Start of the trip from Alexandria Bay to Sarasota

H Family and Friends, ( to be called F and F in future blogs)

Well a few days late due to poor internet connections! A cruisers nightmare if you are hooked to your 

I pad!!,

We left Sarasota Friday 3rd June, flew up to New York with my brother Mark and wife Carol joining us from NZ .

In New York we had family time and a wonderful Baptism for Sebastian our first grandchild.

Hired a car in NYC and made our way to Niagara Falls for a night and had a fun time .In the  Casino Graeme managed to win $ 180 on the number 9 at the roulette wheel, to pay for our dinner.

In the morning we did the famous Maid in the Mist boat ride.They take you right up close to the Falls .Hence the need for the blue plastic ponchos! Boat was choked full of tourists , many from Asia and India.

Tuesday 7 th June we headed to the boat which had come out of its winter storage in Alexandria Bay.

We spent the next few days there getting boat ready, provisions and last minute repairs done.

Always something on a boat! Turns out the carbon monoxide alarms only last up to five years and as Lady Erica will be five years old soon! They needed to be replaced.

Also a bigger item needed to be UPS 'ed to the boat as we didn't have any power in any of the outlets so couldn't even make tea or coffee or run the microwave.

Had fun exploring the area of Alex Bay with Mark and Carol , also the use of the rental car was great as there was a PriceChopper Supermarket nearby where we could get everything. We played 9 holes of golf across the road form the marina and also visited the Bolt Castle and Yacht club which is famous in the area.Alexandria Bay has a small town with lots of tourist stores and a nice coffee shop  and wine store.Graeme and Mark returned the rental car inWatertown Up State NY at 10 am June 10 th

By Midday 10 th June  all was fixed and we left the 1,000 Islands Club Marina around 1.30 pm .

We headed to Kingston , Ontario  in Canada. An easy short trip of 2 hours and we docked at the Confederation Basin Marina which sits on the edge of the town.Very convenient !

11 th June  we had a full day in Kingston and took the Hop On Hop Off Trolley and explore the city.

Kingston was marked to be the capital of Canada, but lost out to Ottawa.It is a wonderful University city with Queens University and the Royal Military College being the most prestigious .

We also enjoyed Canada's Penitentiary Museum. Very well done.

So far the weather has not cooperated Been really cold and windy so we have had to wear our winter clothing. At least the boat is cozy and warm!

Over and Out,

Erica and Graeme.