Canada, Eh!

Monday-Sunday, July 10-17

We departed Oswego, NY mid-morning to try to take advantage of less wind in the afternoon going across Lake Ontario. We were estimating that it would take us about 6 hours for the crossing. There were 4 of us cruising as a group even though we were spaced out over several miles. 

Oswego Lighthouse

The winds never calmed down. They stayed 10 to 20 knots from the southwest which produced waves of 2 to 4 feet on our beam. We were wallowing and rocking and rolling. But if that wasn't bad enough, biting flies found us about 30 miles out in the middle of the Lake! We could not kill enough of them. Thank goodness when we got close to land, they got off the boat minus the ones we managed to swat!

We pulled into a nice cove with a mooring field. Caught the lead on the first time, but I didn't have my line ready. Even managed to hook it a second time and tied the boat to it!

The very next thing to do was to call Canadian Customs. Well we tried Kelly's phone--no service! But my phone worked!! Kelly answered a few basic questions about us, then verified we did not transport guns aboard the boat. Our confirmation number must be displayed in the window during our visit to Canada.

On Tuesday we departed  at 6 a.m. to cruise the Bay of Quinte (qwin-tay) to Trenton Port Marina. A very new and nice marina with great wifi, free laundry, and fantastic showers. So we stayed 2 days.

All 4 boats were tied up on the blue line before the locks on the Trent Severn Waterway opened at 9 a.m. on Thursday. We only traveled 8 miles that day, but we went through 6 locks. Most of these locks are hand-opened, so lots of going around in circles for these summer students working for the Canadian Parks System.

On Friday we traveled 24 miles through 6 more locks! Locks 11 and 12 were a flight--meaning we went out of lock 11 directly into lock 12! Wow, really different than the locks on the Ohio River. We stopped in Campbellford and paid for 2 nights and got 1 night free.

On Saturday Kelly had a mechanic bring us a new battery and check the alternator. The new battery solved the slow starting of the motor. And that left me free to visit the farmers market! Beets and carrots and organic fed pork--oh my!!!  Only 1 block to Dooher's Bakery!!! And 1/2 block to the liquor store!!! And we had front row seats for the classic and collectible boat parade!

 Campbellford is a great little town. The the person who designed the Canadian $2 coin (a Toonie) is from Campbellford. A giant replica is in the park.