Last leg of the Loop! Possibly limping home.

Here is our view as we arrive in Bying Inlet.

What an adventure! Such beautiful landscape all over the Loop and the many friends we have made on this journey. After almost ten months on the Loop, the last 100 miles we had engine problems. We coasted in on one engine into Starport Marina in Port Severn. We could not get a mechanic for two weeks. Yvon did some trouble shooting with the service manager. He made a few calls, then thankfully Yvon was able to change the impellor. We left early the next morning as we were both excited to get to Britt. Georgian Bay was like a mirror and we made the 125 km journey in one day. We should have taken the beautiful small craft route but we were anxious to be home. We arrived without a hitch early afternoon. It's nice to see familiar faces and to be in our homeport. Here's a highlight of our trip. In the last year, we saw so many beautiful places from a unique perspective that the waterfront offers. We experienced so many new adventures including our photo session in front of the Statue of Liberty and the arch of St. Louis.

We had a taste of local culture and cuisine throughout the USA and the Bahamas in so many restaurants. We learnt of the different boating styles by experiencing tides, slack tides, salt water, river currents and shifting sands. Knowing the seconds between the waves before venturing out. Sharing space with commercial traffic, sailboats and kayaks. Travelling in major waterways, small canals, numerous locks of all shapes and sizes. Relaxing in luxury marinas, or soso marinas and tying three deep on old barges all for the same price. The joys of anchoring beside mega yachts, derelic boats or runaway boats. We learnt to respect the weather forecast more then just looking at the top of trees and at the clouds. We met many people along the way. We met European boaters, some Australians and a couple who are just a few hours from us. Some were experienced boaters and many novice ones. They were all enjoying the same adventure in their own way. We made lifelong friends along the way, even a soul sister. We relied on total strangers for some much appreciated guidance along the way.

Last August, we left our home port with our hometown friends, they on their boat. We travelled for almost ten months with them. It was wonderful to share this adventure with close friends. At times we were probably the blind, leading the blind. We met people who could not believe that we were still cordial after all this time. This made us realize how special our friendship is. Sadly, we left our friends on Lil Hide Away in Trenton. We already miss them and we are awaiting their arrival. Then we can celebrate together the crossing of our Wake. Because of the late start in the season, arriving feels like we were just gone for the winter. Boats are just being launched, the diehard fishermen are out fishing. But Brooke and others were there to catch our lines and Fred to take this picture. It's official and we have witnesses. Our burgee turned to gold.

We've had to reset our radar for rocks! It is nice to be home! And to appreciate this beautiful part of North America. Having travelled the Loop, we have met so many Gold Loopers who have visited and praised our Wright's marina and Georgian Bay.

We made friends with Loopers who know our marina owners. And we travelled with these friends on and off for several weeks. II AT C Dan and Maggie are good friends now. We also said our goodbyes in Trenton but we will see them again. Sooner then later.

We are anxious to spend the summer on our playground. If you haven't seen Georgian Bay, we highly recommend you spend time in our backyard.

It's sad to stop after travelling so long. I feel like a little kid who has been playing outside but now it's time to come in. Who wants to stop playing? Where is our next adventure? We've had surprises and let downs but overall it is an adventure that we would repeat. Not tomorrow but a few years down the road. This is what the complete Loop can look like.

Heading Home

Here we are travelling in a thick fog to reach the Bay of Quinte. Well it feels bitter sweet to be leaving the USA. We have been rushing past a lot of sights but we are anxious to get home. Almost ten months away is a long time. We are missing family and friends.

Before we get home, we have another major crossing. Lake Ontario. It feels daunting because everytime I've seen it it's choppy. We had a great crossing. The water was calm but we rode in a thick fog for several hours. It didn't start that way but after thirty minutes we couldn't see anything. Not even the other two boats with us. Glad we had a radar to follow their progress and watch for other boats. It was only when we neared shore that we saw light again. The Bay of Quinte is beautiful. It was a very scenic ride onto Trenton. Trenton is at the start of the Trent-Severn waterway.

There are 45 locks ahead if us, but first we rested in Trenton. We didn't see any restaurants that appealed to us, so we went to the nearby grocery store for supper and supplies. We left the next morning at 8.30 to make the first lock. We planned to stop in Campbellford for inexpensive fuel but the pump was closed. We continued up to Hastings at Lock 18. We tied to the wall and walked to town.

The next morning we crossed Lock 18. We stopped in Peterborough for fuel. We had 60 gallons left when we arrived. Not bad but out of our comfort zone. They gave us a free icecream cone. Nice treat.

