August 11, 2025
We left off just before we returned to Clayton, NY for the Antique Boat Show and Auction. We took a slip in “the other” municipal marina at the other end of town from the boat show. We figured it would be less congested and possibly quieter. The marina is fairly new and the docks were quite nice…..but the facilities were lacking. There were 50+ slips but only one shower and two toilets AND they were public so anyone could walk in off the street. They did lock them at night and we could access with a code but on such a big weekend, the marina was full and there was a line for the facilities, especially the shower. We used the facilities on our boat to avoid the hassle up the hill.
We got our bikes off the boat and rode down to check out the boat show. Lots of venders selling stuff outside the venue, lots of used boats for sale, and lots of people. We inquired about tickets and decided to wait till the following day and spend the whole day perusing the boats. We road on to the grocery store to replenish our fruit and beer supply.
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| My favorite boat - LaTeDa |
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| Kind of classic |
The next day dawned bright and sunny, promising to heat up later in the day. We arrived at the show just past opening, bought tickets and began admiring all the beautiful old boats. Some were displayed on land and others in the water. We went through La Duchesse, George Boldt’s of Boldt Castle, houseboat. We been through her before but more renovations had been done since 2018 and she is really looking great.
We walked down to see what boats were on the auction block and read about them. There was nothing there that was of interest to us. We stayed for a bit of the auction then headed back into town for an ice cream cone and to visit the hardware store where my niece once worked. We were out of spider spray and believe me that not good.
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| My favorite boat name- from Bell, Book, and Candle |
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| Look at all that bright work!! |
On Sunday, at the end of the boat show, all those beautiful boats that were in the water paraded down the waterfront for all to see. We took our chairs and a cooler and staked out a great spot to watch them all cruise past. It’s always such a treat to see these boats in the water cruising along. Baby Gar IX, LaTeDa, put on a real show peeling out at top speed heading back up the St. Lawrence towards their home port.
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| La Te Da again! Wish you could hear her engine roar! |
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| I love a navy blue hull |
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We planned on leaving Tuesday to anchor out in Picnic Cove on Pictor Island. We were heading back to Kingston on Friday to prep for a transit through the “Sunday Bridge”(La Salle Causeway Bridge) on Sunday and begin the Rideau Canal.
There was one other boat anchored in the cove when we arrived. Another trawler with their dinghy down so we expected they’d be staying for a bit. We anchored well away from shore in 16 ft of water hoping the bugs would stay away. We really didn’t need to worry about bugs, it was the other boaters that were the problem. We arrived at 10:45am. As the clock struck 11am the parade of day trippers into the cove began. By 1pm there were about 35-40 small boats, pontoon boats, jet skis and go-fast boats in the cove with us. So glad we didn’t go in close to shore. It was a major swim party/drinking party scene. The local border enforcement crews came through twice checking for rapists, fentanyl runners, and murderers. They used their binoculars to check out all the pretty girls too! For the most part, the party goers were no problem. Occasionally someone would wake us. Most of the time they just didn’t understand that even big boats feel their wakes. Everyone even the other trawler, left by dusk. And it was so quiet we could here the loons calling to each other. We had a very pleasant night at anchor.
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| Party Time |
The second day there was a repeat of the first. We did boat chores and relaxed and watched the swim party. It was mind boggling to think that many people could come out on a Thursday to play. We were ready to leave by the next morning. We left mid-morning heading west back to Kingston. This time we cruised down the Bateau Channel - a more coastal route- past Howe Island, where my friend Monica grew up, and Wolfe Island the largest island in the Thousand Islands. We got to Portsmouth Olympic Marina just as the Cigarette boats Entered in the Poker Run were beginning to show up. We were lucky we got a slip.
We spent the afternoon watching the go-fast boats launch at the marina. Launch ramps are always entertaining and this one was no exception. One very large boat had trouble getting in. His trailer was high-centering as it went over the top of the ramp. They finally got it in and then threw the keys to his truck to an onlooker and asked him to park it….this was a total stranger just watching like us. ( I’ve included a picture of the boat.) That night we watched the full Sturgeon Moon rise over the Kingston Penitentiary.
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| Sturgeon Moon over Kingston Pen 🤣 |
The next day we needed to provision for our weeks on the Rideau. There are few stops with shops to get food . We rode our bikes to the Basic Foods, a local grocery about two miles away. The center of Kingston was a madhouse. confederation Marina was packed with go-fast boats and people watching them race up and down the river. We rode home an alternate way to avoid the crowds in town.
