June 20-26
Sunday evening we went up to the clubhouse and met a number of the members who are retired and enjoy long weekends.
On Monday we remained at Trident Marina, awaiting Roger, a mechanic that had agreed to check out the hoses on the water heater. He didn’t arrive until almost 6:30 and found a crack, which was the source of the coolant smell. He said he would return on Tuesday and replace it. That evening we again went up to the clubhouse and socialized with the remaining club members who like extra, extra long weekends. We had a huge rainstorm pass through while we were up there.
On Tuesday, Brian Vermeersch came in the late afternoon, after golfing in the area and instructed Andy on how to repair a cracked hand rail. Roger came around 5:30 and replaced the coolant hose. Brian then took us to Gananoque to do some reprovisioning and he spent the night.
Wednesday morning, Andy and Brian went to Gananoque and Kingston on errands. In the early afternoon, we left Trident and began to explore the Thousand Islands. We had learned that our Mooring pass entitled us to free docking at Parks Canada sites. We went about 6 miles the first day and tied up to a dock on McDonald island.
We met another boater there that was a Kingston Power Squadron member, who did a boat safety check of our vessel. Parks Canada rents out these Otentiks–I think in Manitoba we call them Yurts.
On Thursday morning, we left to do more exploring we went another 12 miles through the inside channel to the Thousand Islands bridge at stopped at Georgina Island for lunch.
We visited with Brian and Anne, who were tied up there. Andy gave them some advice on places to see in the North Channel. We also saw this island for sale- call if you are interested.
We were then on the move again, we were told either Camelot of Endymion had good docks to tie up to , so we proceeded west in search of Camelot. Bur there was no room in Camelot- as one dock had a couple of house boats and the large dock was being repaired, so we went on to Endymion, which is ¼ miles from the Canada-US border. We had a choice of mooring balls or fixed docks. We decided on the fixed docks and Larry and Diane helped us tie up.
Another absolutely gorgeous spot!
On Friday morning, we left the dock and returned to Trident Yacht club, as we were picking up Brian and Helen there for the Rideau canal adventure.
We left Trident just after 1pm and made the 3pm opening of the Lasalle causeway bridge.
We then proceeded up 4 miles to the first set of locks at Kingston Mills, this was a flight of four locks and we were through by 16:40. Some of the equipment used at the locks used to open the gates and the doors is original, and creates Parks jobs for students.
We had to go another 10 miles to our next lock at Lower Brewers and were through it by 18:05. At times the water was around 5 feet, lots of trees and we came upon this farm with cows.
We wanted to get through one more set of locks called Upper Brewer which was lock 44 and 43, we made it through by 18:50 and was tied up to a dock with 4 other boats. One was a looper called Bee Haven from N. Myrtle Beach they had actually come up from Ottawa, so gave us some insight about the Rideau canal, and told us about the traffic disruption by the sinkhole as well as the three amigo summit which was going to shut down the lock system next week. The facilities at this lock were great, showers, power and great scenery. This heron was watching from above the lock in the evening for fish, and when one came into the lock he would fly down for dinner.
Andy made pancakes Saturday morning, and we left by 9. The locking hours are 9-7 on weekends, We went through 7 locks Friday and up about 80 feet in 15 miles. We arrived at the Swing bridge at 9:36 and the Jones Falls flight of 3 at 11:15, we were through the last Jones Fall lock by 12:20. We continued on and went through the Davis Lock and Sand Lake followed by Chaffeys Lock and Opinicon Lake. We then went through Newboro Lake and arrived at the lock. There was no space on the upper side so we stayed below the lock. For the day we went through 6 locks and rose 79 feet. We walked into town and checked out Kilborne’s Country store- amazing it had food, nice clothing, shoes, furniture, kitchen ware and furniture, It likely had other stuff too- I don’t think I went into all the rooms. We then stopped outside and had ice cream.
Our next stop was the Stirling Lodge where we had supper. Three of us had fish and chips, and Andy must have caught a bug—because all he wanted to do when he got back to the boat was fish. Here he is with one of his new friends.
