7/24/14: After a quiet night on the wall at Lock 36 we left went through 5 locks & 2 swing bridge openings, crossed Lake Simcoe and docked at Port of Orillia Marina. The marina is located in the heart of town so we will be able to get provisions.

7/23/14: Today we went through the 2^nd & last Hydraulic Lift Lock on the Trent Severn Waterway. At Lock 21 we entered at the bottom and were taken to the top to exit. At Lock 36 we entered at the top and went to the bottom. Lock 36 was the scariest as you enter & keep going forward overlooking the edge. Wow

Lock 36 - Enter on the right and pull all the way up.

View once you are in Lock 36.

View from the front of Twelve Stones.

Once side goes down, other side goes up.

Lock 21

Lock 21 view

Leaving Lock 21

7/22/14: We spent the night on the wall north of Lock 27 so we got an early start. We went through Clear Lake and Hells Gate passage. Hells Gate passage is the channel marked between numerous Islands. As we passed through we could look ahead & behind and see each the other boats between the Islands.

After leaving Burleigh Falls Lock 28 we traveled 13 miles thought the magnificent rocky islands of Lovesick and Lower Buckhorn Lake.

At Lock 31 we said goodbye to John on Endeavor as he pulled into a marina to await a mail drop.

Lock 32 Bobcaygeon is a popular spot & was full which meant we had to anchor out. Since we all love to anchor out this was icing on the cake. We anchored out just behind Big Island. Numerous Houseboats were tied to the shore.

Houseboats anchored near us.

Steve lowered his dink and served as water taxi bring Joe and Connie over to our boat for dinner.

Steve, Connie, & Joe coming over for supper.

Right after we went to bed we were treated to a light show by a brief thunderstorm. Beautiful night on anchor.

7/21/14: Left Peterborough today and went through 7 locks, Lock 20-27. At times the wait for the locks was as much as 35-40 minutes which made our day long on hours but short on miles, only 15 NM today. 

Lockmaster opening gate by hand.

Inside A Lock

Enter, water goes out, Exit

Lock Grounds Are Beautiful

7/18/14: Up early and off across Rice Lake. The Lake was calm, thanking God for a calm crossing.

View from Hasting Lock

Calm Rice Lake

Exiting Rice Lake onto Otonabee River the scene changed from manicured canal to marshy grasslands & overhanging trees. Reminded us of the St. Johns River in Florida, minus the alligators.

Peaceful 

As we exited the Otonabee River the Scotts Mills Lock 19 was right around the corner. This lock is much smaller than previous locks but all 4 of us managed to squeeze in.

Close in the Lock

We docked at the Peterborough Marina, Peterborough, Ontario. This is a great stop for provisions. Although we didn’t really need much we all decided to wait out the weekend traffic and stay docked until Monday. Plus, there was another free concert Saturday night, again right near the boat.

Tallest Lock Yet!

7/16/14: We left Campbellford and continued through 5 locks (16.5 NM) for a night tie-up Lock 18, Hastings.  We could have gone further but the wind picked up which would have made crossing Rice Lake uncomfortable.

Hasting Wall Lock 18

Miss Hadley rafting off Twelve Stones inside a lock.

7/15/14: Today we went through Lock 8 – Lock 12. Locks 11-12 were the first of two flight locks on the Trent Severn Waterway. Flight Locks are two conventional locks joined in a sequence of locks designed to handle the large change in water level. As soon as the doors open to the first lock you enter the second lock. WOW! We docked at the Campbellford City Wall and stayed for two days.

Wall At Campbellford

Inside A Lock

Shopping, free concert (right by our boat again), and time to catch up on boat chores.

7/14/14: Today we entered the Trent-Severn Waterway. The first 6 locks close together, less than 8 miles with lock 7 about 6 miles further. Although we only went 12 NM we were beat from the locking so we tied up at Lock 7, Frankford wall.

John aboard Endeavor a Catamaran decided to join our group so we are now 4 boats strong. We had met John in the fall of 2013 at the Joe Wheeler Loopers meeting than saw him again at the Norfolk, VA meeting. Glad we caught up with him and he joined us.

John from Endeavor

Endeavor

7/12/14: Docked at Fraiser Park Marina the entrance to the Trent-Severn Waterway. We plan on staying here until Monday. 

