6-19-14
Ottawa to Long Island Lock.
We started the day by walking around some more and then headed up river. Had no idea what to expect so we just putted along and got to Long Island lock. The scenery was great. From right downtown through the canals into the country side. Small canal in spots with bikers and hikers right along the canal.
We were almost taken by pirates but managed to get away. Managed to get in a big AARRRRR as we sped away.
We were almost taken by pirates but managed to get away. Managed to get in a big AARRRRR as we sped away.
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| These guys were way up on top of a stadium roof. You know construction workers are going to wave at LeHooker when she strolls by. |
It was a very cool ride. Once again the weather was perfect. We got to the Long Island Lock and called it home for the day. We went all of 15 miles. Whew. Now we were out of town and in the country side. We cooked out on the boat and this fellow named John stopped by in a small boat and chatted with us for a while. Before dark a couple in a sailboat pulled up and they were behind us on the wall in Ottawa. They camped out with us on the wall.
We would see them several more times on the trip down, errr up at this point. The lock had a nice park and dock area. It was a nice place to stay.
6-20-14
Long Island Lock to Merrickville
We got going in the morning and John had told us that this was a long stretch of the canal with no locks. We got to Merrickville and went to the top side of the lock to stay in the "pool". We walked into town and it was a great little spot to hang out. Had supplies and the all important ice cream parlor. It was a great little town right on the river. Went to a local store famous for there stuff and they had homemade meatloaf and mash taters already made up. We got 2 and had one for dinner and saved the other.
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Saw another great sunset. It was a beautiful day.
6-21-14
Merrickville to The Narrows Lock
We needed to do some shopping so we got off to Smith Falls cause there was a Wally World and a Canada Tire, a big hardware store, within walking distance from the lock pool in town. Got our stuff and headed to the Narrows lock for the night. When we got there it was full of boats. Apparently that is the spot for the locals to hang out for the weekend. The lock separates a couple large lakes and there is a lot of boat traffic out. The weather is great and people are out. We had to tie up to the blue line cause it was the only place to park. We talked to the lock master and he said fine. The Blue Line is a painted portion of the wall that is reserved for boats locking through. Met a couple from Georgia doing the Triangle Loop on a sailboat. The skeeters came out pretty good so we huddled up in the boat and called it a day.
6-22-14
The Narrows to Davis Lock
Before we locked through, we went back into the lake a couple miles to check out Colonel By Island which had a Parks Canada Park on it and supposedly had new docks and everything. It would have been a nice place to stay. Walked around for a bit and then headed for Westport past the Narrows lock. Everybody we talked to said we must see Westport, so we did. It was a nice little town at the end of the lake. After we strolled around for a while we decided to go to Davis Lock. Someone said it was a quiet place to stay. I like quiet. We got to Davis lock and there was only 1 other boat on the wall. I think we found the perfect spot. We got down Lil Hooker and went exploring Opinicon Lake which had several little bays and islands to see.
Managed to find the local teenagers swimming hole. We got back and I decided to clean the outside port side of the boat from the dinghy. It was time for a swim when I got finished so we jumped into the river and swam for a bit. There was current headed towards the spillway about 50 yds away so you couldn't just float or away you went.
This was an awesome little spot.
6-23-14
Davis Lock to Jones Falls.
We got our day started by cleaning and washing the top side of the boat and after that we went for another swim. Finally pulled out and had to wait for 3 boats coming out of the lock and looked back and had 2 stacked up behind us. Traffic jam all of a sudden. Got into the lock and another big boat showed up. The lock was full at this point. We locked through several locks with them and come to find out the last boat in we had seen at the Narrows and the guy had taken our picture on the flight locks in Ottawa. Small canal after all.
We ended up at the bottom of Jones Falls Lock with the "Out and About 4 Ever" boat and shared the lock wall with them. I decided to go fishing but didn't have a pole so I used my bare hands.
Held an old piece of bread barely in the water and the little rascals were like piranhas. They were so thick you could just grab them. When I cleaned the dinner pot in the water the little guys would just swim right into the pot.
