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Trip Day:
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112
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Latitude:
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44°06.12 '
N
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Locks Today:
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0
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Miles Today:
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12
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Longitude:
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077°34.47' W
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Locks Total:
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38
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Total Miles:
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2,239
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Location:
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Trenton Fraser Marina
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Trenton was just a couple hours away and we were happy to see Marc and Betty on KatMan2 on the dock to greet us when we arrived.
Today is Canada Day so we will be celebrating by co-hosting a cookout on the dock between us for a few other boat couples, then we will watch the fireworks from the park just across from the marina.
We were so excited to have wifi—check email—post the blog—we are connected!
Tomorrow we will enter the Trent Severn Waterway which is suppose to be beautiful.
JUNE 30, 2012 BELLEVILLE, ON TRIP DAY 111
Knowing the winds would be strong in the afternoon, we got an early start and were underway by 5:30 this morning. We were rewarded with a picture perfect sunrise and calm water. The banks are steep with beautiful trees and limited homes or communities on this stretch of the channel.
Our destination today was Trenton, but by 1:30 the winds had really increased, nothing but whitecaps in sight, and our speed had decreased to less than 5 mph. After checking the weather to find that the winds of 17 were predicted to increase to 20 within the hour, we decided to turn around and go into the marina we had passed a mile back.
The strong winds made for a wild ride into the marina and thank goodness a fellow boater stepped up to take the bowline. All the boats are being bounced about the docks, but it should be fine by nightfall.
We feel we are officially in Canada—Ron hit the ATM and now has the Queen Mum in his pocket. The Canadians we met in Phoenix, Rick and Deb, had told us we had to order Poutine in Canada. So, Poutine it was . . . French fries, gravy and cheese curds. It’s everything it sounds like, eh? Check that off the list, don’t need to try Poutine again!Draft and canned beer was $5.75, canned coke or iced tea $2.00, but the good news was that the price included the 15% tax. Food prices were about the same as the states.
Remember. . . . the winds had been strong for days in upstate New York so crossing Lake Ontario was out of the question. Last night the winds were predicted to be very light out of the south or southwest—perfect! So, we left the Oswego dock at 9:00 PM and headed into Lake Ontario which was flat calm, cool and a bright moon which gave us good visibility. The first 10 miles were uneventful and we were enjoying the peace of the evening, then we realized there was a boat coming up on our stern with flashing lights. Ron immediately understood that the vessel was the US Coast Guard and told me to drive our course so they could come along side and perhaps intended to board our boat. 
A very young officer requested permission to board as they came along side, matching our speed and two Coast Guard personnel transferred to our boat. Long story short, they boarded and conducted a safety inspection in a very professional manner. It was a little unnerving since it was dark and I was trying to steer a compass course while being blinded by the cabins lights and answer questions posed by the second officer. When they left I felt good that the U. S. Coast Guard had recorded our float plan and knew we were crossing into Canada—the Calvary was aware of our position. 
We made good speed for our 50 mile crossing, in fact at 3:30 a.m. Ron reduced speed to assure rising light for entering the North Channel west of Amherst Island. The first half of the crossing was enjoyable as we sipped hot coffee for warmth and the caffeine buzz. Around 1:30 the winds increased and were out of the west, which was not predicted and the lighting storm on the western shore certainly didn’t help. The wave motion in the dark was unnerving to Jean, although the seas were not high, the lack of a point of reference on the horizon was disconcerting, even with calm encouragement from the captain. By five as we entered the channel, the winds had increased to 15 kts on the nose so the calm of Prinyer Cove was a welcomed sight. Ron raised the yellow quarantine flag since it was too early to go ashore to clear customs, then we crashed for a couple of hours sleep. Only the captain is allowed to leave the vessel until clearing customs which was simply a phone call from an official station. All the boaters we have met said they always cleared by phone and have never been boarded. So the quarantine flag is down and the Canadian flag was raised on the bow with our port of origin US flag on the stern. Since the winds were 20 kts by noon, we rested and took it easy for the remainder of the day. 
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