Gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway

Days on cruise:  92

Distance traveled:  11.3 miles

Travel time:  1 hr, 23 mins

Total Trip Odometer:  2,137

We left Belleville early and wound our way west through the Bay of Quinte, following circuitous, unlikely-seeming channels to avoid shallow water, through marks that are difficult to spot because the Canadians use MUCH smaller buoys than we’re accustomed to in the U.S.  Even with binoculars, we often can’t spot a red or green mark until we’re almost upon it.  Electronic and paper charts sure do come in handy!

While docking at Fraser Park Marina, Frank and Debra, tied up just in front of us, came out to catch our lines. After briefly exchanging stories of where we’re from and where we’re headed, Debra offered that they have a rental car for a few days and would be happy to take us to buy groceries and other provisions to last for a while. Since we’d planned to walk to various stores, we would only be able to buy small quantities and need to shop often, so we jumped at their generous offer.

First we walked to the Saturday Farmer’s Market and stocked up on vegetables, pesto and white bean dip (home-made).  Next Debra took us to The Beer Store (yes, in Ontario there are large orange shops by this name which sell only beer), and then the Liquor Store for wine. We depleted our supply of alcohol before going through Canadian Customs so as not to be over the limit.

After stashing all that on the boat, we walked to the grocery store, and an hour later, Debra picked us up and took us back to the boat.  Nice, eh?  So we invited Frank and Debra to join us on our boat for appetizers and drinks.

Turns out Frank and Debra are “Platinum Loopers”, having completed the entire trip TWICE! They’re Canadian and live on Georgian Bay, the next place we’ll visit after we finish the Trent-Severn Waterway. Their favorite part of the Loop was the inland rivers from Chicago down to Mobile, Alabama, so they plied us with stories of that stretch, keeping us laughing about radio communications with the tow operators pushing mammoth barge loads, 5 by 7 barges in size. Frank and Debra travel with Gibbs, their 6-month-old German Shepherd, as well as a feisty cat.

Tomorrow we begin our journey up the winding 240-mile Trent-Severn Waterway which has man-made canals  connecting dozens of rivers and lakes, with 45 locks including several of a most unusual variety.  As we’re told by many that this is the most spectacular part of the Great Loop, we’re excited to be spending the summer in this region.