF US ON OUR OWN WE & ANOTHER BOAT WENT ON TO CROAKER ISLAND IN THE BENJAMIN ISLANDS. THERE WE RAFTED AND ANCHORED FOR A FEW DAYS & ENJOYED NATURE .WE HIKED THE ISLAND & LOOKED FOR BLUEBERRIES BUT I THINK THE DROUGHT THEY WERE HAVING HURT THE CROPS. THE SECOND DAY THERE A LOOPER CAME OVER FROM ANOTHER ISLAND BY DINK & INVITED US TO A BARN FIRE AND HOT DOG ROAST. THERE WERE 20 TO 30 OF US COOKING DOGS.
WE & OUR BUDDY BOAT WENT ON TO VIDAL BAY FOR A NIGHT OF ANCHORING ON OUR WAY TO DRUMMAND ISLAND USA TO CLEAR CUSTOMS. 4 OF US LOOPER BOATS HAD A POTLUCK DINNER TOGETHER WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS
WHEN WE DEPARTED DRUMMAND OUR BUDDY BOAT & US WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS. WE THEN MADE PLANS TO RAFT UP IN THE LES CHENAUX ISLANDS AT GOVERNMENT ISLAND BAY FOR THE NIGHT WITH ANOTHER BUDDY BOAT, WHERE THEY INVITED US TO THEIR BOAT FOR DINNER ( A LOW COUNTRY BOIL). OUR NEW BUDDY BOAT WENT ON TO MACINAC ISLAND THE NEXT DAY & WE STAYED ON THE HOOK FOR ONE MORE DAY BEFORE GOING ON TO MACKINAC ISLAND , WHEN OUR RESERVATIONS STARTED.
WE STAYED AT MACKINAC ISLAND 2 NIGHTS . WE WERE SCHEDULED FOR 3 NIGHTS BUT THE WINDS WERE TO PICK UP . SO WE & 4 OTHER LOOPERS DEPARTED A DAY EARLY FOR PETROSKY, MI
MACKINAC ISLAND DOESN’T ALLOW ANY CARS. TRANSPORTATION IS BY BIKE, HORSE, HORSE & CARRAGE OR FOOT. THERE ARE 17 FUDGE SHOPS IN TOWN ALL MAKING THEIR OWN. ALL YOU SMELL IN MACKINAC IS FUDGE & HORSE DROPPINGS.WE BIKED AROUND THE ISLAND, 8 MILES, WITH THE OTHERS & IT WAS GREAT.
WE ARE NOW AT PETOSKY & THE WINDS DID PICK UP TO 20-30 KNOTS. WE ARE ALL GLAD TO BE HERE. THEY ARE HAVING A FESTIVAL HERE THIS WEEKEND SO WE WILL STAY FOR THAT. MIRIAM & THE OTHER WOMEN WE ARE TRAVELING WITH HAVE RENTED A CAR FOR THE DAY & ARE OUT SHOPPING TO WAL MART.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW FOLKS. I WILL WRITE AGAIN & MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO POST PHOTOS WHEN WE HAVE A BETTER INTERNET CONNECTION.
THESE 3 PHOTOS ARE OUT OF ORDER BUT I HAD TO ADD THEM. THIS IS HOLE IN THE WALL IN PARRY SOUND.
THESE 3 PHOTOS ARE TYPICAL OF TYING UP TO WALLS IN CANADA WHILE WAITING FOR THE LOCKS TO BE READY TO ENTER.
THIS I BELIEVE IS ENTERING KINGSTON ONTARIO.
THESE 3 PHOTOS ARE TYPICAL CANADA.
THEY CALL THESE GUARD GATES.
WELCOME TO THE TRENT SEVERN CANAL
ONE OF MANY 5 PM COCKTAIL PARTIES ON THE DOCK
BEAUTIFUL MURALS IN TRENT
PETERBOUROUGH LIFT LOCK WILL RAISE THE BOAT 65 FT WHILE LOWERING BOATS AT THE SAME TIME IN THE OTHER PAN-JUST LIKE A SEE-SAW
PATIENTLY WAITING FOR A LOCK THAT NEEDED REPAIR
FIREWORKS IN PETERBOROUGH
WATERFALLS AT FENELY FALLS , WE WERE TIED TO THE WALL FOR 3 DAYS AT THIS LOCATION
GOING INTO THE LIFT LOCK
THE PISTON UNDER THE LIFT LOCK
MANY NARROW PASSAGES
THE BIG CHUTE LOCK. 3 PHOTOS. THEY HAVE YOU DRIVE INTO THE SLINGS & THEN TRANSPORT YOU OVER LAND TO THE OTHER SIDE ON THIS RAIL CAR. THIS IS DONE THIS WAY TO KEEP THE LAKES SEPARATE SO THAT FISH CAN'T PASS.
MANY CANADIANS HAVE THEIR OWN SEA PLANES FOR TRASPORTATION HERE IN THE 30,000 ISLANDS
THIS IS HOW MOST OF THE LOCKS HERE ARE OPENED & CLOSED
MANY ROCKY AREAS
THE BOAT IN FRONT OF US PASSING IN A NARROW SHALLOW AREA
22 OF US LOOPERS LEAVING ON THE FLOTILLA FOR GEORGIAN BAY & THE N. CHANNEL
WHERE THE GREAT LOOP BURGEES FLY
TIME OUT AT PEACE
TIME OUT ENTERING A VERY NARROW,SHALLOW & TRICKY CHANNEL , THE BOAT 2 IN FRONT OF US BOUNCED OFF THE ROCKS, NO DAMAGE THANKFULLY
TIME OUT AT A MARINA
ONE OF THE COTTAGES ON GEORGIAN BAY
PEOPLE BUILD THESE INUKSHUK OR INUNNGUAQ. THEY ARE MARKINGS OR GOOD LUCK
ANOTHER COTTAGE
ALL 22 OF THE LOOPER BOATS ON THE FLOTILLA BOATS RAFTED UP TOGETHER FOR 2 NIGHTS IN RAWSON SOUND
TAKING OUR DINKS TO MOON RIVER FALLS
MIRIAM AT THE FALLS
HENRY'S FISH RESTAURANT THAT IS ONLY ACCESS ABLE BY BOAT OR SEA PLANE
PHOTO FROM THE SEA PLANE TRIP WE TOOK
LOPPER BOATS AT LITTLE CURRENT
