Just Go

Sat Aug 12 through Sun Aug 20, 2017

Finally the generator was working again, thanks to Dave at Wrights Marina, and we headed out into Georgian Bay. We saw quite a few lighthouses.

Pointe au Baril

It was rather windy in the bay with 2 to 3 foot waves, so we turned into Beaverstone Inlet which is the small craft channel with more lighthouses.

Very narrow in places but the scenery was beautiful, plenty of big granite rocks, trees and clear water all the way through Collins Inlet. We went into Killarney Mountain Lodge Marina at the west end of Georgian Bay for the night. It is a small resort community with a beer store and a grill that sold fish and chips.

Beautiful pink granite rocks are everywhere

The next day we headed into the North Channel with not as many rocks but plenty of trees and lots of water.

channel light anchored in granite 

We went through the Little Current pass (with lots of current) without any problems even waiting for the swing bridge to open. It was a long day of cruising to anchor in Vidal Bay. The next day it only took 5 hours to get to Drummond Island Michigan--back in the USA!!! We checked in with Customs and spent the night at Drumond Yacht Basin Marina.

Sunset back in USA

We left Drumond Island early to head south across Lake Huron to mainland Michigan at Rogers City. Our friends Paul and Ann were waiting for us at the marina. We had traveled together as buddy boats  from Demopolis, Alabama to Madeira Beach, Florida in 2016. Paul and Ann finished the Great Loop in Jacksonsville, Florida, sold their loop boat, and went back to Rogers City. We had a great visit with them and toured Rogers City.

Paul's and Ann's new boat - a 22' C-Dory for exploring

The weather report was for the winds to increase and more rain, so we left the next morning for Mackinaw City. It was a good cruise with big swales pushing us along. At the Straits State Marina we met up with Dan and Jean on Time Out.

Big swales on Lake Huron

The marina had great wifi so we had to catch up on paying bills and relaxed the entire day. On Friday the weather was still too wild for our boats, but we got on a big ferry to visit Mackinac Island for the day. It is a very beautiful island and The Grand Hotel reminded us of the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia. Every other building was a t-shirt shop, then a fudge shop, and then a restaurant!

Beautiful houses on Mackinac Island

By Saturday the weather report was much better so there were many boats leaving the marina. We went under the Mackinaw Bridge and headed south on Lake Michigan. There was still plenty of waves and bounced us for 8 hours to Charlevoix. We had just tied up the boat at the marina and Paul and Ann arrived. We all enjoyed dinner together and caught up on the latest news. It was a great evening and great conversation!!!!

Paul, Ann, Dan, Jean, Kelly, Terri

There are quite a few Loopers here in Charlevoix and we are all staying several more days waiting for the next decent weather window to head south.

Hurry Up (and Wait)

Thurs Aug 3 to Fri Aug 11

The two weeks "on the hard" at Buckhorn wore us out! We were in a hurry to go. It feels good to be moving every day for several days then find a place to visit a town or the grocery store. That first day back on the water we went 50 miles through 3 locks. We stopped at the top of the Kirkfield Lock 36, it is another lift lock like Peterborough. I walked down the stairway around the lock and found that a road goes under the lock, pretty neat!

In the pan at Kirkfield Lock

And who would guess that we would find another telephone booth!

The historic hole in the wall bridge was nice too! 



We go through 4 locks in 10 miles then stop on the down stream side of Lock 40 to check the weather forecast for a large lake we need to cross. There are squall warnings for high gusty winds and waves 2'-4'. Way more than we can take. So we clear everything off the deck and tie down the kayak. This lock is in an isolated area and there is no water nor electric so we have to run the generator a couple times a day to keep the refrigerator cold. Looper boat Imagine This is moored at the top of the lock and we get together for docktails.

Kelly Terri Amy Chris

So after two days on the wall at the lock, the weather clears and five boats head down the river through the lock and into Lake Simcoe. The lake is calm, the sky is clear, it is warm and sunny, life is good again! We traveled 46 miles and stopped at a small government marina for the night.

We had been looking forward to the Big Chute Marine Railway--it was a great ride!

This picture shows the downhill ride

We finish the Trent Severn Waterway and head into Georgian Bay. Lots of water and a nice ride to Queens Cove Marina.  We stay there for two days because we want a mechanic to look at the generator. It seems to be putting out too much voltage. Late on the second day they finally say they do not have anyone and cannot get a generator repairman. So we travel up the bay with sunshine and small waves pushing us along. We pull in behind an island to anchor for the night. Well, the generator was putting out more smoke than we like to see! No generator. Don't open the refrigerator. Fortunately, the beer is in a cooler with lots of ice!

Lots of sunshine gets us up early. Kelly's solar panel keeps a battery charged and an invertor that will run the coffee pot! We make it to Wright's Marina in Byng Inlet and the mechanic is right there! He has the generator apart and found a pipe nipple broken on the exhaust. He can have new parts the next afternoon. And he does! And it is fixed!

Wright's Marina Byng Inlet

Nap Time

Fri July 22-Thurs Aug 3

Well it was Friday afternoon (day 2) when they pulled us back out of the water and took the boat over to the parking lot and blocked it up. At least they are letting us stay on the boat and we have enough power to run the refrigerator and fans. It is not particularly hot, so air conditioning is not needed. We are conveniently parked beside their nice restroom/shower house.  


Our new marina spot

No work on the weekend so we slept late and relaxed. Kelly really enjoyed afternoon naps and watching seaplanes!

