GANANOQUE to CAMELOT ISLAND

WOW... Assume! 

This is what The Great American Loop Adventure is all about. The last two days have been simply glorious. Splendid weather (sunny and high 70's - Oh, that's right we have to think in Celsius, 19 degrees) and wonderful views aboard Thistle, while we zig zag through the Thousand Islands. 

We departed GAN and spent the last two days on a mooring at CAMELOT ISLAND, part of the Fleet Islands, in the Parks Canada - Thousand Islands National Park. 

We usually write, but today pictures speak a Thousand words :)

XO ... A big Thanks (Merci) to Family & Friends following our Blog.

Looper Tip: Purchase your yearly Seasonal Canadian Mooring and Lock pass online by March 31st and save 10% :)

Our course from GAN to CAMELOT ISLAND.

Thousand Island National Park.

Thistle on our CAMELOT ISLAND mooring.

The all important 2015 Canadian Seasonal Mooring and Lock Permits.

Captain Greg in our dingy "Bee" ... First launch of the season.

Sights from our hike around CAMELOT ISLAND.

Reenie hiking on CAMELOT ISLAND.

Map of CAMELOT ISLAND - our mooring location is circled in Red.

Our view from Thistle's stern and a picture of our four legged friends (Beau & Stella) on a nearby mooring.

Yes, we are the entertainment for the passing GAN Tour Boats.

(...I  just wonder what they are saying about us?)

A spectacular sunset to end a perfect day in the Thousand Islands. 

CLAYTON to GANANOQUE

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day to cross the St. Lawerence River from CLAYTON to GANANOQUE. We navigated through a few of the "Thousand Islands" dotting the St. Lawerence River leaving the United States and entering Canada. Before entering Canada, we refueled with diesel at RJ's Marina in CLAYTON.

Looper Tip: Fuel prices are much lower on the US side of the boarder!

The big task of the day was to clear Canadian Customs. Always a little confusing and stressful when entering by private vessel (even thought we are 100% legal :). Captain Greg called the appropriate Canadian Office aboard Thistle by phone once in Canadian Waters. Remotely we received our Canadian Reporting Number....Yeah! We then proceeded to the GANANOQUE Customs Dock and "officially" entered Canada by a simple telephone call! All in all pretty easy .... Eh?

Once in GANANOQUE we contemplated staying at the Marina, but decided on the historic Gananoque Inn. By renting a room for the night, Thistle is free to stay on the hotel dock for the night ( and Reenie gets to take a bubble bath - special treat :) The hotel also had nice bikes to ride around the town (we have our folding bikes aboard but, nice to have the option).

Please don't worry if you are wondering how to pronounce GANANOQUE? One way to remember its "The right way, the wrong way and the Ontario way GAN" ... Much easier :)

We had a local beer at the hotel, dinner at Stonewater, watched the NBA Finals in our room and had a great nights sleep ... We are pushing off the dock to the Thousand Islands National Park for the next few days!  

Our course from CLAYTON to GANANOQUE. 

Thistle - 122 Gallon fill up.

Beautiful Thousand Islands.

Canadian Customs in GANANOQUE. 

Thistle on the Gananoque Inn dock.

The historic Gananque Inn today, hotel bikes and spring flowers.

A painting of The Gananoque Inn in 1896.

GANANOQUE was an important port in the War of 1812.

Sights around the town of GANANOQUE.

The Gananoque Brewery... Our favorite was Thursty Pike Pilsner.

The ubiquitous Thousand Island Gananoque Tour Boats. (Red arrow, bottom right is pointing to Thistle.)

Happy Flag Day !

CAPE VINCENT to CLAYTON

CLAYTON is our new favorite town in the 1,000 Islands!