We continued to Lock 26 in Lakefield. We arrived in time to cross this last lock for the day. We tied to the wall again and walked to town for supper at the Paddle and Canoe. It was raining most of the day. I changed clothes three times because I was so wet. Glad I brought a couple of pairs of sneakers and I dug out my heavy duty raingear and rubber boots.

Because we crossed the lock the previous day, we were able to leave early to catch lock 27 as they opened at 10 am. It wasn't raining as hard but the wind was stronger. We had some nice waves on Lake Sturgeon.

Because of the short weekday hours, we didn't go as far as last two days. We stopped at Lock Fennelon Falls. We didn't make it to the top but we are ready for the ten am opening. We walked the short walk to town for supper at the Cow Sow and a small dessert at the Small Pie Shoppe. What a good day to end the day.

The following day we travelled alone thru all the locks. We stopped at the mouth of Lake Simcoe. It is the second time that we reached this point and we waited for fair weather for crossing. Strange that we are close to the end of our Loop and Lake Simcoe is the only one that has a warning sign on the Navionic Map. So if the winds are up, we stop. The next morning it was very calm. We crossed the Lake and continued to the next Lock. We stopped at Lock 42 to visit with family. We spent a lovely day visiting Wasago and Gravenhurst. This is the heart of cottage country. In the morning, we were greeted by a flock of geese. There were the two parents and the nine goslings.

This 47 feet lock is on an island and the staff go to work by boat. What a fun summer job!

The next morning we intended to complete the last four Locks. One of the highlight of the Trent is the beautiful and exciting Big Chute. It is the only lock like this in the world. It's a railway line that brings your boat over the road and into the water.

Once we crossed that lock one motor was overheating. We did some troubleshooting and then limped into the next marina on one engine. It wasn't easy but the dock hands met us and complimented us on a job well done. The rest of the afternoon was spent me in the laundry room and Yvon in the engine room. While I was washing our wet clothes. He was able to fix the boat so we are able to resume out journey in the morning. Well in the morning, we will complete the last lock on the Trent-Severn and our last this year. Next post will be the last one. Can't believe how fast it all went. Here is our journey so far.

No matter where you are, sunsets look different everyday. Here is one taken at Starport Marina in Port Severn.

Erie Canal, feels like home

Erie Canal is looking familiar to us. The locks and the scenery feels like home. This is us leaving the Erie Canal after Lock 23.

We exited the Hudson River by the Troy lock. The first stop was in Waterford. It is home to the highest set of locks in the world. We visited the town and had a nice dinner downtown. They have a nice park at the lock. The Welcome Centre was very welcoming.

We are doing twenty-three locks on this part of the canal. Now we feel almost like at home. No more saltwater, no more tides, and the vegetation is familiar. Feels like home!

Our first stop was at Riverlink in Amsterdam. The first day we did nine locks and 255 ft of elevation. They were relatively easy. We stopped right in town. The railway tracks run by here but it didn't disturb us. We had a rain day there so we explored the town. They have a beautiful park on the water's edge that extends onto a bridge. This bridge carried stagecoachs in this location. Pioneers looking for fortunes out west.

We also walked the downtown core where they have window displays in the real Amsterdam style. Their displays are more modest and only manequins.

Our second stop was in Ilion. We did eight locks and we are now up to 355 ft. elevation. We spent the night at a small marina. It is walking distance to town. It was a holiday so not much was open.

The next morning as we did our second lock we started descending. We went upto 420 feet in Rome. Now we are going down the rest of the locks until Lake Ontario.

Our third stop was in Brewerton. We stayed at Ess-Kay. It was a very friendly stop. Loved the green space there. We sat out on the grass and other boaters joined-in. We used the courtesy car to drive into town. We had a girls night out. It was our first on the Loop.

The following day, after lock 23 we turned onto the Oswego Canal. The Erie Canal continues to Lake Erie, but Luc and Sylvie's boat cannot clear the bridge. The Oswego will take us to Lake Ontario. We arrived early in the city of Oswego. We fuelled-up and are now ready for the Lake Ontario crossing. It is 55 miles of open water. We had a delicious meal right next to the marina. The following day, we visited Fort Ontario. It is built in a five point star configuration. Not certain what was the purpose of this but it is a pretty compound.

We walked in the city and they have interesting architecture. Samuel de Champlain was first to land there in 1615. And the city continued to be an important port.

Well this is our last day in the USA. This has been awesome but now we are anxiously headed home. First we must cross Lake Ontario. Let me tell you about that in my next blog. Here is our journey so far. What an adventure!