Canada!

I meant to write along the Erie Canal, but didn’t have much to say.  I’ve done the trip a couple of times before.

I left Waterford on opening day Friday.  The first lock was at 0800 and I was in the fourth fleet of about 11 boats leaving at 1100.  For the first two days we traveled largely as a group, with a lock every few miles.

I was a little concerned about boat handling as I’m operating without thrusters.  I was unable to resuscitate the bow thruster.  But the weather was fair and I had no issues.  I was always second into the locks and able to do a midship tie on a fixed cable, or a ladder where there was no cable.  This worked very well for me.

Wednesday afternoon I arrived in Oswego to a flat lake, and headed out.  Anchored next to Galloo Island and arrived in Kingston Wednesday, then up the Rideau Canal to Lower Brewer’s Lock.

I’m now back on the boat after a few days ashore with family.  It was nice to get back to Canada and off the boat.

Going through my pics, this one has a story

As the water was being lowered I was standing amidships holding on to the ladder, or a line fed through a rung.  Pretty relaxed generally, but only a couple of feet between the cabin side and the dock wall.

All was fine, and we were down maybe ten feet when I unexpectedly came face to face with a big frog sitting on a ladder rung.  I was so startled I let out a big shriek that startled everyone in the lock!

I’m glad it had the sense to stay put. 

Not much else of note, except an interesting modern day sailor spotted in Confederation Basin.