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So the voyage begins! Despite overcast skies and mild hangovers, we left Oakville harbor right on schedule at a few minutes before 11:00 this morning. Geoff, Odette, Andrea and Tod all came down to wish us bon voyage and delivered a lovely mint plant for Rainer's mojitos. Sandy called and said that she and Tay would try to get down before we left but Rainer was anxious to get started so I don’t know if they managed to see us on our way down the river or out on the lake. The water is pretty calm but the sky is gray and it looks like it might rain. Rainer has assured me that now that we are past the Petro plant, there are multiple places to pull in should the weather get bad. Feeling quite comfortable with the motion despite the fuzzy head and feeling optimistic about the weather since a few spots of blue sky are beginning to appear. Maybe we'll get to RCYC after all! Took the wheel for a while. Sure a lot easier than the tiller! (Sorry Woodwind!) Sky is definitely lightening and seeing a lot more blue. I'm surprised at the colour of the water this close to Toronto, actually quite blue. Arrived RCYC at 2pm, assigned slip #241 on the inside, between sail boats. Docked nose in very smoothly with the help of a couple of members on shore but could have done it on our own since Rainer's aim was bang on! All tied up and opened first beer of the day by 2:20 pm. Tom Smeenk, his brother Richard and his wife, stopped by after racing on a friends boat and had a few drinks. We enjoyed a lovely barbecue dinner, just the two of us, and toasted the start of our journey.
Monday, August 24th, 2009 Got up around 8 and took advantage of the lovely shower facilities. Rainer called Mike to wish him a happy birthday. Left RCYC at 9:30 and arrived at Newcastle at 3:00 pm. Pretty bumpy ride from 1:00 onwards but nothing that we couldn't handle. Had a few beer at the marina restaurant sitting on the patio looking out at Perlita. What a lovely sight and it turned out to be a lovely sunny afternoon even with the wind. Lamb chops for dinner - mmmmm. Early to bed since we wanted to get off early the next morning.
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 Left Newcastle at 7:40 am. Beautiful sunny morning, cabin top and docks damp with dew. The first few hours were beautiful; sun, blue skies, flat water. Started to ge a bit lumpier and the wind picked up, coming from the south west. By the time we rounded Presqu'le, I was ready for a drink! Even in the inlet as we approached Gosport, the wind was a bit tricky. Pulled into the marina, went up to the little restaurant to check-in and treated ourselves to a lovely lunch of seafood chowder and egg salad croissants accompanied by Waupoos cider. Later in the afternoon, a big 50 foot Grand Banks trawler, Beaufort, pulled in behind us. We chatted with the new owners and the previous owner who was showing them the ropes and they kindly offered us a tour. What a difference 16 ft. can make. We reciprocated and gave them a tour of Perlita. We are very proud of her and I feel a lot more comfortable after seeing the way she handled in the 1.5 metre waves we endured earlier today. Another lovely barbecue dinner and early to bed.
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 Woke up to drizzly gray skies, yuck! At least the air was still warm and we were situated in a lovely spot. Took our time having our coffee and getting organized for our departure. Even went up to the restaurant and had an early lunch of their wonderful chowder before heading out. Left Gosport at 12:30 under clearing skies. By the time we crossed the bay to the entrance of the Murray Canal, the skies were blue and the sun was warm. I took lots of pictures as we motored through the canal this being the first time through for me, yes, my first canal! I was really delighted by the cup on the end of a pole used by the bridge operator to collect the fee! By the time we exited the canal, it was really warm and sunny and I took advantage by doing a bit of sunbathing. As we traveled out on the Bay of Quinte towards Belleville, we saw Mike's company jet continually circling out of Trenton. Actually, Mike's ship was due to leave Halifax at 2 in the afternoon headed for Toronto. We hope that we may see him somewhere along the way before we cross the lake and head into the Erie Canal at Oswego. Arrived in Bellevile at 3:30 after a lovely afternoon on the water. Checked in at 4pm. Rainer had a beer and I had a pear cider which was really good and might become my replacement for beer! Went for a bit of a paddle up the inlet and then up the river as far as the bridge. Also went for a walk with Rainer after dinner just as far as the first main intersection. Didn't appear to be anything going on close by so walked back down to the boat. Three young men traveling on an Alberg 30 were docked across from us and entertained us with their music and laughter well into the evening. We had a few hours respite when they went into town at 11pm and didn't return until 2:30 in the morning!
for location see charts section Thursday, August, 27th, 2009 Very chilly this morning. Turned the heater on in the state room for Rainer while I went to put on the coffee and do the dishes that I hadn't done the night before. We have decided to spend the day here in Belleville and leave early tomorrow morning and try to beat the rain to Picton. It wouldn’t make sense to pay for the first night and not use our second night free! Besides, the Beer Store is walking distance and it's a gorgeous sunny day. Might even do a bit more paddling later this aft. We decided to leave Belleville today instead of waiting till tomorrow. Didn't want to take the chance of getting caught in the rain. The trip from Belleville to Picton was beautiful; blue skies all the way. Tied up at the Prince Edward Cruising Club in front of the Claremont Inn. Went up to the Acoustic Grill to meet with Pat and have dinner and a few drinks. Friday, August 28th, 2009 Moved the boat to the town docks so that we would be closer to the Picton Harbour Inn where Tom and Janet were staying Friday and Saturday night, my parents were staying Saturday through Monday and Caroline and Jean-Pierre would also be on Monday night. Went for dinner at Currah's with Tom and Janet followed by drinks at some back alley bar. Then we decided to check out The Funky Carp before heading to bed. Saturday, August 29th, 2009 Drove out to the Waupoos Cidery with Janet & Tom after breakfast and sampled some wonderful ciders including an ice cider. We also went to one of the wineries. Perfect activity for a rainy day! Got back to Picton in time to meet up with Mama and Papa. Gave them a tour of the boat. Alex and John also drove down from Ottawa for the day. All eight of us ended up going to the Acoustic Grill for dinner. Sunday, August 30th, 2009 Went to the local church with Mama and Papa for the 10 am mass. Afterwards, went and met up with Janet and Tom to say goodbye. Janine and Steve, along with Simon and Cole, came to meet Mama & Papa, Yanick & Blaine and Rainer and me at the Waringhouse Restaurant. Did some grocery shopping on the way back to town. Yanick and Blaine headed off in the late afternoon and Janine and I took the boys to the park while Rainer and Steve had a few beers together on the boat. Mama and Papa came back down to the boat in the evening for a wine and cheese supper. We all made it an early night.
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for more photos see gallery five
for more photos see gallery five
