Gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway

      Oh Canada!

The Captain abandoning ship?  Off to Massachusetts, WOW!  he left me in Canada.  See you in a few days.

This is the view from the sundeck here at Frazier Park Marina.

Here I will wait.

 Leaving Picton Harbour

                                                         
  Snake Island for the birds

                                                                   Trenton

This is the view (from the bow) Jim left me to look at while he returns home.

Kingston Ontario Canada July 9th

A resturant in Kingston all decked out with beautiful hanging baskets

the AGLCA burgee along with the Canadian courtesy Flag that we can now fly since clearing customs.

A swing band playing a free concert at the city hall outside.

There are many beautiful historical building in Kingston

The Visitors Welcome Center just outside the Marina and adjacent to the public park and downtown.

Downtown Kingston

This is a pub and brewery

Saturday in the park was the Taste of Kingston with all kinds of live entertainment, food and fun.

Also on Saturday at the City Hall area was the farmers market, live plants, fresh flowers,veggies, fruit, fresh breads and pasties as well as crafters.

Some of what goes on in the Kingston Harbor.

I am told they build these fire boats here in Kingston.

Jim was up and out early Saturday morning, well before I had my morning pot of coffee.  When he returned he had bought this bunch of flowers for me, how sweet.  Who knows what kind of flowers they are????  Anyone?

This is a vendor at the farmers market with his fresh fruits and veggies,  a table full of fresh berries. Tomorrow we are off again , on to Trenton Ontario the Gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway. 

Crossing Lake Ontario entering Kingston July 8th and 9th

SweetPea docked at Winter Harbour Marina in Brewerton, NY they have 2 courtesy cars and a fantastic supermarket here, as well as West Marine, Walmart, Target etc.

Out for a joy ride!

Stopped in Phoenix just long enough to take pictures and wait for the lock to open.

Another nice lighthouse in NY, this one is located as you are entering Lake Ontario

About half way across Lake Ontario Jim broke out the quarantine flag which is required to flag as you enter Canada,  after you check in with customs you are then given a number to display on your boat which is your clearance #, you can then take down the quarantine flag and put up your Canadian courtesy flag.

Just as we were making the starboard turn to Kingston we got a call from the Canadian Welcome wagon.  They gave us a light show and everything, it really made us feel special.

Just a safety check Life jackets, flares, a few questions and ID.  They then wished us a nice and safe trip.

This is our first glimpse at Kingston, pretty nice ay?  I highly recommend a day or 2 here, and if you need Canadian charts or cruising guides this is a good place to get them.  The Confederation Basin is also recommended as to where to stay, its located in the downtown, right off the dock.

Heading into Canada

July 8th

We spent a couple days at Winter Harbour marina making sure everything is good for a crossing of Lake Ontario into Canada.  All Boat issues have been addressed to the Canadian standards.
We are now down to the Legal amounts of tobacco, plants etc.  Jim tossed my herb planter as it was too big to really sneek though if we are boarded, and the boat we are traveling with took the excess cigars  (the 2nd humidor) on their boat as they had no tobacco products.  So hopefully we will have no issues entering the country.  We believe we have all the proper documentation and other stickers, passes and paper work needed to clear customs. The postings will be fewer and pictures very limited while we are in Canada.

July 8th and  9th

We made the crossing on Lake Ontario and just as we were calling the Confederation Basin a boat with BLUE lights flashing was coming towards us......not a good sign.  We needed to show passports, and flares lifejackets etc.   All was good and on our way we went.  Customs was a phone call, answer the questions, show some ID and we were assigned our customs number.  Down came the quarentine flag and up went the Canadian flag, all is good.  We are now in Kingston for the Taste of Kingston thats happening this weekend, as well as the farmers market.  Tomorrow we head out with our newly purchased charts and books for cruising the Trent-Severn.  The plan is to anchor out tomorrow but we are not exactly sure where yet.

Happy 2nd 3rd and 4th of July from NY

We spent 5 days in Sylvan Beach NY, seemed like a good place of the long weekend.  Jim decided to take the dinghy down and go for a ride.

Mike and Twyla came for a visit on their new wheels.

All dressed up!  Its happy hour and dinner out tonight.

July 3rd Capt. Chappy's Birthday!  It took all he had to blow out that candle.

July 4th on the Free wall,  fireworks tonight, a busy place indeed.  Better people watching than an airport.

The amusement park at the beach.

That little opening there is the entrance to the back cove, that is where our slip for the weekend is, good thing those branches were flexible there wasn't much room for SweetPea to fit in. 

This little tug was built with 10 sheets of plywood then fiber glassed it.  Cute isn't it he named it Moby Dick.

Goodbye to Sylvan Beach. 

Crossing Lake Oneida , NautiNell behind us.

Today was a short day, crossed the Lake (20 miles) and we were at our next destination, Winter Harbor, fueled up, pumped out and in our slips for the night.  They have a courtesy car here so out for dinner tonight and oil changes all around tomorrow morning.   And Jim has to put a new impeller on the outboard. 

Steamboats-Debris-docking on lock wall

Coming out of a lock we saw a dozen of these small steamboats waiting to lock down

They are heading to Waterford visitors center for a steam boaters weekend for the 4th

Here is the Great Grand Daddy of Steamers.   110 year old steam tug Urger leads the flotilla,  flagship of the New York State canal system.

Some of the larger debris, you really need to stay alert! It could really ruin your day.

Inconceivable, Sunset2 and SweetPea waiting on Lock 19 to open the gates, it took some time as the lock master was trying to get some major debris out of the lock.

The New York Canal workers are trying to keep up with the removal.

 Inconceivable and SweetPea on the lock wall for the night.

 Heading into the largest single lift 40' with only ropes to hold onto it was work to keep the boat on the wall.

Its a tough job but someone has to do it.  The locks with a pipe or cable are the easiest, the captain enters the chamber and I wrap a line around the pipe, (in this one) and you enjoy the ride up in this case.  Having a line wrapped on a pipe keeps the boat on the wall as there are other boats in the lock with you just hold on and let line out as you reach the top.

You never know what you will see when you reach the top.  It is usually a visitors center or park where people come and watch the boats locking though.  The grounds are very well kept and some have beautiful historical buildings with picnic tables.  Some have walls before or after for you to tie up to and many you can spend the night if you wish too.  FREE no power or water but that is what the generator is for, the lock masters are very helpful and friendly.