DAY 22 - ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY - HOME DOCK and LAST DAY

We are grateful for our family, our friends, the life we live. And …we are grateful and honor all those, past and present, who protect and defend, enabling us to live this life.  A somber day ….

An important note: Uncle Bill Kimbell was my inspiration to write another blog - one more time. Thank you, Uncle Bill. I had fun with it. But if this little blog was not up to par, then blame Ted. He set up a blog site months ago waiting for me to 'bite'.

This afternoon we arrived safely in our home slip. And we are so happy to be here.

For the record -

Locks:

·         7 Commercial locks to Montreal

·         2 Commercial locks revisited en route to Ottawa

·         1 lock at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue

·         1 lock at Carillon

·         49 locks on the Rideau Canal

 Ted facts:

·         460 miles

·         75 hours total travel time

·         Average travel speed 6.1 knots

·         326 gallons diesel burned

KINGSTON ONTARIO TO ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY

TOTAL ROUTE

We love and thank Canada. Natural beauty. Charming old yet progressive cities that honor traditional architecture. 'Old World' towns. Friendly people. And Lockmasters and Lockhands who go above and beyond.

And we thank YOU for following us.

Ted & Betty

Simple Pleasures

'Fair Winds & Following Seas'

DAY 21 - KINGSTON ONTARIO and ALL-DONE-WITH-LOCKS

 

UPPER BREWERS LOCK TO KINGSTON

The day started at 41 degrees and went up to 72.  I’m a little put out that this little fall reminder (see photo) found its way to our aft this morning.  Nooooo – not yet!  It’s like being at a great party and having to go home. We envy our Upper Brewers lockmates who are still chugging along with no schedules. We have obligations and “stuff” that needs tending. BUT, for now, we are in one of our favorite Canadian cities and enjoying every last minute of our ‘adventure’.

AN UNWELCOME LEAF

MORNING ON UPPER BREWERS LOCK WITH BOATS 'NEXT CHAPTER' AND 'SMILE AND WAVE'

ENJOYING THE VIEW

After exiting the Upper and Lower Brewers locks, there were many markers in a row – sign of very shallow waters and we have to be careful of grounding. I did sing “Shallow” like Lady Gaga but I have the feeling Ted did not really appreciate it. Hmph! Guess he’s jealous that he can’t sing like Bradley Cooper (although he IS a very good singer).  In the 2^nd from the last lock we lost our ‘big ball’ fender. The strap broke. Ted and the Lockmaster fished it out with a boat hook. Our fenders and lines have taken quite a beating.

MANY MARKERS MEAN SHALLOW WATERS

THE LAST 2 LOCKS !!!!!

The good (GREAT) news is – NO MORE LOCKS!!! All together with having to repeat 2 commercial locks on the way to Ottawa, we maneuvered 60 locks. As we got to the bottom of the Rideau locks, Ted was counting down "...last 3 locks ...last 2 locks ....last lock ..."!  I don’t know if I would have signed on this cruise had I known how many locks . And I’m not convinced Ted was even prepared for the effort. He knew approximately how many locks but not sure he comprehended the time and physicality.  Never have I heard Ted’s voice so high as when he shouted  “WE ARE HERE - NO MORE LOCKS!!!”  But we did it ... a bucket list item. It sure does feel great to accomplish it! Kind of a 'survival' thing.  I do regret not seeing some of my favorite lower Rideau towns but time simply ran out. Many pull their boats after Labor Day but others, like our good old Simple Pleasures, stay in their home slips till weather or the marina say ‘out you go’.  Dockmates Pat & Jen (September II) and Kathy & Deacon (Kathy’s Sanity) are ready to start a week's Rideau trip via the Kingston route. Hope you get up to Westport if in the plan.

LOCKS OVER - NOW IT'S ON TO KINGSTON 

WE MADE THE KINGSTON BASCULE BRIDGE AT 2:00 

SEEING KINGSTON

TED CELEBRATING OUR ARRIVAL - "WOO-HOO!!!"

Had a casual dinner at Chez Piggy tonight. We were welcomed by 40s background music with soft horns. I loved it. We revisited our best – and scariest – times on the trip.  And after a trip to White Mountain Ice-Cream Shop, we walked back to the boat in the rain and are still smiling – and resting. Did I say – no more locks?

THE MARKET

CHEZ PIGGY

For those who had difficulty commenting, we are sorry. But thanks to those who were able to comment or emailed, phoned or 'messaged'. It made it fun for us and kept us going. Hope we responded to all. Tomorrow – Alexandria Bay? Oh, and we ran out of Haagen Dasz bars yesterday.

