Greek's Folly on the Great Loop: Sat, Sun Aug 5-6 Anchorage to Kingston ON

Sat, Sun Aug 5-6 Anchorage to Kingston ON

Our plan was to pull up anchor early and travel to make the 0900 opening at Lock 43. The bottom surface of this anchorage was mud and weeds, and we pulled it all up. It took over 45 minutes to pull the anchor up, using the boat hook to pull seaweed off the chain and anchor, disentangle a 4 ft. log which had the chain wrapped around it, and to dislodge a second log in the claws of the anchor. We took turns driving, pulling off weeds and together dislodged the logs. We were very relieved when we were finished - free at last. The journey today involved the last 7 locks on the Rideau Canal, many boats traveling on this long holiday weekend and attentively steering thru narrow, well marked, shallow channels. On the chart plotter, the area was all green to signify grasslands; no blue for water. On the chart plotter it looked as if we were cutting someone's lawn. The 30 mph wind blew all day which was an added challenge entering and leaving the locks as well as in the open water on the small lakes. After the last lock, we raced - as fast as a trawler can race - to catch a lift bridge. The bridge tender was very considerate of the wind and water conditions and opened the bridge quickly for us. We entered the marina basin in Kingston, headed to our assigned slip and with the strong winds we had 5 dock-hands on the pier ready to "catch us." We were very happy to be secured to a pier. It was cold on the aft deck, so we headed into downtown Kingston, which was right off the marina pier. We walked up Princess Street just as the shops were closing for the day. We ate dinner at a Pub, then back to the boat. We were exhausted. Tom was in bed by 2030 and lights were out before 2200.

The next morning, we got the bikes off and rode to church. Kingston was hosting a triathlon, beginning and ending at the waterfront so roads were closed and a lot of people were mulling around. We did our sightseeing by bike- the Penitentiary museum, the Bellevue House and a car ferry ride (on bikes) to Wolfe Island. The rain fell on and off all day forcing us to seek coverage and move between the raindrops. The winds finally calmed and the evening on the back deck was comfortable. Pam and John brought over a birthday cake (3-2-1 cake) and ended Colletta's birthday with singing and chocolate - Perfect!!

The ball of weeds and a log underneath. What a
way to start your morning

The slow process of removing the "salad" as we
called it.

This is what the chart plotter looked like when crossing By Lake.
It looked like we were cutting across someone's lawn. Very narrow channel
with stubs and dead heads outside the channel

The Kingston Mills Locks. The final locks on the Rideau canal,
A very windy day. Luckily we were going down in these locks
which makes for an easier ride in the ;lock.