2022 cruising, So Where are You Going?

[BandB]

Thankless jobs are what you make of them. No reason to not treat people well. Just Sayin’

Yes, what is this a response to? Please people, let us know what post you're responding to. While this post makes sense, I don't have any idea why it's here. I'm sure I'm missing something, so clue me in, please.

 

[BruceK]

...Entering Canada was entertaining, but basically a nothing burger. The people answering the phone (at least mine) could use a spoonful of "goodwill toward man" , but that's behind me (probably a thankless job)...Ted

My guess for the basis of Eagle Pursuit`s post. Commiseration,not criticism?

 

[BandB]

My guess for the basis of Eagle Pursuit`s post. Commiseration,not criticism?

Good guess. In response to that post. I had no idea.

 

[twistedtree]

Just cleared the fog bank and got a good view of Fairweather

 

[O C Diver]

Thankless jobs are what you make of them. No reason to not treat people well. Just Sayin’

To be clear, I appreciate the job he did for me and had all my paperwork ready to make it as quick and painless as possible. By 4pm, I'm sure he had a day full of people who had been waiting on hold for 30 minutes, didn't have their paperwork together, and were ready to give him an ear full for being on hold. It takes determination to approach each new caller with professional courtesy after dealing with the last PIA.

Ted

 

[BandB]

Well I'm at the Kingston Marina. No joy on the pumpout, but no worries. A trip to Food Basics has me replenished and ready to head out in the morning.

Entering Canada was entertaining, but basically a nothing burger. The people answering the phone (atleast mine) could use a spoonful of "goodwill toward man" , but that's behind me (probably a thankless job).

The trip across was arduous. Winds gusted to 8 knots at times with a following sea that was almost measurable.

Ted

A bit jealous of you, Ted, as last time we did our loop the same year. We're cruising the East Coast and having a great time, but watching you loop again reminds us how much fun it is and makes us look forward to next year even more.

 

[Cartouche]

Well I'm at the Kingston Marina. No joy on the pumpout, but no worries. A trip to Food Basics has me replenished and ready to head out in the morning.

Entering Canada was entertaining, but basically a nothing burger. The people answering the phone (atleast mine) could use a spoonful of "goodwill toward man" , but that's behind me (probably a thankless job).

The trip across was arduous. Winds gusted to 8 knots at times with a following sea that was almost measurable.

View attachment 129097

Ted

Thought as much re the pump out, Browns Marina, at Chaffey's should be open and if not Indian Lake after Chaffey's cut just before Narrow passage)has a super new rig. Both just charge a fortune though. Sorry I missed you But my Sweet wife took a picture of you tied up at the crane,, I think I saw you at Kingston Yacht club, mighty fine looking vessel

 

[O C Diver]

A bit jealous of you, Ted, as last time we did our loop the same year. We're cruising the East Coast and having a great time, but watching you loop again reminds us how much fun it is and makes us look forward to next year even more.

Glad you're having a good time on the coast. After a beautiful crossing day, I'm now enjoying a wonderful low humidity breezy day on the Rideau.

More in the next post.

Ted

 

[O C Diver]

Thought as much re the pump out, Browns Marina, at Chaffey's should be open and if not Indian Lake after Chaffey's cut just before Narrow passage)has a super new rig. Both just charge a fortune though. Sorry I missed you But my Sweet wife took a picture of you tied up at the crane,, I think I saw you at Kingston Yacht club, mighty fine looking vessel

Well thank you.

For those that may be wondering I'm at the Upper Brewers Locks #43. I put in an early reservation and was able to secure this dock with electric and idyllic nature setting, all for myself. I'm told it gets busier later in the summer.



The locks are smaller and more challenging if you're going solo. The people manning the locks are fabulous. Draft is very important and they needed to fill the locks completely so that Slow Hand could clear the sill plate. The first 2 locks had less than a foot of sides left, so the fenders were useless. Two employees held the boat off the side until it was time to move into the next lock. Couple of pics from the first flight:





Ted

 

[Cartouche]

Well thank you.

For those that may be wondering I'm at the Upper Brewers Locks #43. I put in an early reservation and was able to secure this dock with electric and idyllic nature setting, all for myself. I'm told it gets busier later in the summer.

View attachment 129116

The locks are smaller and more challenging if you're going solo. The people manning the locks are fabulous. Draft is very important and they needed to fill the locks completely so that Slow Hand could clear the sill plate. The first 2 locks had less than a foot of sides left, so the fenders were useless. Two employees held the boat off the side until it was time to move into the next lock. Couple of pics from the first flight:

View attachment 129117

View attachment 129118

Ted

you got my dock we will be there Wednesday, Wait till you transit Jones Falls they will have you sign a waiver before leaving the 3rd lock. looks very peaceful have a great trip,

 

[bowball]

Spent some time recently talking to the captain of Tony Fleming’s yacht Venture. They are off for another four month trip to Alaska. Hopefully a great video comes out of it; for anyone that hasn’t seen his videos on YouTube they are HIGHLY recommended. Tony is in his mid 80’s and it’s inspirational his passion for cruising.