Just a quickie!

Buckhorn Lake seaplane

It took several hours on Monday (day 5) to pull the stern tube out and it was not split at the weld. It was not centered around the shaft. Seems like it took too long to locate a new piece of pipe to replace the stern tube. On Thursday (day 8) the shaft was pulled out and it was slightly bowed and scored where it rubbed the stern tube. They happened to have a piece of material to make us a new shaft.

Stern tube with mud oozing out of the split

Well the tint on the front windshield is in bad shape and needs to be removed. What else do I have to do? Armed with the blow dryer I heated up a corner and start pulling. It came off easily, but it looks like a lot of adhesive left on the window. Using a razor blade, the corner peels off. Heat it up and another layer of film comes off. Same thing for the center window! That was easy! Years ago we removed the film from the drive station window and it was horrible mess to remove.

Much better view through the windshield

Kelly needed something to do, so here are the numbers from 11 months of travel:
4765 miles
729 engine hours
1592 gallons of diesel fuel
6.54 mph
2.99 mpg
2.18 gph
0.334 gpm

One of the regular boaters at the Buckhorn Yacht Harbour commented that we are on "Buckhorn time". Guess that means don't be in a hurry (day 11)!


Good advice

One of the mechanics came to the boat on Monday (day 12) to remove the coupling for the shaft. Uh-oh, the coupling was hiding a rotten support! Here comes the fiberglass guy.

Brand new support

On Wednesday (day 14) the mechanic starts putting it all back together. He is finished by 2 pm and loads us on the trailer. They got the blocks removed, but a big thunderstorm with lightning gets here first. Wait until tomorrow.

Did you really think I could get a picture of the lightning?

It is launch day!!! They back the trailer in the water and all the water stayed on the outside of the boat!!!! We take the mechanic for a ride so he can check everything running! He says we are good to go!!!

Goodbye Buckhorn Yacht Harbor

Here's the final work list:
new stern tube
new shaft
new coupling support
new stuffing in shaft stuffing box
new stuffing in rudder stuffing box
new annodes on rudder
new O-ring in starboard stern thruster
new annodes on both stern thrusters
work on fuel filter and primer pump

minor repair and polish the prop

BOATS: Bring out another thousand(s)

High Water

Mon-Fri July 17-21

The good part about transiting through the Trent Severn Waterway canals is that they open at 9 am. We can sleep later and still make the first lock opening! Lock 13 and the next several locks from Campbellford were only about a mile apart. There has been so much rain this spring and summer that the currents from many of the dams are still very swift. Lots of noise in Lock 15--it was the water flowing over the lock gates! Also water over the lock flight 16/17. We are surprised the locks aren't shut down; very glad the locks aren't closed like the Erie Canal.

Water overtopping Lock 15 gates

We went through lock 18  and then into Hastings Village Marina for the night and for a pumpout.  The next morning we stayed a couple extra hours at the marina to use the wifi and talk to AT&T again. Contrary to what AT&T told us before we left the states, our wifi hotspot does not work at all. My AT&T phone works most of the time, but not the wifi. AT&T is no help. So I have to depend on free wifi from the marinas.

A fish sculpture at the riverside Pices Park in Hastings

We had an excellent day cruising through Rice Lake and Otonabee River, about 37 miles without locks! The river reminds us of the upper St. Johns River in Florida--a narrow winding river, lily pads back in the coves, and trees with big bird nests--but no alligators!! 

Otonabee River

We stop at Peterborough Marina before the next series of locks. 

The fountain in Little Lake at Peterborough

Then we notice the bilge pump is really running a lot. I text some loopers that live in the area to hunt for a marina that can pull our boat out of the water. The nearest marina that can pull our boat is 32 miles and 12 locks away--can't make that in one day. Kelly checks and rechecks the bilge pumps and the high water alarms to make sure they work. Then we search for leaks. The water is coming from around the stern tube. But we had the rear seal/cutless bearing fixed last fall in Demopolis. Somebody uncrossed their fingers!

We are anxious to get going on Wednesday to the Peterborough Lift Lock. It is a lift of 65'- the highest lift lock in the world. It is a big pan and we pull in with 3 other boats. It was a smooth ride up and a great view! Thanks to looper Ron Liss for taking our picture!

Waiting to go in the Peterborough Lift Lock

Our view from the top

At the top of the lift!

We proceed through 8 locks total then pull into a small marina and campground Islandview Resort. Three big guys had to struggle to pull the boat to the dock--there is a wild current here. But at least they have electricity to make sure the bilge pumps keep running. And the bilge pumps are running even more! The next morning Kelly has the repair marina bring a big bilge pump, discharge hose and battery just in case. 

A view of the island

It is a nice 4 hour cruise through Stoney Lake. Everything is built on big rocks! 

Stoney Point

Buckhorn Marina is just past Lock 31.  The marina has a hydraulic trailer to pull us out of the water. They immediately pull off the prop and stern tube seal plate and will let everything dry out to repair it on Friday.

The next morning the weather was great for working on the boat. The marina owner loaned us his truck to go to the grocery store and then we washed the mustache from the front of the hull. 

That afternoon about 3, all the repairs are dry, they are going to launch us! We are still on the trailer, they back up about 30' and into the water. Oh no!!! It still leaks. One guy starts feeling around and discovers the stern tube is split on the bottom. We never considered this. How could this happen again? We had the stern tube replaced 10 years ago! We are IN DEEP SHIP!!!!!

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.