Bellevile, Ontario- Trent Port Marina, Trenton, Ontario

June 28-29 Thurs, Fri, Sat  Crate Marine to Trent Port Harbor

The morning was a busy one, quickly loading the bikes and heading out.  The short ride to Trenton was an easy, smooth trip.  This marina is also new, the facilities are pristine and the dock-hands scurry around to assist and get your boat secure before they head to the next one.  The batteries on Greeks Folly no longer hold a charge so Tom and John head out on bikes and purchased 6 new batteries to be delivered at the end of the day.  The captains/mechanics work in our engine room to get the old ones out, receive and install the new ones; all in a day's work.  The evening continues with a welcoming cocktail hour with AGLCA members (Looper Association), music in the park, and fish and chips at Captain Georges - on the corner.  The day was very productive, well planned and acquiring the batteries was a major accomplishment and relief to the captain.  On Friday, we attended an all-day seminar and were educated on the Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay, and the North Channel - the 3 areas we will by traveling on this leg of our cruise.  The Trent-Severn is a waterway with 44 locks, within many lakes and winding rivers.  The Georgian Bay and North Channel consist of a hug body of water with many islands (over 30,000), beautiful scenery, the Canadian Shield, and many rocks - many submerged and many visible.  We are looking forward to all 3 of these distinct and different cruising experiences.  We were awaken as the boat jerked, the wind blew and the thunder boomed.  We quickly secured things on the back deck, closed all windows and heard the rain pour down.  The storm blew in quickly and its fierce moments and it was over.  By 1000 we were on the biked with blue skies overhead, pedaling into town for the farmers market.  We walked the town and then rode to the first lock/  Some of us made it there (Tom and John) and some of us turned around to avoid the forest trail and headed home.  There was a couple who were locals and they gave use an extensive overview of the Georgian Bay and North channel.  There were 10 of us sitting at a table with charts, highlight markers, notebooks, and I pads with nav programs, all talking about the beautiful anchorages and adventures ahead of us on our route.  James and Mary Jane were wonderful in sharing their local knowledge.  The evening continued with docktails on the back of Short Vacation with laughs and fun.

On route to Belleville, Short Vacation followed by Aurora

two beautiful Defevers

The marina building at Trent Port. A first class operation all around.

Great harbor hosts, Eric and Karen. They were the best.

The marina is city owned but they didn't spare any expenses/

Beautiful showers( better then home) boaters lounge, ice cream store,

and FREE laundry. This must be heaven.

Moored at the end of the dock behind, Imagine. A boat we last

saw last summer in Quebec City. They did the outside Loop around

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

 

Steve and Diane's last we all went out for sushi. This is

the before picture when the sushi boat arrived.

 

This is after it hit the reef and sunk. Excellent sushi!

Steve with Christiana on her and Manny's boat. Christina is

Greek and gave us her father's family cook book along with

some of the secret family spice. She and her husband, Manny

were incredible hosts for just having met them.

Did I tell you we were in the flight path of a major

Canadian air force base. These guys went over the marina

all day long practicing.

Biked out to National Air Force Museum of Canada

and it was very nicely done.

A very knowledgeable docent who led us around on

a tour of the first floor.

 

 

 

July 1, Sunday Happy Canada Day

Today is independence day for Canada and they have a town celebration.  The festivities are at the park out on the point and include of course food, crafts, booths sponsored by local organizations as well as a car show,  local Canadian Idol, music by the Joyful Noise choir, Armed Forces Wives choir, a strong man competition, helicopter rescue demo, and fabulous fireworks.  Everyone is wearing a "Canada "shirt or a red shirt, us included.  It is hot -30C or 92F.  The breeze is blowing so we sit under a shade tree to enjoy the days festivities.  Although we are celebrating Canada, it looks very similar to any small town US July 4th celebration.


 

 Celebrating July 1, Canada day. Heading to the festivities.

 

They had a strong man completion, where the contestants

had to pull this truck across the parking lot.

Steve, John, and Pam listening to the Trenton Idol

competition

Hey, celebrating Canada Day isn't all that easy

They have a BIG weed problem in the marina so they

hire these guys ti bring in special machinery to cut and rake

the weeds. took them two days to do the marina.

This machine they built them selves.

This machine would cut the weeds and then with

another attachment on the front it collected the weeds.

They bought this machine in the Netherlands

 

July 2, 3, 4 Mon, Tues, Wed, Trent Port Marina

These three days are the typical life of a boater who is in a marina.  We chose to stay in a marina for the holidays which gives use time.  Last night, the main electrical switch on the panel blew out a circuit and produced a small flame before Tom blew it out. Monday consisted of a two-man work day to install a rotary selector switch.  Tom and John spent the day running wires, crimping wires and testing connections.  During that process, Colletta is the gopher to get parts and tools as needed.  The captains did a great job, and things are repaired and working. Tuesday was a running around day, which included getting a fishing license, checking out parts of town which we may have missed and enjoying A&W Root Beer.  Steve and Diane were preparing to leave Wednesday morning so we all got together for a Thai Sushi dinner - delicious.  Wednesday was July 4th so we visiting the Canadian Air Force museum a short bike ride away.  Tom and John especially enjoyed all the exhibits and history of the planes and their restoration process.  It was still hot - 89 F so a stop at D.Q. was a necessity.


The sushi boat arrives.........


 

 
The sushi boat after it hit the reef and was consumed.......

 

July 5-6  Thurs and Fri - Trent Port Marina

Tom has developed a problem with his hearing in that his left ear has no hearing.  Thursday Tom rented a car so on Friday we can return to Syracuse, NY and see a doctor to do a diagnoses on his ear.  Because we have a car for 2 days, Tom takes his bike to a bike shop to get his wobbly rear tire fixed too.  On Friday morning we all leave early-4 am- and make it to the hospital by 7 am.  John and Pam take the car and run their errands to the apple store and the mall while Tom gets seen first by an emergency MD, then the Head of the ER, then the junior ENT resident, and then the senior ENT resident.  We finally walk to a medical office building, see the specialist, have 2 hearing tests done, get a steroid shot in his ear, and make an appt for 2 weeks out. What an experience.  On the way back to the boat, we stop for groceries, stop at Brewerton for boat parts for John, and again cross the bridge into Canada.  The day was filled with "hurry and wait" moments as well as thankfulness for being in the right place at the right time.  There is no assurance Tom will regain his hearing but as least we needed to do what we can to try.