6-24-14
Jones Falls to Kingston
Woke up to the pitter patter of rain on the hatch and decided to just stay in bed. Oh yea. Finally got up and it looked like a drizzly kinda day. We got started by cruising up into Morton Bay, which was another local favorite, and it was a really cool place with high rock walls on each side. We got there and the mosquitos greeted us so we didn't stay long. It was still drizzly at this point so we just putted back out and down river where we saw the Out and About 4 Ever boat and followed them down to the Lower Brewers Lock where they were staying for the day. The ride from Lower Brewers to Kingston was a windy affair with it hitting us head on. Part was through a large looking lake but the channel was narrow. Stumps were showing everywhere and some logs were headed downstream from all the high water. We locked through the 4 flight locks at Kingston Mills and the lock master said it was quite choppy ahead and if we wanted to "brave the chop in the bay", Kingston wasn't far. I just chuckled and said I think we would be ok. Our picture taking at this point was kind of slacking. I blame Wendy. The rain and windy, oops, wind didn't help. Well, as we approached Kingston Wendy called Kingston Marina to get a slip for the night and the guy on the phone kept asking if she was sure she called the right place. Should have got the hint. We pulled into the marina and oh boy, what the heck. 2 guys greeted us and got us into a slip. It was a working marina that looked like well, a working marina. Apparently we had pulled into the wrong place, we thought. After talking to them we found out that they were an actual working marina. Meaning they actually did stuff not just dock your boat. And come to find out they actually build Fire Boats here. Say what. Awesome.
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He showed us some cool stuff and it was a really nice stay. It was right in the downtown area so we walked into town and checked out the sights. They had some fire boats in the big buildings that we could not take pictures of and several FD guys were there checking out there new boats. We walked over to the "real" marina area and people were every where. We were in a quieter spot, I like quiet. We accidentally found a cool spot. The rains came again so we crashed out early.
6-25-14
Kingston to Trenton
After a long nights sleep we awoke to light rain and a little wind. Did a weather check and it look like another drizzly day with some wind. Options were to stay put and be stuck on the boat or be stuck on the boat and run to Trenton, the start of the Trent-Severn. We chose to run to Trenton. The wind was actually a tail wind so that is even better and it only lightly rained till we got about half way and a heavy mist/fog appeared. We ran most of the way but putted through the rain and had lunch on the run. Got to Trenton about 12:30 and the weather cleared. Nice thing about cruising at 30mph, we can get somewhere early enough to still be able to see the town. Went to a couple stores and did some shopping. Met a couple from Virginia that were on the loop and they built there own 28' boat, the De De, for it. Almost like a little tug but with an outboard. Cool looking ride. We stayed at the Frazier Park Marina and they were super nice people.
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| The word was out. LeHooker shows up, she passes out bread. Kind of backwards. |
We would see them several more times on the trip down, errr up at this point. The lock had a nice park and dock area. It was a nice place to stay.
6-20-14
Long Island Lock to Merrickville
We got going in the morning and John had told us that this was a long stretch of the canal with no locks. We got to Merrickville and went to the top side of the lock to stay in the "pool". We walked into town and it was a great little spot to hang out. Had supplies and the all important ice cream parlor. It was a great little town right on the river. Went to a local store famous for there stuff and they had homemade meatloaf and mash taters already made up. We got 2 and had one for dinner and saved the other.
6-21-14
Merrickville to The Narrows Lock
We needed to do some shopping so we got off to Smith Falls cause there was a Wally World and a Canada Tire, a big hardware store, within walking distance from the lock pool in town. Got our stuff and headed to the Narrows lock for the night. When we got there it was full of boats. Apparently that is the spot for the locals to hang out for the weekend. The lock separates a couple large lakes and there is a lot of boat traffic out. The weather is great and people are out. We had to tie up to the blue line cause it was the only place to park. We talked to the lock master and he said fine. The Blue Line is a painted portion of the wall that is reserved for boats locking through. Met a couple from Georgia doing the Triangle Loop on a sailboat. The skeeters came out pretty good so we huddled up in the boat and called it a day.
