TRAVELS of "CONDUCTANCE"

We visited the Parliament Buildings today.  We went into The House of Commons and The Senate chambers, the Tower and through the Centre Building.  Spectacular  architecture was everywhere you looked .  I highly recommend a visit to our nation’s capital.

Then it was off to Robin, Tom and Family for a much overdue visit where we spent the afternoon reminising of the old days.   Scott and Tom have been friends since grade school and Robin and I went to grade school together as well.  Small world.  It was so much appreciated for your hospitality, utilizing your washer and dryer and shower.  Aiden had so much fun playing monopoly with Matt.  It was really nice to meet your kids.  They will be going places for sure.

We arrived back at the boat around 11:00 and were awakened sometime in the night by the security on the waterfront.  Apparently someone boarded our boat and they chased them down the waterfront but lost them.  I got up to check what all the commotion was about only to find that the boat behind us had its bow line unhooked and it was floating sideways.        So three nights out of 10 there has been an issue.  That is a sad statistic.

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Starting the day out this morning we find out that Guy La Fleur has his boat just down the slips in the marina.  So we took some pics of his 65 ft’er.  Conner, we took a picture just for you!   A lot of French Canadians are here too.  We just can’t understand them.

Since we got our diesel last evening we didn’t have to worry about that today.  Good thing cause we slept in till almost 8:00.  Finally we were underway around 10:00  on a great weather day.  It was in the low ’70’s when we started out and no humidity was a blessing.

Our last day on the St. Lawrence River and it was a great one.  We passed through two more Seaway locks and with no wind it was amazingly simple.   Both are in Beauharnois Canal located just west of Montreal.  As we saw Montreal in the distance we started on a northern route toward the Ottawa River.  it was literally a zigzag across a large lake with so many varying depths ranging from shoals to 35 ft deep.  The channel was well marked however there were some passages that a couple boats passing one another just made it through.  Finally we settle in at Ste Anne de Bellevue and pass through the first of two locks on the  Ottawa River.  We are now settled in on the north side of the lock here in Ste Anne de Bellevue for tonight.

Heading for a long day to Ottawa tomorrow.

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What a day!  At least what a day I had.  Up early to get ready to cross Lake Ontario.  We listen to the forecast and they call for extreme T storms and rain.  Wave heights low but with a westerly wind.  Being at the most eastern part of the lake westerly’s do not sound like a fun ride over.  Boy was I right.  After packing up and getting out at 8:30 we stop for gas.  At 9:00 we are heading out the mouth of the Oswego Canal into Lake Ontario and smack right in the face with huge swells.  2 1/2 hours later I so am ready to get off the ride that has now made both Aiden and I queasy.  This was the first time I was ready to say I’m done with this boat for awhile.  I missed the beginning of the 1000 Islands area because those westerly’s came up the St. Lawrence River.  It started to settle a bit and we both felt better.

We stopped at Boldt Castle along the way.  Nestled on an island it is where the original owner of the Waldorf Astoria decided to create his forever home and not finish it due to his wife dying unexpectedly.  He never returned to the castle and work stopped on it for over 70 years.  Then in ’77 it was bought by the 1000 Islands Bridge Commission and they are now both restoring the work that had been done as well as getting it completed the way it was supposed to be done originally.  Quite a beautiful building.

The winds had picked up by now and docking at the castle was not fun.  We had to call them for assistance in getting her lines in.  The winds were expected to be 60 mph and up.  We decided to wait it out for a bit till the storm passed and the marine extreme weather was lifted.  Then I was stung by a bee.  I put my hand right on top of it. 

Still a bit queasy we begin in rough winds down the St. Lawrence River to Brockville an hour away.  We can see behind us that the clouds are darkening and rain is falling.  Up go the tarps and all of a sudden the temperature drops like 15 degrees.  The cold front has arrived.  It starts to rain but luckily the winds die off.  We make it to Brockville unscathed and tie up easily in the harbour.  I start dinner only to burn myself on the BBQ.  On the same hand as the bee sting!!!

Tomorrow will be better but we have heard that Cornwall had a tornado go through today.  

We also have 3 Seaway locks to go through.  The Iroquois, the Eisenhower and the Snell locks.  Then on to Cornwall.

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The last night in Newark we met a couple in a 21′ cuddy cabin that dropped their boat in New York harbour with expectations of making it to Fort Erie.  We exchanged some information on the Greater Niagara
Boat Club and they will be making their way to Chippawa instead.  In exchange we received a new, or new to us, Canadian flag to replace to stolen one.  We are all dressed again for the journey today.

We had a beautiful cruise along tributaries of the Finger Lakes and saw some beautiful homes and cottages along the way.  Speed was good and we were able to catch up some time.  This portion of the trip makes you feel like you are away instead
of the idea of being in a dredged canal that has become the norm until this point.

We expected to make it to Baldwinsville today and instead made a run for it to Phoenix, NY.  The first lock on the Oswego is here.
Cute little place with kids of all ages called The Brats.  They serve coffee and lemonade all day long and also offer a breakfast and lunch menu from the local restaurant on the canal.
One boy, Zach, played washer toss with Aiden for over an hour while Scott ordered parts for the marine radio that happened to stop working.  Radio is acting up too.  Should be great when going through the commercial locks
where the operators are used to deaing with functioning equipment. 

Aiden fed ducks and geese by the numbers in the evening.  Stale bread is such a treat when you are saving up for those feasting times.
One Canadian goose is more like a duck than a goose.  He stays with the ducks only and when geese come around he leaves.  He is extremely gentle
as geese go that is.  He leaves food for the ducks and goes without.

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We are safe and sound in Spencerport, NY.  A strong wind and T showers are on their way but we’ll be fine. 
It’s a canal remember.  No open water. 

Our day would be boring for some but we are loving it.  No special reports for today.  Just a hint of down time, full sun and great company.  Went through the locks in Lockport around 10:00 this morning and headed east towards our next destination.  Found this gem of a place with WiFi, showers, hydro, water, and even ice cream.  My first in 3 months. 

It has everything you need here.  The best part is that it is free, totally free.  Just pull up your boat, use their facilities and leave.  Now that is hospitality.  Boys are playing xbox games and I sit writing to all of you, waiting for the rain to start.  Lightening is all around, wind has just gotten calm and temps are perfect.

Tomorrow the destination is around Newark, NY, but they are calling for rain and 90 degrees.  We’ll see how far we can get.  Not looking forward to doing at least 4 locks if the rain is persistent.  Oh well, it’s just another adventure. 

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