DAY 20 - UPPER BREWERS LOCKS

NEWBORO LOCK TO UPPER BREWERS LOCK

It is so hard to believe this is Day 20.  Now I’m thinking about all the things I need to do at home. I had to reschedule 2 car appointments and dread getting the mail, having to address the issues that seem to pile up when we’re away. Since it’s almost end of the season for us, I worry about having to unload the boat because most of the clothes and everything I have must go home, only to be repacked for our next 'adventure'. Not to mention the food that must be transported or disposed of. Stuff cleaned out. Linens cleaned and stored. 'Worry' is so productive - okay, not so much.  So proceeded to resolve everything by downloading a new book. Worry gone ... for now. Always hate to near the end of a good book so try to delay it. And always hate to start a new one - until I ‘get into it’.

Day started out at 45 degrees but got up to 66. Felt hot by the end.  Sunny. A lot of rentals passed us. Think it’s a great idea that the rentals are surrounded by rubber bumpers.  Scott K.(Bella Luna) said his grandfather was the Lockmaster at Poonamalie and the family lived in the lockhouse.  His family  lived my dream. Also passed the cruise ship Kwartha.  The bow lifts up vertically to fit in the lock. The radar and upper cover for the deck go down to fit under bridges.
We completed 7 locks today.

SAW MANY RENTAL BOATS WITH RUBBER BUMPERS ALL AROUND

THE KWARTHA

HYBRID BOAT

TED HAS 4 PAGES OF TRAVEL & LOCK INFO

OLD WORLD. OLD WORLD. OLD WORLD.   This is my favorite part of the Rideau. What a wonderful cruise through these ‘days of old’.  Trees, rock, water and sky – love it!  Much like 1000 Islands - but different. My parents stayed at the Opinicon with my Aunt & Uncle - a beautiful old resort - with a special little house for ice-cream. We are told it is well-kept today by a young couple who have lovingly and authentically restored it.

PARTS OF THE RIDEAU ARE ON OPEN WATERS AND .......

PARTS ARE ON VERY NARROW CHANNELS

AFTER THE LOCK OPENED, A KAYAKER WHO WAS FISHING CAME IN!

THE OPINICON

Anyone recall the day we took a walk near Brown's Marina when someone else got a ride from Bambi and Justine?

YES, I COULD LIVE HERE

WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED AS THIS SWING BRIDGE WENT OVER MY HEAD

We passed Kenney’s and Shangri-La. Wonderful memories but sadly, Kenney’s is no more – although the lockhands tell us it may be up and running next year under new management.  Miss that wonderful gentleman and owner Joe Kenney . He had that ‘big registrar’ that turned 180 degrees so you could sign in. Long story about our relationship with him but he was truly a gentle man. Shangri-La is still a resort with docking but no longer has a restaurant

LOOKING DOWN THE 3 LOCKS AT JONES FALLS

KENNEY'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE JONES FALLS LOCKS

SHANGRI-LA

In keeping with honest blogging, must say I did get a ‘boat bite’ today. Fell 4 steps hurrying into the salon from the aft. Landed hard on left hip and hand. Ted left the bridge when he heard me fall – although I shouted out one of those “I’m okay … I’m okay.”  Glad everything is moving and really is okay ... only bruises. No, honestly, Ted did NOT push me ... yet.

Great docktail hour with the other 3 boats on the waiting dock for tomorrow’s lock. Richard & Diane with boat dog Max (Next Chapter), Lee & Jan with their robot dog Max (Two the Limit),  and Peter, Debra with boat dog Macy and 2 cats Christmas & Gordy  (Smile and Wave). Two boats are from Canada and one  from the states. A lot of boat stories. Lee & Jan had the first pleasure craft enter the area after Katrina.

MAX & MACY (robot Max not available; was being recharged)

Tomorrow, Kingston.

DAY 19 - NEWBORO LOCK #36

Merrickville to Newboro Lock #36

Cloudy and cool but have learned - if you dress for it – cloudy and cool is the best weather for locking. No sun beating down. Speaking of fashion, Ted believes he is in style because of his holey shorts and shoes. You be the judge. Do you think he bought ‘cool’ clothes with holes or are these just his old ‘comfies’ to wear while locking? If you know Ted, you know the answer. And I’ll bet that if you don’t know Ted, you still know the answer.

HOLES!

Awaiting 2 boats coming through the 1st lock today

Fortunately the day was long because we want to make some time. I say it was long because on Saturdays and Sundays the locks open 1 hour earlier and stay open 1 hour later (post- season). So, similar to yesterday, we got in as many locks and as much cruise time as possible. Tonight we are at Newboro Lock #36 on the 'blue line waiting dock' ready for passage first thing tomorrow. We got through 11 locks today.

