August 21-25

 We locked through at about 10:30 Sunday and proceeded to cross Pigeon Lake and then into Buckhorn lake.  Lots of house boats around, because Bobcaygeon is the houseboat capital of Ontario.  We arrived at Buckhorn before 2:00, and there were houseboats everywhere. One houseboat came in and parked behind us with very little dock space , so that their second rope had to be tied to a tree.  There was a perfectly large spot farther up, but the inexperienced driver was afraid to go there.  Andy was asked to move the boat for them, but he declined as his name wasn’t on the contract.

On Monday Andy called Buckhorn Yacht harbour to confirm that they were expecting us.  We traveled the 1.2 miles to the marina and tied up west of the gas dock.  In the afternoon, we started disassembling the upper canvas and radar arch, and removed the electronics.  The boat looks quite different without the upper canvas.The boat will be put up on the hard here, and any items that could be damaged by freezing needs to be taken off the boat. I cleaned the stove and oven and de-frosted the freezer.

On Tuesday we did more cleaning and packing.  Andy walked to town to by supplies for wrapping up the cushions and mattresses, he also admitted that he stopped for a Kawartha treat.  I visited with Pam on Our Panacea Dream, we had met in Couchiching, Buckhorn Yacht Harbour is their home marina. We went for dinner with Pam and Stan to Jesse’s Tap & Grill in Ennismore. We then stopped for ice cream. Wednesday  morning the water was like glass, when the sun came up,  but the wind picked up as the day progressed.Our day  consisted of more packing, and cleaning, and wrapping up cushions in plastic.    Brian Vermeersch stopped by at 5:00, and took a bunch of buckets and bags of stuff that is destined for Winnipeg.  He will store the stuff until Andy comes back with the car.  Brian gave us a ride into Buckhorn, and Andy and I went to the Cody Inn for dinner.  We then walked back the 2 Km to the Marina, after stopping for our last  dish of Kawartha Ice cream.   A couple from another boat at the marina dropped by and took a look at our trawler and asked some questions about the Great Loop.  On Thursday  we finished packing what we were taking home,as well as stuff to be stored.  I emptied out the fridge and unplugged it.  We weren’t sure if we would be pulled out this afternoon, or if they will wait until we are gone.  Brian and Helen are picking us up tonight after 5 and will be driving us to Hamilton.

On Friday we will be flying home on NewLeaf;  http://www.GoNewLeaf.ca it is Canada’s new ultra-low-cost air travel company.  It is based out of Winnipeg, and only flies to smaller centres.  You pay a base fee and then everything else is extra.  We’re flying out of Hamilton for $179—can’t beat that cheapest I found on Air Canada was $356 from Toronto, and West jet doesn’t have direct flights from Hamilton, like they did in 2012 when Andy was working there.  Andy booked the flights so I’m really hoping we have no issues, like I had in May when I flew in and out of Philadelphia.

My next posting will be from home  Winnipeg!  It is hard to believe that we lived On Business for the past 10 months.  We’ll miss the boat, but know that she will be well taken care of at Buckhorn Yacht Harbour, and we’ll be back next summer to cruise some more!