End of the Rideau--What next?

It has been two weeks since my last blog update.  We finished the Rideau and spent one night in Kingston, Ontario.  It happened to be during the annual Busker's festival.   Shelley and I are from small towns in Kansas, but we never had the kind of street entertainers that the Busker's festival brings to Kingston.  It really is pretty impressive.  Throughout downtown Kingston, on every corner, for four days, street entertainers gather a crowd around them and they do their thing.  Some are magicians, many use fire and acrobatics to attract a crowd, and they are all pretty funny.   Max and Leo enjoyed the guy who lit a tennis racket (with no strings) on fire and then pushed his body through the racket.  Ouch!!

The next day we crossed Lake Ontario on a beautiful, calm day.  It was a nice trip.  We cleared into US Customs via a phone call in Oswego, NY, and then tied up to the wall between Locks 7 and 8 on the Oswego Canal.  We enjoyed a nice evening that gave us plenty of time to ride bikes around Oswego, and play football in the grass beside the lock wall.  Everyone on the boat felt the end of this wonderful summer trip approaching, so we were all a bit sad.  But Max and Leo were ready to get home, and Shelley and I were ready for a "boat break".  

The next day we navigated up the remaining 7 locks of the Oswego, and one lock on the Erie Canal to Brewerton, NY.  This is the home of Winter Harbor Marina.  We spent a week here two years ago fixing our prop and shaft issues from negotiating the Erie Canal the first time.  It is an excellent marina, and a good place to leave Rock Chalk for a month, while we fly back to Austin with the boys.

So this chapter of our journey with Rock Chalk ends.   I look back on it as a magical time.  We have enjoyed all of our adventures on the Great Loop two years ago, including the Trent Severn and Georgian Bay, the inland Rivers, the Keys, the Bahamas, and all the parts in between.   But this trip with our two grandsons through the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, the Chamblis, and the Rideau was truly special.   Memories for a lifetime were made.  I don't think Max and Leo will truly appreciate this adventure for years, but I am confident that when they reflect on their Rock Chalk cruise, they will smile, maybe laugh, and deep down say, "That was awesome"!

The Masters of their Universe.  One of my favorite shots of Max and Leo

Here are some last looks at one of the prettiest places you could ever take a cruise.  The Rideau Canal:

Care for a Dip?

Working on their diving form

Every Island has a cottage

The long cruise across Lake Ontario.   Back to the US

The Unexpected

Leo the Lionhearted

Max, the Fisherman

We have been planning this trip to bring Max and Leo to Canada on Rock Chalk for many months.  We thought to ourselves, "What a great trip for the boys.  They will experience so much!!"

It turns out that Shelley and I are getting so much more out of this trip.  It is not often that a grandparent can spend some really quality time with your grandkids.   Not just a night or a weekend, but long hours together, laughing and talking.  We have them captive on the boat, so there is no choice but to talk and share.  They talk about everything life has to offer, and what they want to do in it.  Max is ever the comedian, and he keeps us laughing through dinners each night.    Here I was all prepared to teach him so much about the boat and boating, and I am the one discovering what is important about these two young guys.

I have to say they are also 13 and 9, and they can go off on some really strange tangents. I guess I have forgotten how funny a fart is supposed to be.  They know all these lines from movies.   Moving body parts are really important, especially if one can bump his chest muscles up and down.  Mema can...   And of course at 13, Max has to always look good.   My sunglasses are reflective.   I can't tell you how many times Max comes close to me and looks me in the eye.   He is just checking to make sure that every hair is in order.   And he is always on the outlook.  He knows how to send the signals to other pre teen girls.  And they seem to like it.  Who knew????

Leo loves his big brother and laughs at all of Max's stories.   I mean all of them.  Then he will repeat them.   I only hope I am alive in 25 years, when they are in their 30's, and see how close they will be.   BFF's

Max has been such a great help on the boat.   He has learned its systems, and loves to be able to do things on his own.  He has mastered the dinghy and its engine.  He helps me clean the deck after we dock at a marina.   Leo pitches in and does his share.  He is smaller and its hard for him to muscle the boat around like Max, but his heart is in the right place.  But what they do very well, is make Shelley and I laugh.  Priceless.

Gophers

Showing his moves in the Locks

We are moving down the Rideau southwest toward Kingston Ontario.  Kingston is a large city that sits at the end of the Rideau Canal, and at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, as it starts its journey out of Lake Ontario.   It is a fitting end to the 150 mile journey from Ottawa to Kingston on the Rideau Canal.  The Canal is a historic site for Canada, and has been quite an experience for us Kansans/Texans who journeyed through her waters.

Sunset on the Rideau

O Canada

When I was 10 years old, my family took a canoeing vacation to Lake of the Woods on the Minnesota/Canadian border.  I have the fondest memories of that trip.  We were in pristine clear waters, canoeing from campsite to campsite, eating fresh fish, and most of all enjoying the time with family and friends on a great adventure.  My siblings will have their own memories of that trip, but the last 3 weeks in Canada along the Rideau River would bring those memories back to life.

