Behold -- The American Tourist!

There I was, walking through a supermarket in Canada and of course, I saw the lobster tank and thought nothing of it -- but then -- there it was! Right in my face and my space ... Trout! Swimming in a tank -- waiting to become someones dinner. And here stands the "tourist" camera at the ready, just having to take a picture of this for the folks back home. One of the employees asked if they were smiling for me and as I turn to my right, there's someone else, taking a picture of ME taking a picture of THEM! I'm glad I made someones day! My brother owns a fish store in Bay Shore. The motto on his numerous trucks reads: "When people say we're fresh, we say Thank You!" Well, Rog? You just can't get any fresher than this!!

Sling Shot Chairs

Ahhh, is it just me? Or is our species a litle crazy sometimes? Then again, look at the "tourist" who stopped to take the picture and speaking of that, stand by for this next shot ......

The only "snow" we hope to see this year

O.K. are you ready for this! Cottonwood trees are actually Populus Freemontii. You know I had to get on the Internet for this one. In places, it really did look like snow and it was all over the place. The tree, said the Internet, is 40-80' high, grows in wet soil (this was along the Eric Canal and I took the picture with my cell phone -- I don't download that a lot, so this is catch up), the cotton masses are easily airborne and I found it interesting and hope you will too :-)

Meet Angel

Angel is the apple of a retired couple's eye. They live in Young's Point by Lock 27. We spent part of the evening with this couple last night. They told us about a cute little out-of-the-way restaurant named "Granny's". The food was the best we've had so far on this trip and Salad, entree, dessert and coffee FOR TWO -- $40 and change. That wasn't even the best part! The best part was listening to the life story of a gentleman who was a cobbler by trade, but did much farming in addition to that to support his family. We laughed hardily listening to animal stories and characteristics of various types of farm animal. The couple just celebrated 55 years of marriage January past. He came over and had coffee with us this morning and before we began our journey this morning, she too, came over to bid us farewell. Wonderful people! A real blessing to the trip.

We caught another concert at Peterborough

The concert was followed by "the Festival of Lights" which was a fireworks display. This happens every Wednesday in Peterborough. The group put a lot into it, voices were quite nice. It wasn't a group we would have chosen to go and see yet we enjoyed the evening just the same. The name of the group was "Ambush."

Part of the Trent Severn

I took this picture to show how some of the waterway is so narrow. In places we can each reach out and touch trees on port and startboard at the same time.

Peterborough Lift Lock

This was quite an experience. In the first picture you see the two pans side by side. The left pan is elevated while the ferry and the Dubhe III was about to enter the right pan. Each of the two pans weighs 1300 tons when filled. With one pan up and the other down the two balance each other. It does not matter how many boats are in either pan. A boat displaces its own weight in water. When it is time to lower one pan and raise the other, one extra foot of water (130 tons) is allowed to enter the upper pan. This extra weight allows the upper pan to push down and raise the lower pan to the top level. The two pans are locked in place and the extra water is let out of the lower pan. Boats enter and exit the upper and lower pan and the process is repeated.

The family of Osprey

This evening we are docked alongside a no-name bridge. The Osprey nest was some distance away. As an experiment I used the binoculars (one side) and placed the camera lens directly on the eye piece. Here is what we got. There are actually two "babies" in the next. Jamie, I know you will correct that terminology. These are NOT called babies, and my more knowledgeable friends will tell me so. We certainly enjoyed the view.

The aerial view

This was the aerial view after locking through the two sets of back to back locks (flight locks) which raised us 54'

This was a new experience - a Flight Lock

There were two flight locks today. Locks 11 & 12 which raised us 48' and locks 16 & 17 which brought us up another 54'. Coming out of the first lock, you immediately enter into the second lock. In a minute I'll show you just how high that looks.

So, what does one DO while waiting for the Lock to open

SOME of us clean the teak (that would be the CREW) while OTHERS of us read! (And that would be the captain) Did this man know when to be captain for the day, or what?

Lock 3 has no What????? :-(((((

Arriving Lock #1 in the Trent-Severn, they locked us through and then asked us to tie up to their pier. Lock #3 they said, "Had No Water." That didn't sound very good to either of us and these two gentlemen (Brian and Brad) from Lock #1 were on their way to Lock #3 to "help out." They said it would be a few hours before the problem was rectified. The dam at Lock #3 had breeches in it and therefore the water level above lock 3 was lowered uncontrollable. They had to close the breeches in the dam with additional wood and walling, for lack of a better word.

