Once at the marina we were greeted by our old buddies aboard Bucket List. We last saw them in Deltaville, VA when they got entangled in an old sailboat wreck, which damaged their boat. They had since had the damage repaired and were able to come through the Erie Canal. Perfect timing to meet back up with us!
Our first night in Kingston with Barefoot'n and Bucket List.
The old gang back together again.
Downtown Kingston just across from the marina.
Ran into our old friends, Drake's Dream and Happy Ours.
The last time we would see them as they are just doing the mini-loop
and we'll not be headed the same direction from here.
The downtown marina.
The park in front of the marina.
Kingston is known as the Limestone City.
Many of the buildings and residences are made of local limestone.
The train depot
Took the trolley tour.
Overview of Kingston.
Main Street
Our last day we awoke to another fishing tournament. This time it was just off our bow with a loud speaker barking instructions and a helicopter flying overhead recording all the action.
We took our time pulling out as we planned to anchor out
some before getting to the Trent-Severn Canal.
Prime real estate for the prison in Kingston.
Strange dead-looking island in the middle of the St. Lawrence river.
As we got closer noticed that it is covered in birds.
Lots of sailboats,
and gliders,
and seaplanes.
SeaGlide at anchor in Picton Harbor.
Dinghyed into town and bought some local wine.
Once back onboard, Jeff went overboard to clean the bottom of the boat.
While I prepared a lasagne candlelight up on the flybridge.
Sunset at anchor in Bay of Quinte.
The next morning we were up and running to make it to Trenton,
the head of the Trent-Severn Canal.
Swans in the wild.
Pulled into Trenton, which is on the edge of Fraser Park.
Found out they were having a free concert there that night; so,
we ordered pizza and pulled up our chairs with Barefoot'n, Bucket List, and Pazza Bella.
We met Pazza Bella for the first time in Picton.
The local band gets ready.
The crowd shows up.
We enjoy our front row seats!
It was close quarters in the marina as evicenced
by the lack of space between Barefoot'n and Bucket List.
Just before sunrise over the bridge to the Trent-Severn Canal.
We decided to stay in Trenton an extra day to commission
and clean the boats before hitting the canal system the following day.
We all went to the local farmers market.
The next day we were all ready to start the Trent-Severn
adventure as we left Yinzer and Spiritus behind in Trenton.
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Thanks to Spiritus for taking this great shot of SeaGlide as
the next adventure begins.
The Trent-Severn Waterway is 240 miles long and runs from Trenton to Port Severn on the Georgian Bay. It took over 90 years to complete as construction was halted many times over the years due to military, economical, and political reasons. It has 45 locks, which includes two impressive hydraulic locks called "bathtub locks" and one marine railway called the Big Chute, which actually transports boats via a sling in a railway car from the upper and lower sections of the Severn.
The beginning of the Trent.
Much the same way we locked through the Rideau with Barefoot'n, In My Element, and Freya, for much of the Trent we locked through with Barefoot'n, Bucket List, and Pazza Bella.
As we all have big boats, we completely filled up every lock. The Parks Canada staff was most amazed by the ease with which we went through together - we had our system down! Several staff members remarked that it was the most full they had ever seen a lock and many pictures were taken of us in the process.
It was most helpful as the staff from one lock would call ahead to the next lock down the line and tell them "when you see what's coming you're not gonna believe that they will all fit inside together - just open the gates and let them do their thing!" In that way, we made our way down the Trent - it was most remarkable!
Leaving a lock.
Proof that a tree can grow anywhere...
We went through a record of 10 locks in one day and were pretty exhausted as we decided to stay on the wall above Lock 10. Once there we couldn't find Amos onboard anywhere! A Parks Canada staff member gave me a ride back down to Lock 9 where we last saw Amos sitting in his usual spot,
the Captains Chair in the pilothouse.
After searching without luck, I was on the way back to Lock 10 when Jeff sent me a text that Amos had been found aboard Barefoot'n! Apparently as we were rafted together inside Lock 10, Amos took the opportunity to go visit his buddy's, Heidi's, boat. Heidi is Barefoot'n's Standard Schnauzer that has had a one sided love affair with Amos since the two first met. She was quite shocked when Amos was found on her turf, and she sat on "Amos watch" for quite a while after that hoping for another sighting!
The next day we awoke to fog across the water
and spent a good bit of the time waiting for locks.
Even though most of the day looked like a storm was brewing,
it never materialized.
Instead we enjoyed a great day going through residential areas
and waterside parks. Then spent the night on the Lock 18 wall.
The next morning we were off again on the Trent through Rice Lake and the Otonabee River. We wanted to get to Peterborough so that we could stay a couple of days.
A large graveyard in route.
Downtown Peterborough
We took a bike ride to the infamous Peterborough lift lock.
An impressive structure built in 1904.
It's a hydraulic "bathtub lock" with two "bathtubs" that seesaw up and down.
We were able to climb all around the structure checking it
out before we actually drove the boats to lock through.
Again, the access that Parks Canada allows the public to is incredible.
Here's the view from the top.
More views from the bike.
The marina was once again situated next to a park and Peterborough was having its Musicfest the night we were there. It was a free concert featuring Kira Isabella (Canada's Carrie Underwood) and Whitney Rose (a new, young country singer). We were able to get out early in the morning and get our chairs set up in another front row location. Amazingly enough no one bothers your stuff and you can leave it all day until the concert starts!
A cool pizza oven in the park.
Pazza Bella
Barefoot'n
Bucket List
Our awesome seats!
An incredible crowd!
Whitney Rose was so cute... and nervous! This was her biggest concert thus far!
Kira Isabella however was a different story. At only 19 years old she acted as a seasoned professional. We were most impressed and look forward to hearing more from her on the country scene.
As we pulled out of the marina the next day I took this shot of Bucket List showing how close we were again to the park and concert tent.
The next morning we were off to the lift lock. Heavy rains the night before had flooded the area above the lock. The area had to be drained before allowing boats through. We finally locked through at 11:20.
We followed Barefoot'n in and Pazza Bella and Bucket List came in right behind us.
Got our pics in then it was up to the top.
Here's the view from the top...
It was a slow day waiting for locks. Finally after Locks 22-23 the timing was better.
We decided to stay in Lakefield, ON on a lock wall with Bucket List and Pazza Bella.
This Lockside Store was located right beside us.
The best restaurant in town was right across the bridge in an old B&B.
It was a post office at one point and the new owners came up with a great use for the old mail slots.
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