Friday, June 17, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Off for the next 6 Locks.
Hi F and F,
We left at 8.45 am today. Hydrophilic ( means a chemical attracted to water, owner is a chemist )
Came along with us also , so we could do the locks together. The waterways here remind us of our trip through the Canal du Midi in France. You could almost be in France , for sure ! Just beautiful.
Going at 8 mph,we had time to see the places and wildlife .We saw two white swans and two baby cygnets and then as we approached the first lock, we saw a magnificent bald eagle soaring in the blue skies. Turtles were sunning themselves on the rocks. The lock keeper didn't turn up til 10.30 am even though first opening is usually 10 am. Seems the locks are understaffed right now and this proved to be a problem as we continued through the next five locks. In fact with some of the locks ,the two guys were manning the second lock and went by bicycle to the third lock.
It was a bit frustrating to say the least, and made for a long day.
But the lock keepers were very friendly and for Mark and Carol it was still a great experience.
Arrived in Campbelllford at 3 pm.and tied up at the west side by the Old Mill Park.Very nice.On the East side side a large tourist boat was parked called the Kawartha Voyageur.They take up the whole lock space so we will make sure we get in front of that boat tomorrow!!
We checked out Capers, the restaurant of choice here and made a booking for the evening.
Also stopped in the the B and C Variety store for icecream and Cuban cigars! Graeme and Mark plan to smoke one out on the back deck tomorrow evening !
Mark,Carol and I then headed of for the Chocolate shop on the east side of town and the Dooher's bakery.
As we approached the Chocolate shop up the hill we were greeted with the distinct strong aroma of chocolate .The factory , next to the outlet chocolate shop was ironically not the same chocolate manufacturer.
Th outlet store sold chocolate made in Chicago! Still this didn't deter Mark who loves all things sweet and we came away with several goodies!
I then picked up some groceries on the way back to the boat. This town has all things very close by, which is an attraction when you are boating.
At 6.30 pm a local country and western singer started a concert in the park right beside us.
Everyone was out with their folding chairs and we got to enjoy hearing it from the boat.
Headed off to Capers for dinner. Mark and Graeme had two of the specials which they declared were delicious and Carol and Erica had fish and chips The batter was made with a local Pilsner beer.Also very good.
Early to bed after a hot shower .
Over and out,
Crew Lady Erica.
I
Off to the first Lock of the Trent Severn waterway
Hi F and F,
Well , the day dawned with sunshine and the promise of a good day!
After fueling up and pump out was efficiently done by two lovely University students, we were on our way.
By the way unlike USA where we do our own pump out and fueling, the Canadians insist they will do it and infact we have to be off the boat while fueling is in process!
There were already three boats In front of us , so we tied up on the side wall before the lock.
This was to our advantage , as we got to go in the lock on our own and work out the system at our leisure. As you go into the lock you grab a hanging black cable , slip your boat line behind it and bring it back to a cleat on your boat.It ford a loop that way .
Mark took the bow and Erica the stern. We were a good team .
Really helped Graeme who could concentrate on bringing the boat in and out.
We did this all through the 6 locks and again the advantage was the lock doors were open as the other boats going through ahead were able to advise the lock keepers we were right behind.
We stopped at Frankford just after the 6 th lock.we tied up in an idyllic spot with a rural setting.
A group of Canadian geese were there to greet us. We were able to hook up to power , and once we got the boat sorted , we headed off to the town with our golf clubs..
There was a par 3 , 9 hole course.Just perfect for a bit of exercise. A lot of fun including having to hit over the river that ran through the course several times!
Two of the boats that had left with us from Trenton were also docked at the same spot.
Hydrophilic and a cute red and white tug boat called Heart Tug.
Dinner on board and then relaxing and off to bed.
Over and Out
Crew Lady Erica
Monday, June 13, 2016
Trenton Super Dooper New Marina
Hi F and F,
A walk into town to start after breakfast to post office and check out the bookstore.
We left at 11 am and arrived at 1 pm.
Smooth waters most of the way til we hit the Bay of Quinte where it was as all chop and wind.
Bought the Canada's national newspaper called the Globe and Mail. Bit like USA today I imagine.
That way we can keep up with the news , horrible though some of it is! Latest is the crazy shooting in Orlando Florida at a night club with 50 people dead!!
The Trenton Port Marina as the new one is now called, is only a year old with fabulous new floating docks, upmarket bathrooms and washing facilities.
Staff are very friendly and helpful.Best marina we have seen for quite sometime.
Tonight we will do dinner on board.Still too windy and cold to be wandering about.
Just doing domestic stuff, washing , computer etc. at present.
Looking forward to starting our adventure in the TrentSevern River system tomorrow.By the time we have done 44 locks we should be pretty experienced.Mark is a great help on the boat with dockingand mechanical support and Carol is a great help in the galley.
Over and Out,
Lady Erica crew!
Picton (no not in NZ in Ontario ,Canada)
Forgot to mention Kingston is the Freshwater Sailing Capital in the World.
We left Kingston at 10 am and another easy run arriving at Noon in the quaint little town of Picton.
On the way we passed three sailboats and one power boat.Very quiet.
Jim the dock master put us on a T end dock always my favorite for tying up the boat.
Had lunch and walked into the town which was surprisingly big !
It has a long Main Street with plenty of shops,boutiques and a great book shop with Pushkin the resident cat sitting on the shop counter.
Dinner onboard tonight then reading and bed.
Over and out,
Crew on Lady Erica.
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.
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