On Saturday we watch the winged foilers compete for a place on the Canadian Olympic team. CORK - Canadian Olympic-training Regatta Kingston - operates out of the Portsmouth Olympic Marina. It was quite windy and they were have a great time racing right off the marina. We stayed till were we too sunburnt then headed back to the boat. After lunch we walked down the coastline a mile or so then back up into Portsmouth proper. We ordered Chinese and had a feast back on Carolina. We had to be up early for us and at the causeway by 9am.
We were at the opening 3 minutes before 9am and let the boat outbound through while we waited. Her name was Lady North and she called and gave us some vital info. about shallow spots along the canal. Can’t thank them enough.
Our first lock was really 4 locks or a flight of four. Our first locks on the Rideau. We pulled onto the “blue line” which is a dock that has a blue painted edge. This lets the lockmaster know we want to lock through. This is where we first encountered Wayne’s World. Wayne and Kelly helped us tie up and adjust our fenders for locking. The locks are set up just as the Erie Canal is with droplines that you wrap a line around to keep your boat from wandering or banging into other boats or the rock walls. We had our fenders a bit too high - they have to drag in the water to protect you from rubbing the rock walls at the top of the lift. All the locks are manually operated. They hire high school and college student for the summer to operate the valves and crank open gates and bridges. Once you graduate you are no longer eligible to work on the locks unless you are a lock master. They’re specially trained and higher paid than the students. Their job is permanent.
We continued on after Kingston Mills, our first four locks, to the bottom of Lower Brewer for two nights. Each lock has a park-like setting. Picnic table, grills, bathrooms and sometimes power and water. We were watching the weather and trying to get to somewhere halfway populated for the rainy day coming up. Wayne suggested we head to Kenney’s Hotel and Marina. So on Tuesday morning Wayne’sWorld and Carolina took off together for Elgin and Kenney’s. We lucked out and got spaces at the hotel there was a hotel and cafe/ice shop there to entertain us.
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| Wayne and Kelly Craig on Wayne’s World |
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| First lock in the Rideau Canal |
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| docked below Jones Locks at Kennedy Hotel |
After two days of rest and relaxation, we left on August 12th for a cruise through the Jones Falls locks - a flight of four. Wayne’s World is coming along too. We called ahead and we’re told there was space for us both with power. It’s still very hot and power is a must or we’ll have to run the genset all night. We are still locking up. We will reach the “summit” at the Narrows Lock which takes us the Upper Rideau Lake.
Our next lock is Davis Lock #38. This is a very remote lock. There is nothing near here to entertain us hence we only spent one night. At Davis we met a lovely couple from Montreal. Sandra and Sylvan were interested in our boat. They are traveling on a small Four Winns and are contemplating something larger. They loved our “back porch” and Sylvan was impressed with the engine room. They told us Chaffey Lock was the prettiest on the Rideau. They also said the Opinicon Restaurant was excellent. Can’t wait to get there.
On Friday the 15th moved on to Chaffey Lock. It was very crowded when we arrived . Boats waiting on both walls to lock through. Wayne’s World pulled in and got another boat to move up so we would fit. They’ve been such good friends! We were ally and they wouldn’t begin locking for another 30 minutes. That gave Bob time to make a new friend. Robert Blatter is the kind gentleman who moved his boat up so we could fit. He is from Montreal and had been to New Bern in his boat! Quite amazing. He was very informative and gave us the name of his yacht club if we ever needed help of any kind. He said, “ just tell them you’re friends of Robert Blatter and they will take care of you.” What a wonderful gesture.
Chaffey Lock is where Wayne’s World is ending their cruise. We tried to take them to lunch at the Opinicon but they had already eaten. We have thoroughly enjoyed their company. Kelly had a job in their school district similar to mine, so we had lots to talk about. Wayne was a mechanic by trade but has retired to building specialized motors for clients’ boats. We wished them well and Wayne chanted his mantra once more,” Bob, stay in the middle!!” Safe travels my friends.
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| Fine restaurant at the Chaffey Lock- we had lunch here |
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| Old Mill at Chaffey |
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| At Kenneys |
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| About the Rideau |
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| Empty lock tub |
Beyond Chaffey lock was the Newboro Lock and the Narrows Lock. The water was very thin again - 5’4” in some spots. The channel was very narrow, about 20-25’ wide. It was a nerve racking cruise to Big Rideau Lake. We were heading to Colonel By Island. Another recommendation from a total stranger in Trent Port while on the TSW. I’ll tell you all about our stay here in the next blog post.
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