Kingston to Trenton

This morning (Saturday 6/24) we were up at 6am and left the dock before 7!  The forecast is rain without wind....good day for traveling up the northern shore Lake Ontario to Trenton.  About the time I got the lines and fenders put away the rain started.  It didn't last long and we were traveling in mostly cloudy skies and the water couldn't have been flatter.  

   

We made it Trent Port Marina.  The marina was very nice.....free laundry, including the soap and softener!  We had dinner at Wahoo in Trenton.  As the day went on more boats came in and tied up before heading into the Trent.  Were going to stay tonight and Sunday night to get provisions and clean the boat before we kick off our trip through the Trent-Severn Waterway!  

Sunday morning most of the transient boats left to start their journey.  We spent the sunny warm day doing laundry, washing the boat and gathering provisions.  Sunday afternoon, several boats came in for the night before starting the Trent.  One more night and we will be on our way!

Monday morning, I worked while Willy helped our fellow loopers off the dock.  Once I was off work, it was finally our turn to begin our journey!

 

Clayton to Kingston

Thursday was another sunny and warm day!  We did receive our package and we are headed to Kingston, Ontario!

The ride over was smooth.  Once crossing over into Canada we had to raise our yellow quarantine flag until we have cleared into Canada.  Clearing in was really easy, once docked a quick call to answer some questions and we were cleared.  Down came the yellow flag and up went the Canadian flag!  

We stayed in Confederation Basin Marina in Kingston, which is right in the middle of downtown.  There is a lively park just off the docks and it was bustling with live music, tourists going on ferry excursions, simply enjoying the park and dining.  Both days were warm with a nice breeze.  We enjoyed exploring the city.  Willy found Kingston had a McDonalds close to the docks and pick-up breakfast on Friday morning!

The park was built around the old train station, which was renovated and now the welcome and information center.  The original train was also on display. 

As we were coming in to port we noticed several of these towers specked along the shore.  We had the opportunity to tour one that was close to town, it was called the Murney Martello Tower.  It was the last of the Martello Towers built.  These were armed with guns and cannons.  There are three levels.  The basement had several rooms for storage and a jail cell.  The living quarters was on the main floor and a  very large cannon was upstairs.  The cannon was on a track which could be moved to fire in any direction.  

Interesting....but the ditch around the fort was not for water....it's called a dry ditch.  

The staircase to the top of the tower.  

The cannon room on the top floor. The roof could be removed for times of battel and rebuilt during quite times to protect the tower from the elements.   

There were several parks along the waterfront and I took the opportunity to see just how cold the water was.  It was chilly!

Cheers in her slip in Kingston!

Friday we had an early dinner at Dianne's Fish & Chips.  We both got fish and shrimp, so good!     

Tomorrow morning is going to be an early one.....we have a 10 hour ride to Trenton, where we will hang out for a couple of days to prepare for entering the Trent-Severn Waterway!

Trip Summary Sandusky OH to Clayton NY 2023

Our first leg of this years journey took us from our home port of Sandusky Ohio thru the Western Erie Canal, Oswego Canal, Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River to Clayton New York. We covered 455.5 NM in 82.8 hours averaging 5.5 knots. We used a total of 145 gallons of diesel averaging 1.75 GPH and 3.1 NMPG.   

Date	Departure/Arrival	Miles	Hours	Locks
05/31	Sandusky to Vermilion	18.4	4.0	0
06/01	Vermilion to Cleveland	32.0	5.2	0
6/2-6/3	Cleveland to Buffalo	152.4	21.2	0
06/05	Buffalo to Tonawanda	12.0	3.0	1
06/06	Tonawanda to Gasport	20.3	4.5	2
06/07	Gasport to Albion	17.8	4.0	0
06/08	Albion to Holley	8.2	2.0	0
06/09	Holley to Brockport	3.8	1.0	0
06/10	Brockport to Spencerport	6.3	1.5	0
06/11	Spencerport to Fairport	20.8	5.0	2
06/12	Fairport to Newark	16.6	4.1	2
06/13	Newark to Lyons	4.8	2.1	3
06/14	Lyons to Baldwinsville	41.1	7.1	2
06/16	Baldwinsville to Brewerton	18.3	4.3	2
06/17	Brewerton to Oswego	26.9	6.7	8
06/19	Oswego to Clayton	55.8	7.1	1
		455.5	82.8	23

Oswego to Clayton NY

Monday morning we were up and ready for Lock 8 to open at 7 to get out on Lake Ontario.  This was the first time we actually shared a lock with more than just one boat.  It was full.  Sorry, too busy to take a pic!

I was able to work while we went across the lake.  It was a bit bumpy at first but flattened out and the rest of the ride was perfect!  We made it to Clayton, NY.  Really beautiful place, quite and peaceful.  We ended up staying here until Thursday, waiting for a replacement light.  

A little backstory here.....in Buffalo we took down the mast and ended up busting our anchor light.  We ordered one right away, but of course it went to Florida.  Once in FL, our mail service packed it up with all our other mail and shipped it to Clayton.  We were expecting to have the package Wednesday, but it didn't come....oh well, if you need to stuck somewhere....this is the place to do it!