6-22-14
The Narrows to Davis Lock
Before we locked through, we went back into the lake a couple miles to check out Colonel By Island which had a Parks Canada Park on it and supposedly had new docks and everything. It would have been a nice place to stay. Walked around for a bit and then headed for Westport past the Narrows lock. Everybody we talked to said we must see Westport, so we did. It was a nice little town at the end of the lake. After we strolled around for a while we decided to go to Davis Lock. Someone said it was a quiet place to stay. I like quiet. We got to Davis lock and there was only 1 other boat on the wall. I think we found the perfect spot. We got down Lil Hooker and went exploring Opinicon Lake which had several little bays and islands to see.
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| Hmm. Wonder how it got it's name. |
This was an awesome little spot.
6-23-14
Davis Lock to Jones Falls.
We got our day started by cleaning and washing the top side of the boat and after that we went for another swim. Finally pulled out and had to wait for 3 boats coming out of the lock and looked back and had 2 stacked up behind us. Traffic jam all of a sudden. Got into the lock and another big boat showed up. The lock was full at this point. We locked through several locks with them and come to find out the last boat in we had seen at the Narrows and the guy had taken our picture on the flight locks in Ottawa. Small canal after all.
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| Down the flight locks at Jones Falls |
We ended up at the bottom of Jones Falls Lock with the "Out and About 4 Ever" boat and shared the lock wall with them. I decided to go fishing but didn't have a pole so I used my bare hands.
Held an old piece of bread barely in the water and the little rascals were like piranhas. They were so thick you could just grab them. When I cleaned the dinner pot in the water the little guys would just swim right into the pot.
6-24-14
Jones Falls to Kingston
Woke up to the pitter patter of rain on the hatch and decided to just stay in bed. Oh yea. Finally got up and it looked like a drizzly kinda day. We got started by cruising up into Morton Bay, which was another local favorite, and it was a really cool place with high rock walls on each side. We got there and the mosquitos greeted us so we didn't stay long. It was still drizzly at this point so we just putted back out and down river where we saw the Out and About 4 Ever boat and followed them down to the Lower Brewers Lock where they were staying for the day. The ride from Lower Brewers to Kingston was a windy affair with it hitting us head on. Part was through a large looking lake but the channel was narrow. Stumps were showing everywhere and some logs were headed downstream from all the high water. We locked through the 4 flight locks at Kingston Mills and the lock master said it was quite choppy ahead and if we wanted to "brave the chop in the bay", Kingston wasn't far. I just chuckled and said I think we would be ok. Our picture taking at this point was kind of slacking. I blame Wendy. The rain and windy, oops, wind didn't help. Well, as we approached Kingston Wendy called Kingston Marina to get a slip for the night and the guy on the phone kept asking if she was sure she called the right place. Should have got the hint. We pulled into the marina and oh boy, what the heck. 2 guys greeted us and got us into a slip. It was a working marina that looked like well, a working marina. Apparently we had pulled into the wrong place, we thought. After talking to them we found out that they were an actual working marina. Meaning they actually did stuff not just dock your boat. And come to find out they actually build Fire Boats here. Say what. Awesome.
.JPG) |
| Apparently the taxpayers of Seattle do not know they are getting a new fire boat. Oops, did we say that out loud. |
He showed us some cool stuff and it was a really nice stay. It was right in the downtown area so we walked into town and checked out the sights. They had some fire boats in the big buildings that we could not take pictures of and several FD guys were there checking out there new boats. We walked over to the "real" marina area and people were every where. We were in a quieter spot, I like quiet. We accidentally found a cool spot. The rains came again so we crashed out early.
6-25-14
Kingston to Trenton
After a long nights sleep we awoke to light rain and a little wind. Did a weather check and it look like another drizzly day with some wind. Options were to stay put and be stuck on the boat or be stuck on the boat and run to Trenton, the start of the Trent-Severn. We chose to run to Trenton. The wind was actually a tail wind so that is even better and it only lightly rained till we got about half way and a heavy mist/fog appeared. We ran most of the way but putted through the rain and had lunch on the run. Got to Trenton about 12:30 and the weather cleared. Nice thing about cruising at 30mph, we can get somewhere early enough to still be able to see the town. Went to a couple stores and did some shopping. Met a couple from Virginia that were on the loop and they built there own 28' boat, the De De, for it. Almost like a little tug but with an outboard. Cool looking ride. We stayed at the Frazier Park Marina and they were super nice people.
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