SATURDAY JUNE 4TH

We were ready and waiting by 7 a.m. for the last lock on the canal to open. Once we pass through this lock the next stop is the opposite side of Lake Ontario. With all the work we had done on the engines and them failing the first sea trial, our confidence level in them isn’t very high. Worse case scenario is we sink. But at least we’re in fresh water now so there won’t be any critters in the water swimming around viewing us as snacks. On the downside though is the water temp is only 42 degrees!

As we waited for the lock to open, we watched these IDIOTS making their way out on a railroad bridge that crossed the canal. Now it’s a Saturday morning before 7 a.m. Only explanation we could come up with as to why guys would be stripped to their skivvies trying to build up courage to jump from a bridge was they’re still all drunk from the night before. The lockmaster must have called the cops on these morons when he got to work because two police cars showed up right after this.













The New York canal system was originally built as a commercial passage from the East to the Midwest. The canals are narrow and now only used by pleasure craft. So to fund the canals users purchase a pass. Ours is valid for 2 days and cost 20 bucks.









It was a rainy day but Lake Ontario was very calm so it was an easy crossing. Did I mention that it was cold?

 Our destination was Trenton Ontario. As we crossed into Canadian waters we had to put out our quarantine flag to show that we had not cleared Canadian customs yet.

The rain had stopped by the time we reached Trenton. Once we got tied up in the marina Ross took our passports and went to clear customs. I can not even get off on the dock until the customs are cleared. There is a phone number to call in. You answer their questions (how many people, how much liquor, firearms?, has anyone been convicted of a crime, how long staying...),  give passport numbers and boat documentation number. You are then given a "report number" which we wrote on a piece of paper and taped up on our window. We found out that this is not the first time our boat has been to Canada as they had the registration number in their system. Oh, and FYI if you've had a DUI in the past 10 years you aren't allowed in to Canada. There may be a way to apply for entrance ahead of time but it involves paperwork and a lengthy process.



Once we cleared customs Ross took down the yellow quarantine flag and put up our Canadian courtesy flag. We will fly it most of the summer until we pass back in to the U.S.











This sailboat was tied up near us and we were fascinated watching them "step" their mast. Sailboats need to unstep their mast in order to pass under all the low bridges on the canal system. It was quite a process. This guy cranked a winch that raised it. They told me that many people have it done with a crane.























Half way up.















Almost there.

















Voila!