Jack and Pia's Next Great Adventure: August 2011

It has been uneventful (that's a good thing) last few weeks as we departed Peterborough on the Trent-Severn Waterway, made our way to the end of the waterway to Trenton, Ontario and waited for a good weather day to cross Lake Ontario. We have all enjoyed our time in Canada - the scenery was magnificent and the people were equally as grand. Fond memories as we hope to return in the future to explore this beautiful country again. Fortunately, we only had to wait one extra day for calm winds in Trenton and made the 80 mile trip across the lake to Oswego, NY - back into the US - on August 13th. It was another long day on the water but we enjoyed the calm seas.

We entered the Oswego Canal - a 23 mile/8 lock waterway that connects Lake Ontario to the Erie Canal. When we were on The Loop, we did not take the Erie Canal so this was a new adventure for us. The Erie Canal stretches from Waterford, NY on the Hudson River to Lake Erie in Buffalo - a total of 363 miles and 35 locks. We intercepted the Erie off of the Oswego Canal - 160 miles west of The Hudson River - and began our trip East. Although the Erie was originally created as a shipping canal connecting NY to the Great Lakes, today the majority of boat traffic is pleasure craft. Along the way, most every town on the canal has free public docks for boats to tie up for the night, many with electric hookup. We took advantage of these opportunities and spent a night in Oswego, Phoenix, Sylvan Beach, Utica, Canajoharie, and Schenectady, NY where we are now awaiting the arrival of Mike and Lynne - more friends from NC - to travel with us the remaining few miles of the Erie, down the Hudson River to NYC.

Tug used on the Trent for maintenance

Lighthouse as we departed Canada to cross Lake Ontario

We met this guy in Phoenix, NY. He built this vessel himself from plywood and now lives aboard. It took him 9 years to build, launched her last October and spent the winter in Florida. Quite an accomplishment.

Erie Canal early in the AM

We encountered this dredge across the canal one morning and had to wait as they moved her to one side so we could pass.

Typical view along the Erie Canal

This was our 200th lock counting the locks we passed on The Loop. Can't wait until we get beyond all the locks!

Deer along the Erie Canal

It has been a few weeks since our last posting because we have had limited Internet coverage and because we have really been busy - in spite of traveling on Knot Busy! A lot has happened since we left Killarney for the Georgian Bay and The Trent Severn Waterway.

The first two pictures below were taken in Killarney before we entered Georgian Bay - the first of us tied to the dock and the second of the local LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). As do a lot of towns in Canadian waters, Killarney really caters to boaters, even having a dock at the LCBO for boaters to tie to while shopping! Not sure if this is really a convenience?

Killarney with Sportsman in background

Dock at the LCBO

In order to keep this posting brief so we can include more pictures, let me recap what has happened in the last couple of weeks, some which is captured in the pictures below:

* We departed Killarney on July 18th, traveled about half way down Georgian Bay, arriving at Pointe Au Barrel inlet on the small craft route the same day. We anchored in Hopewell Bay for two nights.

* On the 20th, in heavy fog, we traveled from Hopewell Bay to Perry Sound Marina, staying two nights for some reprovisioning and sightseeing in this small waterfront village (home of the Bobby Orr Museum)

* Our plans were to be in Penatang on the south end of Georgian Bay for a Looper Gathering on the 26th - 28th of July. We departed Perry Sound on the 22nd, spent one night on anchor in Port Rawson Bay, and arrived in Penatang on the 23rd in time for the gathering on the 26th and the arrival of some friends from Charlotte on the 30th.

Pointe Au Barrel Lighthouse
(notice the barrel on the left point)

Anchorage in Hopewell Bay

* Our week in Penatang was busy with more reprovisoning, a few maintenance items on the boat, attending the Looper Gathering, and preparing for our first guests on "Knot Busy".

* On Saturday, July 30th, we drove to Toronto in a borrowed car to pick up friends and fellow boaters Ed and Faith Long from home and departed Sunday, leaving Georgian Bay to enter the Trent Severn Waterway.

* With Ed and Faith aboard, the next 6 days we traveled from Port Severn at the beginning of the Trent Savern Waterwayh to Peterborough, a distance of 140 miles and 20+ locks.

* Unfortunately, while approaching Fenlon Falls on The Trent, we experienced our first mechanical challenge on the trip and, with Ed and Faith's help, traveled the last 60 miles/10 locks on one engine - quite a challenge on a 45' vessel. However, with the help of "the crew" we were able to get to Peterborough and a diesel mechanic was able to fix the issue.

* On Saturday, August 6, Jack remained in Peterborough with the mechanic and Pia drove Ed and Faith to Toronto for their return flight to Charlotte. While in Toronto Pia also was able to visit her daughter and family for the weekend. We really enjoyed our the time we spent with Ed and Faith and look forward to seeing them soon when we arrive in Charleston.

* We will leave Peterborough on the 8th and should be at the end of the Trent Severn in a couple of days prepared to cross Lake Ontario for re-entry into the US and the Oswego Canal by the next weekend. At the end of the Erie Canal, we will be joined by more friends from home for our trip down the Hudson River to NYC. As we return to the US and better wi-fi coverage, we hope to provide blog updates more frequently.