 

[Cartouche]

Well thank you.

For those that may be wondering I'm at the Upper Brewers Locks #43. I put in an early reservation and was able to secure this dock with electric and idyllic nature setting, all for myself. I'm told it gets busier later in the summer.

View attachment 129116

The locks are smaller and more challenging if you're going solo. The people manning the locks are fabulous. Draft is very important and they needed to fill the locks completely so that Slow Hand could clear the sill plate. The first 2 locks had less than a foot of sides left, so the fenders were useless. Two employees held the boat off the side until it was time to move into the next lock. Couple of pics from the first flight:

View attachment 129117

View attachment 129118

Ted

Hi Ted I see the Kawartha Voyager just entered the system at Kingston Mills it will probably stop at the top of Chaffey's or Jones falls, not sure if you have seen it in the system but it is quite a sight with its lifting bow

 

[O C Diver]

Hi Ted I see the Kawartha Voyager just entered the system at Kingston Mills it will probably stop at the top of Chaffey's or Jones falls, not sure if you have seen it in the system but it is quite a sight with its lifting bow

Past the Voyager as it was coming South just above Davis Lock. Truly amazing they can get through places like this:



Ted

 

[ScottC]

Nice to read your posts on this, Ted! Brings me down memory lane. I did the Rideau canal with my Dad on his boat in the mid 70's. It, together with the Thousand Islands constitute my finest boating memories of that era. Wait until you enter Ottawa!! I'm sure you will find it most impressive!

 

[ksanders]

Well I'm at the Kingston Marina. No joy on the pumpout, but no worries. A trip to Food Basics has me replenished and ready to head out in the morning.

Entering Canada was entertaining, but basically a nothing burger. The people answering the phone (atleast mine) could use a spoonful of "goodwill toward man" , but that's behind me (probably a thankless job).

The trip across was arduous. Winds gusted to 8 knots at times with a following sea that was almost measurable.

View attachment 129097

Ted

 

[TowLou]

No cruising unless invited aboard, but been turning a few wrenches with weekends free to be at the docks fixing a few boats. Even gpt one running that about half a dozen people looked at in the past 3 years. Good start to the summer so far.

 

[Cartouche]

Past the Voyager as it was coming South just above Davis Lock. Truly amazing they can get through places like this:

View attachment 129249

Ted

Hi Ted you will be pleased you are up the system we have had to leave Cartouche at Lower Brewers the Kingston Mills Swing Bridge has a major Hydraulic Issue and they can not get anyone there till Monday and probably won't swing until next Thursday. we got a ride back into town, and will go and get her when the bridge is fixed enjoy. Oh Boating adventures

 

[O C Diver]

So I've completed my trip up and back on the Rideau canal. I arrived back at Kingston Marina yesterday afternoon. Pumped the holding tank; refilled the water tanks; restocked the galley, and cleared the Lasalle Causeway bridge at 6AM this morning. Should be in Trent (Trent Severn Waterway) this evening.

So here are some takeaways from my 11day cruise:

If you're looking for a large concrete city, lacking green spaces, riddled with crime and filled with cold callus street urchins, this isn’t for you. If you enjoy a trip through very scenic lakes, canals and small cities with extremely friendly people, this is a wonderful trip.

Kingston and Ottawa are the 2 cities at either end of the canal. Also spent an evening wandering Smiths Falls and Merrickville. As the sun rises between 5 and 6AM and it's light out till 9PM, there's lots of time to wander before and after locking hours.

Did I mention locking? There are 47 locks in the 125 miles of canals. Some are singles. There are groups of 2 to 4. And then there is the flight of 8 in Ottawa.



I'd like to tell you I spent an hour and a half going down the flight to the Ottawa river, and then turned around and came back up. But I didn't.

The locks have docks above and below that you can overnight on for a fee. I bought the season pass for locking and docking which is an exceptionally good deal (IMO). Some of the docks have 30 amp electric ($8 to $10) and some locks have varying levels of bathroom and shower facilities.

The lock operators are very good and extremely helpful. A smile on your face and a nice greeting goes a long way! Understanding that most of the locks run on human power and sometimes there are delays. If you show up with a schedule in mind, you may be disappointed. Above all else; you're on vacation; try not to act like an impatient American. They see more than enough as it is.

Two points of caution:

A few of the locks when full, have less than 12" sides. I used a couple of Polyform F4 fenders from my dinghy between the wall and my boat. They were tethered with a line from the railing to float on the water, but follow along as I moved to the next lock in the flight.

The other caution is to be aware of the bumper boats. Some of the people renting those boats couldn't create more havoc if they tried.

Ottawa is a wonderful city to visit!