These 2 lockhands had to manually open the swing bridge (in addition to manually opening the locks) by walking in circles while cranking

I could live in this little lockhouse

Long way to go up

This lockhand rode a swing bridge

The worst part of today was going through miles and miles of canal with only 3.5’-6’ of water under the boat. The boat hit something 3 times. This (like spotting a favored tshirt, also calls for swearing). But the boat is running fine with no ‘vibrations’ so we are not too concerned right now. Even open waters were shallow until we hit Rideau Lake . And then we arrived at the narrowest of the canal. Didn't see many boats or cottages. Trees, trees and more trees – maybe that is why I love this part of Canada so much.

Narrow part of the canal

We are approaching my favorite part of Canada – what I call “Old World”. We passed Smiths Falls which looked like a storybook town to me.  All I could think of was the 50s (or what I've heard about them, ahem) and the "Dick and Jane" books. That kind of 50s. If you don’t know, "Dick and Jane" was a riveting novel about Dick, Jane and their dog Spot. They lived in a sweet pastel town and, for some reason, seeing Smiths Falls took me there. You may be able to read the series if your library still has it – and you have 5 minutes.

Again, the lockhands are gems. At one of the last locks of the day – Poonamalie – a lockhand called ahead to be certain we got a lock wall with power. Because it is post-season, the gentleman who runs it said there is no power but he would tag 2 power poles and turn them on for us. We got to the lock wall and miraculously got through at the last minute so are now docked at the blue line ready for a 10:00 a.m. lock opening at Newboro. And there was a bonus. One other boat is at the blue line and a couple was nice enough to catch our lines for us. Turns out it was Richard Gere – until he opened his mouth and had a slight French accent. I choose to believe it is Richard Gere and he was ‘acting’ so we wouldn’t recognize him. Oh, how I wanted to take a picture of him but it could have been awkward. And Ted said he wouldn’t go and ask. Imagine!

Starboard view for tonight - TREES!

 

Lock ahead for tomorrow morning

DAY 18 - MERRICKVILLE ONTARIO

Ottawa to Merrickville

We started out on the Rideau Canal from Ottawa around 8:00 a.m. A cloudy, rain-on-and-off day but a great day. 12 Locks!  Some were one right after the other, some were 3-5 miles apart, and there was a 26 mile span. I really was in the swing of the locks and I cannot say enough about the lockhands – young men and women. They not only work manually, cranking the lock gates open and closed, but their attitudes just make you feel good. They smile, have the gates open when you get there (no waiting docks once we got through the first - YAY), help with lines, give helpful advice and wish you well when leaving.

Good-bye Ottawa

Starting out on the Rideau Canal

First and only waiting dock today

3 Lockhands simultaneously operating 2 gates and 1 swing bridge

 I say “young” lockhands but there was a Lockmaster this morning who had us grinning ear to ear. When he called me “Admiral” I knew I liked him. Wish I caught his magnetic smile and crinkled eyes in a picture but I was too entranced with his stories. Some of his quotes:  “Don’t’need a rainjacket - got a nice flask of bourbon at home.”   “Some people don’t even know how to get into slip-on shoes.”   “It’s as bad as being a little person in a nudist colony.” He is a retiree who loves working the locks, loves people and exudes joy.And he actually cranks the locks right along with the young 'uns.

The cruise was beautiful, even in the rain. Gorgeous tree-lined canal and, many times, beautiful homes. I had my 'lovely' boat raincoat and patched rainpants on much of the day. The key to making it rain is to take your rainpants off – numerous times. Arrived in Merrickville around 4:30 and staying in Ayling Marina – more like a boatyard but the owner is very accommodating. To me it looked like Kya’s shack if you’ve read “Where the Crawdads Sing” and we were a little wary. But turned out Steve, the owner, was extremely accommodating and congenial. We topped off the water tank and got a pump-out so we're ready to go. Steve also restores old boats in his boatyard.

You can have a boat at your dock - or a plane at your dock

Ayling's Marina/Boatyard

"Good Shepherd"

Happy to get some locks under our belt, we headed to town. Ate at the Baldachin Inn on the main corner. Fine dining on one side of a lovely bar and casual on the other (that was us). Walked in just as Bianca  won the U.S. Open. Of course a small roar went up when she won – only about 12 of us on the pub side but proud and happy Canadians! Fun to be there.

Looking over the bridge on our way to town. See the Heron?

Bianca wins the U.S. Open

Baldachin Inn

The Village Metalsmith