Last stop before entering the Trent-Severn

The dock master was so much fun. A very nice man indeed. Full of laughter -- congenial and most helpful where ever he could be. It was our favorite marina so far. Concerts. Motorcycles. Homemade ice cream! Yes, indeed. A very nice marina.

Does this have my name on it????

Let's see. The Loop? That was Ron's dream. So ahhhh what will 2008 bring? Hummmm.

Joel and Beth

For seven years, this couple has operated as volunteers for the Ride for Sight event. It's like anything else, a few hands do it all and this year they decided to step down and let somebody else do it. So this is the first year they have had a chance to see the parade and enjoy the festivities. They were wonderful to have around, as they were receiving phone calls from people on the run (the parade) who gave updates as to where and when the group would arrive. If you notice the great pictures preceding these, they were generated out of the inside information from these two terrific people. Beth is basically Joel permanent passenger since she misjudged some distance on her own bike and one concussion later, decided she'd had enough. But she still enjoys riding while he has control.

Meet Greg and Diane

Greg got this brand new bike for his 50th birthday in April. A week after he got it, his cousin dropped it! There is the teeniest, tiniest, eddy biddy ding on the port side BELOW the kickstand and it bothers him every time he rides it. While we talked, he polished the center of that bike twice! They do love these things. You would not believe the storage this bike provides. It was quite an interesting day.

Can you say Woodstock????

This is Carol with the Harley Truck behind her

She became our personal guide. Carol is a registered nurse, is transitioning through some personal problems, and riding is the greatest therapy she's received. She's also the mother of 5 with two sets of twins taboot! Bless her heart.

Fundraiser for the blind

Does this help people "see" more clearly who bikers really are -- generally!

This was the start of the biker parade

There had to be well over a thousand bikes attending this fund raiser. Such excitement. The "sound" of it was music to my ears as you all know how much I love those Harley's! And let me tell you, they must have heard them clear to Toronto.

The people of Trenton told us about this annual event

Ride for Sight. Last year the bikers collected $500,000. This year they were shooting for 4 million nationwide. This group celebrates it's 7th year here at Trenton. It was exhilarating and I'm glad we stayed an extra day to see it.

A concert at the marina

Our boat is docked to the extreme left. The concert began at 6 p.m. and lasted two hours. The group was very good and we enjoyed the music after a long day on the water.

Canadian Evolutions

We were the only boat on the water and they were using us for search and rescue patterns.

Trenton Marina Gateway to Trent-Severn

Walk after dinner - Collins Bay

An extra day at Collins Bay

If you look through the windshield, toward the distance clouds, you will see a bright and beautiful skyline surrounded by menacing looking thunderheads. This is the type of weather we had all day today. We thought better of leaving port, took a taxi into town and did some shopping.

We'll be in Canadian waters for about two months

This is the Canadian courtesy flag which should be flown the entire time we are visiting our neighbors. We checked in at Collins Bay Marina, cleared customs, was assigned an identification number and they had no problem with Gilligan so long as his papers were all up to date and rabbies current. All in all, it was not a bad experience and the people here have been very hospitable so far. The area is beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Thousand Island Bridge

It's just too beautiful!

I wish I could do justice to just how beautiful this area really is. Without a panoramic camera, I couldn't even begin. Today we were in the Canadian Middle Channel which is north and almost parallel with the St. Lawrence River. I'll try to blog some of the better shots. I wish each one of you were here with me to enjoy the view.

"Home is where the boat floats"

Good to be "home." Gilligan is glad the tour is over.

You KNOW I wouldn't pass a library!!!!

Moon River

This picture is mostly for our three kids. Dad asked me to go stand on the stairway like the bride coming down the stairs. As I started to climb, the music changed and Moon River began to play! Yes, we did indeed dance at the top of that staircase and passerby's ? O well.

(For those of you who don't know -- Moon River was the first dance at our wedding 40 years ago, and one we request almost everywhere we go) Gee, do you think the castle is haunted by good guys????

Some of the architecture

The staircase

Can you just picture yourself coming down to great your guests? No, me neither! How'd they ever FIND one another in a place like this????

The Gazebo

You KNOW I couldn't pass by a gazebo.

And here's the underground passage

The original entrance to this tunnel was at the servant's dock on the water's edge. Goods were to be transported from barges by way of the tnnel to storage rooms within the Castle. This was to avoid the main floor as it was considered in bad taste to have guests see servants! The kids playhouse was just off this passage and then another tunnel brought them up just feet from their playhouse entrance.