The water and land are just spectacular.   The air is clear, and the stars are bright.  To think that you can take a boat from the ocean up 407 feet to these upper lakes, is part of the magic.   I hope Max and Leo will keep these fond memories for a lifetime as well.

Morton Bay off Sand Lake

Masters of their Universe

A Cottage on every rock along the Rideau

The Rideau was first built by the British to provide a safe passage from the Great Lakes to Montreal by bypassing the American forts along the St. Lawrence River.  We were ugly Americans back then trying to grab some of these beautiful waters for our own use. By the completion in the 1840's the tensions between the two countries had lessened, and the canal became a boater's paradise.   Small boaters I might add.   The locks are only 25-30 ft. wide, so Rock Chalk's 19 ft. beam pretty well fills them up.

All the locks are still opened by manual labor.  See the hand cranks

Leo tends his line in the lock as it fills.  

We had not met this nice couple beforehand.   While in the lock, they came up and the lady took Shelley's hand, and said, "You must be Shelley.  We have been reading your blog, and knew you were coming this way!  We're so excited to meet you all."  





Leo is on the bow, Max on the stern, and Shelley takes the middle cleat.   It is quite the team effort in the locks.  I just try to squeeze Rock Chalk through the narrow openings.








The weather gods cleared the skies for us....finally, and it has been wonderful in the days, cool at night, and the water is....not warm, but refreshing.

Leo loves to chase the fish

Max is checking the rudder and props to remove lake grass

We have done quite a bit of swimming.   Please note there will be no pics of Shelley or I in our swimsuits.











The boys love to dive off the boat and work on their technique.   Boppa would be so proud of Max and Leo as they dive from the highest point on the bow.    OK, one picture of Shelley as she shows them how to do it.

Watch it and Learn boys

This has been the highlight of Canada for us.   These waters are beautiful.   They are truly perfect for anchoring out and spending the day fishing, swimming, or whatever.....

I am a Lucky Guy

Leo is the slowest eater

I figured it out.  It has taken a month.   At every meal, Max, Shelley and I are done with our meal and Leo has a full plate.   How does he eat so slow we kept asking him.  Leo is not sure, but he blames his small mouth.  But I figured it out, and it is something I need to do.  Maybe we all do.  Maybe it is a secret to a longer, healthier life.  He puts his fork down after every bite, and it can sit there for a long time.

Now this is maybe not a world shattering revelation to his family back in Austin, nor to the average blog reader of this writing, who is looking for insight about our trip to Canada in Rock Chalk.   But every voyage has its discoveries, and among many on this trip, I have now etched another notch in my six gun.  He puts his fork down, he chews, and he talks, and he laughs, and he takes a drink and about a half hour later he takes another bite.

Celebrating our last lock of the day!!

But today was a special day.  Shelley has been wonderful on this trip doing a superb job of keeping us all fed, the boat clean, working the lines at the locks and all the things a first mate does.  But she prides herself on her cooking.  So it was no surprise that she had her feelings hurt when we realized that Leo hardly eats anything.   "Eats like a bird" as my Dad used to say.  But today he excelled.  We had spaghetti and meatballs.   Leo loved it and soon cleaned his plate.  He beamed as he exclaimed, "Look, today I finished first!!!"   He was so proud, but it lasted only a moment, as he soon realized that Max and I were on our second helping of spaghetti, and Mema was finishing her second round of salad.   He looked so sad with those beautiful eyes, then he smiled.  In fact he laughed, as he realized what he just said.   It was one of those moments, where we all just laughed.   Something we have done so much in this last month.  Just laughed.

This country and the Rideau Canal are just beautiful.  We spent a few days in Ottawa seeing the sights, and are now moving south and west toward Lake Ontario.  The scenery is wonderful to observe as we drift by in our slow moving boat.  Enjoy.  

Parliament Building in Ottawa

Parliament Building from the Rideau Canal

We watched the changing of the Guard in front of Parliament.  The Guards were proceeded in their march by the Royal Bagpipes, and the Royal Military Marching Band.  You have to love the pomp and circumstance, but it was all preceded by a little music.

Bridges over the Canal lined on both sides with bike paths

Trees and grass so green.  Unlike Texas, Stuff grows here

Ottawa and the Rideau Canal

Oh my, this is what we have traveled 3000 miles to experience.  In spite of all the cold weather, and the rain, then some rain, and then some more rain, we made it.  I have to say,  of all the places we have experienced with Rock Chalk, today was a true highlight.

We made it into Ottawa at the foot of their Parliament building, at 12:30 this afternoon.   As you look up at the Ottawa skyline you soon capture the beginning locks of the Rideau Canal.  It is spectacular.