We decided to take advantage of the extra time and booked an island excursion that included a stop and tour of Heart Island & Boldt Castle.  The castle was built by millionaire George Boldt, who was famous for managing the Waldorf Astoria in NY.   In 1900 he purchased an island in Alexandria Bay and began to have a 120 room castle built to display his love for his wife, Louise.  What a coincidence!  

Unfortunately, Louise died from an illness in 1904.  George halted all the construction and he never stepped foot on the island again.  For 73 years the castle and island were left without care and was vandalized.  In 1977 the Thousand Island Bridge Authority acquired the property and has since spent 60 million dollars restoring the island and the castle.  

There are 6 floors in the castle, but only the first two floors have been totally restored.  We were able to see the other 4 floors, which showed the wear and vandalism.  

Front entrance

Dinning Room

Ballroom

Library

Bedrooms

 

Outbuildings including the boat house

Unfinished and unrestored rooms on the 3-6 floors. 

Wednesday was warm and sunny!  Summer has finally arrived!   We had a great day and topped it off with dinner at The Channelside Restaurant.  I had the lobster mac & cheese and Willy got a burger, both were delicious!  And the view was awesome.  

Back on the boat to watch the sunset. 

Tomorrow we hope to have our package so we can proceed to Kingston, Ontario!

Lyons to Oswego

 We left Lyons headed to Baldwinsville.  This was a 7 hour ride and it rained the entire time!  

Passing the Montezuma aqueduct ruins. 

We made it to Baldwinsville just before dark and called it a day.  

Thursday morning we woke up to bright sunshine and clear skies.  Took care of some chores and explored the town.  This town was pretty big compared to others we've visited, but very quaint.   

Baldwinsville has an island between the lock and the mainland.  On the island they have a stage, where they have live concerts June to August.   

This is the dam next to the lock wall where we stayed. 

We had several dinner options here!   On our walkabout we kept an eye out for how busy each restaurant was.  Several restaurants have good ratings....but the one's that have good ratings and full tables has got to be good.  The busiest place with a 4.9 star rating was The Angry Smokehouse.  Enough said!  It did not disappoint........soooo good I forgot to take a pic!

Friday afternoon we pushed off from Baldwinsville, NY headed to the city of Oswego via the Oswego Canal, but decided to take a 10 mile side trip to Brewerton to top off our fuel before crossing into Canada.  The side trip to Ess-Kay Marina saved us $2 a gallon, well worth the trip!  And as a bonus, a group of us Loopers went to dinner in town thanks to the marina's courtesy car!   

This is where the Eastern Erie, Western Erie and the Oswego Canals converge.  

Saturday morning we left Ess-Kay Marina in hopes that we would make it through Oswego Lock 7, which closed at 5pm.  

Fellow Loopers behind us in the lock...this was a deep drop!

We made it to Lock 6 at 4:55, but the Lock Tender graciously offered to go ahead and open Lock 7 for us!  On the other side of Lock 7, we tied up to the wall in Oswego. Sunday was a boat cleaning and provisioning day.  

Look at all the Loopers waiting for the weather window for crossing Lake Ontario Monday morning!

 

Brockport to Lyons

Saturday we left Brockport headed to Spencerport.  We got a very nice surprise!  Spencerport Fire Department was having their annual festival!   It was pretty good size with two bands and the Fire Department was running a charity casino right on the canal.  Talk about great timing!   

Sunsetting over Spencerport.

Roxie enjoying a walk around the boat.

We made our donation to charity on the Black Jack table.  

The bands were really good!  Begging Angles and Trist.  

Sunday we slept in and had a big breakfast before heading out on our 5 hour run to Fairport.  We will have multiple fixed bridges, a couple of lift bridges and two locks to transverse today.

One of the fixed bridges was close!

Sunday afternoon we settled down on the wall in the village of Fairport, NY.   Had dinner at Donnely's Public House.

Woke up to rain today.  "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down"....but just for a second. 😊

The forecast is for rain all day and we were itching to go so after I got off work we pulled our lines and headed out anyway.  We have two locks to go through today. 

So weird to see roads and shopping centers along the canal. 

We got to Newark, NY and stayed on the wall there.  It really did rain all day!  Dinner and movie on the boat!  

Tuesday morning we woke to sunshine!  After work and doing a couple of loads of laundry, we headed out to Lyons, NY.  We had a couple of locks to go through.  

Due to the 2.25 inches of rain the day before, the dams were flowing over.  The lock just before the wall in Lyons had a dam right next to it and it was churning!  The current made docking on the wall in Lyons just a little bit more challenging, but not too bad.   Had dinner at The Pour House.  

Wednesday morning we woke to another full day of rain!  While I worked, Willy walked over to McDonalds to grab breakfast.  We are missing fast food!  He took this pick from the bridge on his way back with a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit, Hashbrown and large Diet Coke for me!! Yum!