On Sunday, we were awoken to the sound of boats- as there was a Bass tournament on the lake starting at 7am.
We went through the Newboro lock at 9 with 4 other boats,
we then passed through upper Rideau lake,
after crossing it we went through the narrows lock, which was our first lock on our downhill journey to Ottawa. After the lock we entered Big Rideau Lake, which is the largest lake on the canal. There were some very nice cottages/ houses on this lake,
once we were out of the lake we entered the Rideau River at mileage 64.5. The locks were fairly close together, we proceeded through 7 locks between 12:50 and 3:30 and only went a total of 9.9 miles.
Our last lock was Kilmarnock at mileage 53.9,
and we decided to call it quits for the day. We had a little rope mishap, that made this a requirement. I had been complaining for days that it was too hot, so once we were pulled through this lock, I got to go swimming under the boat to untangle a rope which was twisted around the prop. Quite refreshing, except that I was in swamp water rather than a lake.
We are the only ones at this lock for the night, and it’s a nice rural setting
with a couple of bull frogs providing some noise. Today’s total 9 locks and 33 .2 miles, we only have 53 miles until Ottawa.
and was entertained by the baby ducks, which were curious as to what he was doing, and kept swimming by the boat.
We also saw this boat being taken on a sea trials- they are made here at the Kingston marina by Metalcraft which is known for their fire boats, this may be for some other type of fire fight.
Saw this painted on the side of a building along the canal.
We were out of the Oswego canal and into Lake Ontario by 8:45. The water was almost like glass.
Here’s the lighthouse in the harbor and Fort Ontario from the water.
and here is the lighthouse on the tip of nine mile point.
The wind turbines were on Wolfe Island I think.
After they left we went to the Iron Duke pub for supper.
Following supper we were invited to their boat for Strawberry shortcake. We had a tour of their Great Harbour 37- amazing kitchen with a full 36 inch side by side fridge and granite counter tops. The engine room was also well designed and accessible. We met other loopers Janice and Dave from Willy Nilly who were also on the dock. Andy had brought his charts and once again shared his knowledge of Georgian Bay and the North Channel.
The lockmaster was running late, and didn’t answer our calls until about 8:10. We were Lock 5 by 8:25, the ropes at this lock were the worst yet green and slimy! We went another 3 miles to Lock 6, and was through it before 9:00. Lock 7 was only another ½ mile down the canal and we were through it by 9:20. We had opted to tie up at the free dock on the north side of the lock and were secured by 9:25.
We went in search of lunch at the Oswego Tea company, which was just up the embankment from the canal.
Here’s a view of Lake Ontario from the top of the Fort.
Locks 21 & 22 brought us down a total of 48 feet- it was nice to have a descending lock- they are much easier to manipulate. I saw a deer swim/walk across the canal just after Lock 22, but didn’t have my camera handy to get a picture. I did have the camera to capture these little ducklings that weren’t sure what to do when 2 big boats were approaching them from different directions.
this town has 4 miles of beaches as well as an amusement park with a roller coaster.
and were tied up at Winter Harbour Marina in Brewerton by 11:45.
Aaron oversees barley and malt analysis in Oneonta NY at Hartwick College, so he knew many of the participants. Andy and I wandered around and tried many samples,
We made it through Fort Plain Lock 15 by 12:50 and had contemplated tying up to the East side of the lock but the wind was brutal, so we continued on.
There was supposed to be a dock at mile 69.7, but it wasn’t there, so Andy called the St. Johnsville municipal marina.
and were in Tarry Town by 9:20, where they seem to be constructing a new bridge.
and we entered the Manasquan River. We followed the river for about 3 miles going through two more bridge, one of which was the Breille Railway bridge.
and reached the Atlantic Ocean at 7:00.
We saw a whale, but no picture, as the photographer wasn’t ready. We think this was likely a whale watching tour boat.
Cruising ON BUSINESS 