Our approach from the Ottawa River up to the first 8 locks of the Rideau Canal

The Canadian Parliament Building

It took over 3 hours to negotiate the 8 flights of locks.   This is right in the middle of Ottawa and seems to be the main entertainment for the locals and tourists alike.  As we approached the first lock, the walls are lined with people checking out the boats as they start their climb.   Max and Leo were excited to see all the people checking us out.   Max is so much fun as he is always looking for young ladies who just might catch his eye.  He has this patented move that only a 13 year old can pull off.  First he winks at the young lady, licks his fingers, rubs them over his eyebrows, then turns his fingers into guns.   Ka-Pow.   I was impressed!  Amazingly so are the young girls, who blush and smile.

The Rideau Canal

Brothers

Once on top of the 8 locks the waterway begins its 130 mile journey right in the middle of downtown Ottawa.   Their are beautiful government buildings, hotels, museums, and surprisingly a busy city center.  All of this is just a few feet above the peaceful canal.  We have been here for just a few hours and already there is much to explore.

Montreal

The Richelieu River dumps into the St. Lawrence River at Sorel, Quebec.   The dramatic transition we make from a tiny canal just wide enough for Rock Chalk to pass through, to suddenly out into one of the world's busiest waterways, full of ocean going ships is challenging.   The going is slow as we fight a 2 knot current on our nose as we head southwest to Montreal.   It is only 35 miles but it took us 6 hours

We made the trip on June 30.   Canada Day is July 1, which is their equivalent to our Fourth of July.   The best marina in the heart of Montreal was booked, so we could not get in.   We did find a slip at the Marina de la Ronde, which sits at the foot of Six Flags over Montreal, on an island out in the St. Lawrence River.   So for two days we listened to screams and the clatter of several roller coasters  just yards away.

La Ronde

We could get into Montreal from this marina but it was a bit of a challenge.   We had to walk around the entire park to the front gate, about 3/4 of a mile.   There we picked up a bus which shuttled us 6 blocks to the Metro station.   From there we could take the Metro into downtown Montreal and all the sites.  

I am sure we would have enjoyed the city a good deal more if it had been easier to get there.   It is a nice city, and certainly full of all kinds of Canada Day celebrations.   

The beautiful churches of Quebec

From Montreal we continued west up the St. Lawrence River  to its junction with the Ottawa River.  That junction is at St. Anne de Belleview.   This is a beautiful village at the crossroads of all the transportation lines into Montreal.   There are many railroad tracks here, two interstates cross the Ottawa here, and the Montreal International Airport is just minutes away.  But the village feels peaceful with so many restaurants and ice cream shops along the banks of the lock.   This lock takes a boat up just 3 feet from the St. Lawrence to the Ottawa River.   We stayed on the lock wall but enjoyed this small town.   

The only other lock on the Ottawa River is the lock at Carillon.   It is a 65 ft. rise at this lock.  It is like a giant cavern once you are inside the lock before you start up.  

The Carillon Lock on the Ottawa River

Internet connections have been very rare in Canada.   That makes it hard to keep up with our bill paying, communications, weather reports, and of course this blog.   But once we do find a connection, we try to get it all done at one setting.   

Tomorrow we will be in Ottawa Canada, the Capital of Canada.  This is the start of the famous Le Canal de Rideau.   There will be more posts from there.  Marc  

The Chambly Canal

The old lock doors that are still cranked open by hand

This was one of our main objectives for coming to Canada this summer.   I have always heard good things about the Chambly Canal.  It is not as long as the Rideau or the Trent-Severn, but it is a beautiful canal.   We just  barely between these old walls.   Rock Chalk is 19' wide, and these canal walls are 21' wide in many places.  There were some pretty hairy moments as we passed in or out of the locks with the wind blowing from the side.  But it was well worth it.  It is simply a beautiful  region of Canada.  

Opening the lock door for us to exit

Leo running the forward line through the Lock

Max and Leo have been great on the boat.  Leo will run the forward line and Max will run the back line.  Shelley fills in where needed or helps Leo.  The captain.....well, I guess I am just kicking back and driving the boat.

Max is always the comedian.   He keeps us laughing

As you can tell, its still raining.  It is not too cold, but the rain does persist.  The good news is that the further north we move, that the rain is supposed to lessen.   The Erie Canal in New York is still getting hammered.   It has been closed for 3 weeks, and the rumor is that it may take another 2 weeks to repair the damage from the flood waters.

1843 Technology

The Chambly drops through the last 3 locks into the Richelieu River a makes its final run 

north to the St. Lawrence River at Sorel Quebec.   We stayed on the lock wall above both the  Chambly and the St. Ours lock.   The Parks Canada maintain the locks and the grounds around each lock.   They are maintained as nice neat clean parks, with bathroom facilities.  Perfect for us to enjoy, although the canal is always right there.  Sometimes it can be too close for our football games.  

Now on to Montreal

Opps.  C'mon wind blow