7/11/14: We left the Murray Canal Swing bridge, headed into the Bay of Quinte, then to the entrance to the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Entering Bay of Quinte

Miss Hadley, Chesapeake, & Summerland Behind Us

We saw lots of Swans on the bay.

On 7/10/14 we left Oswego, out into Lake Ontario, and headed straight for Murray Canal, Canada a 63 NM journey. The trip started out with some waves but about 1 ½ hours into it the waters calmed and by the time we had reached the other side of the lake it was almost flat. Thanking the Lord for a safe and beautiful crossing.

A Calm Lake Ontario

Quarantine Flag going up as we enter Canadian Waters.

When tied off at the wall of the 1^st swing bridge on the Murray Canal.  Row & Gus aboard Summerland arrived shortly after us and tied-up as well. We had a great cookout & enjoyed the beautiful park grounds at the bridge.

The Captains Awaiting Customs Check-In

Cooking out & enjoying the park at the Swing Bridge wall.

The next  morning Russ cooked a delicious breakfast for us all before we got underway.

We saw this Eagle along the way. I think he was just telling us goodbye as we made plans to leave America. 

7/9/14:  Yesterday we left Phoenix ,NY on the Oswego Canal. We went through 7 locks and docked at the Oswego Marina.  About two hours after we docked a storm came through clocking winds of 30+ mph.  The National Weather Station reported that Manitto (one of the locks we came through earlier) clocked gust up to 70 mph. Thanking God for providing us a safe harbor.

We spent today catching up on laundry, washing the boat, filling up water, etc. all in preparation for leaving tomorrow and heading to Canada.

Once we are in Canada we will have limited use of the internet. So updates will not frequent. However our SPOT Location under the ‘Current Location’ tab should continue to update. So you will be able to keep up with our location. 

7/3/14: We are still at Phoenix awaiting a weather window to cross Lake Ontario & head into Canada. We hope to cross 7/6/14. Once we cross into Canada I will only be able to update the blog when we find free Wi-Fi.  So keep checking back.

7/1/14: Today we completed the eastern section of the Erie Canal and entered the Oswego Canal. We passed by the popular tourist town of Sylvan Beach and the crossed Oneida Lake. We docked just before Lock 1 hone of the “Bridge House Brats” in Phoenix, NY. The Bridge House Brats is an organization that helps local kids. For tips the kids will deliver meals from local restaurants, escort you to local stores & help carry provisions. They also maintain the dock grounds. Great program.

6/30/14: Only 2 locks, 23NM, and then tied up at the free city dock in Rome.

Below are some of the things you will see along the Erie Canal.

6/29/14: Through Lock 14 & 18. We went to the Ilion Marina. What a charming place. Its an easy tie-up along the wall, free pump-out, and a small onsite hamburger restaurant. The burgers were the best.

Along the way there are Guard Gates that are used to control the water depth and dams that are very close to the canal.

Guard Gate

Lock 17 was rather impressive. 

It’s the highest lift lock 

on the Erie and the gate is

 lifted above the boat.

Entering Erie Canal Lock 17

Inside Erie Canal Lock 17

6/28/14:  Today we went through Lock 9 – 13 a slow 31.2 NM. We stopped just east of Lock 14 at the city docks in Canajoharie which offer free docking & electric. Lock 10 was a heck of a ride, the current was wicked.  

Canajoharie Free City Dock

6/27/14: Erie Canal: We left Waterford Welcome Center, went through 7 locks, traveled 22 NM, and tied up at Lock 8 (Scotia) wall for the night. Cindy & Joe aboard Chesapeake have now joined our caravan.

Russ working the ropes inside a lock.

6/25/14: We arrived at the Waterford Welcome Center, Waterford, NY the entrance to the Erie Canal. It seems like it has taken forever to get here.  The Welcome Center offers free docking with free electric, showers, & restrooms. The volunteers that run the center have free information about local attractions as well as valuable information about the Erie Canal.

When we arrived at the Center Cindy & Joe aboard Chesapeake were docked. We had spent some time with Joe & Cindy at Delaware City Marina earlier in June awaiting a good weather window before we all crossed the Delaware Bay.