Friday June 30 - Canada!

Friday June 30 - Canada!

We had read that the local grocery store in Clayton would pick you up at the dock and bring you and your groceries back.  Sure enough, we called the Shur-Fine grocery store, and a nice lady picked us up in the store van.  As we were shopping, a young employee heard us say Knoxville, and excitedly told us hat her grandparents lived in Pigeon Forge.  Small world.  Shopping completed, our friend returned us to the dock.  And the store had provided shopping carts at the marina to take things to the boats on the dock! 

This is one of the very few places that we have seen covered docks.  Is that because of the snow?  I would think all the boats would be out of the water before it snows.

We pulled out headed for Gananoque, Ontario. 

Our original plan had been to cruise further down (up) the St. Lawrence and tour Boldt Castle, on Heart Island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River and the 1,000 Islands area.  Danny’s hip is still bothering him, so we ruled out the castle tour.  Taking that away, it didn’t seem smart to go 12 miles downriver only to come 12 miles back. With our limited time, we decided to head for Kingston and then the Trent-Severn Waterway.

The weather stayed rainy and gloomy all day.  So much for my gorgeous pictures.  The 1000 Islands are beautiful and personable, if land can be personable.  Little houses on little islands, rocks, big houses, docks underwater, gazebos - something to look at in every direction. 

Gananoque was our first port in Canada so we had to clear customs.  The dock master instructed us to pull up to the pump-out dock rather than to our slip.  Only one person was permitted to get off the boat until we received clearance.  Danny took our visas, driver’s licenses, proof of insurance, and registration to a dedicated phone outside the office and called in the information.  I had been so worried that they would ask about alcoholic beverages, but Danny’s answer of “legal amount of ship’s stores” was not questioned.  Thank you, Pat and George Hospodor for your advice.

While Danny was gone, a gentleman stopped by the boat calling, “Hey, Looper.”  He and his wife live in Ottawa and are doing month-long trips until they are ready to take off on the big one.  We had a nice conversation and promised to get together.

The marina was nice, with lots of boats and people. 

It was lunch time!  We unloaded the bikes and headed to town.  We ate at a local brewery, then walked around a little.  The town was celebrating Canada Day with a RibFest.  We felt right at home.

The water at the docks is amazingly clear.  This doesn’t show it very well. 

The sunset was amazing!