The canal runs through the city with several docks to spend a few days on. Even found a 50 amp outlet! Lots of green spaces, bicycle and walking paths, and an amazing restaurant district! Lots of older architecture and breathtaking views.

Some pics from my wanderings:







I think I was over served.



In conclusion, the cruise was wonderful and will probably do it again with some extra time for certain areas. Go early or late. I'm told late June through late August can be quite crowded with boaters. September is supposed to be amazing with the fall foliage.

Ted

 

[rgano]

Nice report, Ted. Good that you had a good run. Did the Trent-Severn back in 92 and enjoyed it a lot. Going through Georgian Bay was unforgettable.

 

[backinblue]

Thanks for the tips and pics. It took me almost 65 years to discover Canada. Who knew? I did go on a ski bus trip in my 20's but that doesn't count. Not all cities are great but some are pracitacally perfect. Just returned today from Winnipeg (by plane, not boat). Not a great place to go. Quebec on the other hand was mind-blowing. Ottowa is now on my list. Hope to get there some day.

 

[dmbraaten]

1 July planning moving Anna from Genoa to Barcelona via the Greek islands, Malta, Tunis, Mallorca, and then to Barcelona where she will stay through year end. 2023 will be the start of a voyage to Iceland.

 

[O C Diver]

1 July planning moving Anna from Genoa to Barcelona via the Greek islands, Malta, Tunis, Mallorca, and then to Barcelona where she will stay through year end. 2023 will be the start of a voyage to Iceland.

Sounds like an amazing cruise!

Ted

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. d. WOW!!!

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: Our first extended visit to Maine. All the towns and sites along the way from Florida here, we've previously spent time. Unique among our travels as I'd say so many very nice smaller sites to see as opposed to one or two spectacular. Also, without local knowledge, not sure we'd be really getting it. We have one young lady with us whose father, now deceased, was a lobsterman so we've gotten to meet real lobstermen and see their boats and rigs up close and hear their stories and we're so grateful. She and another who also attended Maine Maritime have led us on a tour of the campus as well as surrounding areas and so much of the state. We loved the Maine Maritime Museum, but also the Wilson Museum, the Dyce Head Lighthouse, the Castine Historical Society and even their nearest beach, Wadsworth Cove.

We must be slow as they said 2-3 hours for Maine Maritime Museum and we spent nearly 5 hours there. We've sort of zig zagged around the countryside to pick up as much of the beauty as possible, but walked around a lot to try to pick up the beauty of the people here. The ruggedness still lives even if somewhat in lesser form. Previously, we'd just docked and spent a day or two here and there in the Portland area. I'd compare that to visiting New York (and I love NYC) without ever seeing the canals. Thankfully those with us had worked hard to map our maps and places we needed to see and we do have land transportation taking us where our boat can't.

We love the spectacular sights and cities and countries we often visit, but a reminder to all that wherever you travel by boat, there's so much near to see. Get off the boat, walk or ride to town, explore nearby, walk among the locals. I hear the argument that it's about the ride, not the destination. Oh, I love the ride, I love being at sea, I love the water, but as in some of what's in this thread, don't overlook some amazing destinations. They include incredible Italian architecture, fantastic Greek Islands, and the Maine lobstermen still hard at work feeding our cravings.

 

[ScottC]

1 July planning moving Anna from Genoa to Barcelona via the Greek islands, Malta, Tunis, Mallorca, and then to Barcelona where she will stay through year end. 2023 will be the start of a voyage to Iceland.

Wow! Sounds fantastic!! Will you hop from Shetland to Faroe to Iceland? Or something more direct??

 

[ScottC]

P.S. We saw your fine vessel while we were staying in Varazze. I took note because of the Norwegian/Danish-sounding name...but having a port of "Delaware"! There were some people doing work on it at the time.

 

[Sababa]

Counting down the days until June 17th departure for Sunshine Coast and Desolation Sound. My wife and I are both planning to work remotely via Starlink into July, float planing back and forth to Seattle as needed.

From what I’m reading we won’t be the only people with the same idea. I’m hoping the terrible weather we have been having will put a “damper” on the crowds in the anchorages, but we have a fresh 600’ of float line on our stern tie reel just in case, and we made our marina and restaurant reservations months ago.

It was weird to just blow past these cruising grounds on the way to Alaska last year. I’m looking forward to some short days underway closer to home now that Canada is open again.

 

[O C Diver]

Greetings from the North Channel (Ontario Canada). Conditions here can be quite extreme.







Ted

 

[Fletcher500]

Final prep day was yesterday, and she is officially ready to go. We like to spend 4th of July at our marina with our dock friends, then departing July 10 through the end of October.

 

[dmbraaten]

Cruising between UK and Ireland and then up to Faroe Islands and then to Iceland. Hoping to be in Oban, Scotland by April/May and then off to Iceland depending on weather.