July 21st Lakefield to Lovesick Lake Ontario

Today was extremely hot for Canada, in the 90's with lots of humidity and even hotter down in the locks with no air.  Lakefield marina was a pleasing site, we all took a swim as soon as we tied up for the night, since the water was so refreshing I thought it a good time to give a scrub down of the hull at the waterline.  Really I just didn't want to get out of the water, one side got done anyway.  This is a great stop,  there is a butcher shop, a deli with some gourmet items as well as a Greek restaurant which we ate at all a stones throw away.  

Click on the photo for a larger view

On the lock walls as well as at this marina people can spend their vacations traveling in their small boats and camping out along the way, here 2 boats traveling together with children pitch the tents for the kids and the adults get to sleep on the boats.

90 degrees and dreaming of snow?

Private dock for your plane

Saint Peters On the Rock Anglican Church on the Hells Gate Passage.  You can only get to church by boat.

The scenery is getting prettier as we go through Hells Gate as promised,  they say this is what we have to look forward to in the Georgian Bay.

 Lock 30 (upper) Lovesick Lake Lock,  we spent the night here and the sunset was beautiful.  However, as warned in the cruising book the raccoons WILL be on your boat at night.  Make sure if you stop here to close all the hatches and windows.

The refection of the sunset on the buildings across the lake.

Jim doing double duty,  fishing and watching the sunset.

It was worth the visiting raccoons in order to have this spectacular view.

Trenton to Peterborough Ont.

Its been 5 days without Internet so here goes...

We left Trenton on Saturday morning as planned Ashley (our daughter) is now aboard.  We spent our first night on the Trent-Severn on a lock wall at lock 10,  that's alot of locking and only traveled 28 miles.  It was nice to have an extra person aboard for locking especially for the captain.  It was a nice quiet stop very isolated.

The next morning we went through locks 11 and 12 and had a quick stopover at Cambellford for ice and photo op.  We continued on and spent the night at Hastings total 8 locks for the day and again only traveled 23 miles.  We were surprised to find NautiNell on the lock wall at Hastings along with 2 other loopers, Simple Interest and Happy Hours V another nice stop.  In fact we liked it so much we spent 2 days,  they have a LCBO (Liquor Beer Store) and a few restaurants as well as 2 ice cream shops.  There is also a hardware store, bank and post office.  It was quite warm while we were there so we tested the waters,  surprisingly warm. While we were here Jim decided to get a fishing license as it is Fish haven, well it seems everywhere we are traveling.  Unfortunately the store that sells fishing licenses closed the weekend earlier so that was put off.  We then decided to take the dink down and go for a ride but the engine was acting up, Jim was lucky enough to find someone to come and pick up the motor and service it the same day so we could move on.

 The next day we crossed Rice Lake with NautiNell only 1 lock today and we landed at Peterborough on another lock wall west side of lock 19 Scott Mills.  Again a warm day requiring a dip before taking the dink down and head across Little Lake (really little) to Peterborough and tie up to NautiNell who was on a town dock in the Harbour.  We walked into town had lunch and ran into Inconceivable(Fallons) on the way back to the dink.  Since the Fallons were on their dink and ours was work really well the guys decided to have a little race.  Well, I knew they would win as they had alot less weight in their dink but .......we ended up getting swamped we got soooo wet, the PFD's inflated and Jims ego was maybe a bit bruised.  But, wait till next time when only Jim is in the dink it could be a closer race. 

This sign on the waterway informs boaters of the services available in town.

We decided to take advantage of some of the services in Cambellford

Cambellford photo op. this is a Canadian coin known as a tooney

The Canadian park service does an excellent job with the maintenance

This was really cool, the waterway goes right into town between to roads.

When the motor stalled it was not a BIG deal until... Jim turned around and saw he was drifting towards the cables that rope off boaters to the dam.

I have never seen a black squirrel before, but thats what they have here.

NautiNell was leading the way but as we were approaching a tricky and very narrow channel he let us take the lead.  What a guy! We had the charts for the area.

You never know whats around the next bend.

Jim taking a dip, the water was very warm.

Ashley on the Peterborough Trail and bike path SweetPea in the background at the marina. (the one with all the fenders hanging down) ugh!


The next morning we moved over to the marina by 9am to plug in, take on water, get a pumpout and check out the city  (Population 80,000.)  We ended up seeing the new Harry Potter movie in 3D it was really good.  We walked back to the boat, I defrosted the fridge Jim went to the grocery store for water, ice and he picked up some fish.  Their is a concert tonight at the park right off the docks so we will be entertained.  Tomorrow we will head out, the next lock awaits and it is an interesting one to say the least its a lift lock.

I almost forgot to mention our uninvited 1am visitor at Hastings.  We were woken up at 1am by a big thud in the cockpit.  We all got up, Jim yelled get off my boat!  Outside there was a very drunk young (early 20's) girl, drunk as a skunk.  She wanted to know if we could have a party.  Jim repeated his last comment, as she stumbled off the boat and back on the wall, she said you can come party with us?  Jim just said Now stay off my boat.  Later I thought maybe he should of said,  the guy down on the first boat is having a party?  But then again, maybe not.  Mike was probably asleep as well.

Trenton Ont. Canada

Still waiting for the Captain to return to Sweetpea with SweetPea, our daughter Ashley will be traveling with us for a month or so, she will be with us throughout Canada and into Michigan where she will fly out.  The boat (inside) has been rearranged to accommodate another person on board, not an easy task I might add.  But she has a full size bed, a place to keep her clothing and personal things, theres extra storage under her bed and a bookcase, with plenty of reading material and a reading light.  The thing about living on a boat is she is only 2 steps from the refrigerator and 3 steps from her bathroom (head).
The house and dog are being well taken care of in our absence so all is well.  I am hoping for them to arrive today, if not today then tomorrow for sure.

The weather has been great so far, sunny but breezy in the 80's. We had a quick shower yesterday so the humidity is wayyy down, which is good because, once we drop our lines and head out on the Trent-Severn Waterway most of our nightly stops will be on free, (sort of) docks and walls at the locks. 

We have so far, been through 23 locks on the Eastern Erie Canal of which 20 locks have raised us up a total of 372 feet and 3 have lowered us 57 feet.

On the Oswego Canal we have been through 7 locks all of which lowered us a total of 117 feet. 

The Trent-Severn is 240 miles and 43 locks and 2 lifts (more about lifts later), once we complete the Trent-Severn we will have been lifted an additional 852 feet.  And we will then be in the Georgian Bay!  WOW!  We are planning on 7 to 10 days to complete this leg of the journey to the Georgian Bay. I am figuring we will spend 20-25% of our travel time in locks.  Oh my......

                                     Nauti Nell
There goes yet another boat heading down the Trent-Severn and here I sit, waiting.

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.