We docked in town early Thursday morning in gusty winds, planning on a quick one night stay? Three nights later we still here enjoying this all American town on 2015 Flag Day. Oh yes, it also helps the sun is finally shining :)

It was a short two hour early morning trip up the St Lawerence River from CAPE VINCENT to CLAYTON. During our stay here we went to our first Farmers Market of the season, a concert at the CLAYTON Opera House, the annual Antique Boat Museum Open House and attended the New York State Food and Wine Festival! They were all great events but, what we like about CLAYTON the most is the friendly small town charm and hospitality! The residents seem to go out of their was to be extremely helpful and accomidating and at the same time we have met interesting and fun fellow dock mates while sharing evening "Docktails".

Our Sunday Flag Day plan is to finish some provisioning this morning, say Bon Voyage to some new boating friends and enter Canada! 

From CAPE VINCENT to CLAYTON.

Interesting Farmers Market items: Home made fly swaters (with your favorite sports team logo), USA flag made from old fence posts and kissing fish made from coconuts. 

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Tribute Band at the CLAYTON Opra House... Great show!

World famous CLAYTON Antigue Boat Museum. 

The Great New York State Food and Wine Festival...the most interesting item was pure water made from Maple Trees.

CLAYTON NY...a very special all American Town in the 1,000 Islands.

Thistle on the CLAYTON town dock ( oh no, lots and lots of bugs to clean) ?

Happy Flag Day XO

OSWEGO across LAKE ONTARIO to CAPE VINCENT

We pushed off the OSWEGO wall Tuesday morning at 8 am and passed thorough our last lock on the OSWEGO canal. It's a bitter sweet departure this morning, as we like OSWEGO and met some wonderful fellow Loopers. Happily, a weather window opened, so we are crossing LAKE ONTARIO (where we learned  last year can be very treacherous.)

Our plan was to travel across the Lake and up the St. Lawrence River to Clayton, a long 65 mile day. About a third of the way across the Lake we started to hear reports of a squall line, with hail and severe wind headed our way. We promptly checked our weather maps and changed plans. Powering Thistle up to 2750 rpms or about 11 knots (to out race the approaching weather) we headied to the nearest marina in CAPE VINCENT, NY. Battening down the hatches the moment we docked .... Whew, we just made it :) 

FYI: We usually cruise 8 knots at 2000 rpms, and at WOT (wide open throttle) of 3300 rpms we can hit 13 knots. At 2000 rpms we use 2 gallons of diesel an hour. At WOT we probably burn 10 times that amount.

The town of CAPE VINCENT is unique because it is the only town in the United States where you can enjoy both LAKE ONTARIO and the St. Lawerence River at the same time. 

We walked around the small picturest town (year round population 2,500 and summer population 10,000 +). When the rain stopped we moved from the Town Dock to the CAPE VINCENT Fisheries Station Dock, where there are clean warm showers ( priceless and free). It was a very bouncy rough night, with wind waves and wake from the "Lakers".  After an almost sleepless night (not complaining just part of our environment) we pushed off the dock at daybreak (5:30 am)...... To be continued when we decide where to dock today :) 

Looper Tip: Check and recheck your weather when crossing LAKE ONTARIO, the Weather changes quickly!

Our course across LAKE ONTARIO.

Canal Pass for New York.

Clearing Lock 8 on the OSWEGO Canal and entering LAKE ONTARIO.

Crossing  LAKE ONTARIO, passing Galloo Island (one of the largest private islands in the United States) with a smiles.

Out racing the approaching storm line on LAKE ONTARIO.

Happy to see the CAPE VINCENT'S Tibbets Point Lighthouse.

The beautiful homes on the St. Lawerence River in CAPE VINCENT.  

"Lakers" (ships traveling the St. Lawerence River and Great Lakes) ... New word for us !!! Not the Basketball Team :)

Nice sunset on the CAPE VINCENT, Fisheries Sation Dock.

BREWERTON to OSWEGO

With big smiles we had a pleasent first day and night aboard Thistle. Yes, pinch me, it's not a dream, this is home sweet home for the next few months :)  Both of us were tired after traveling and unpacking, so we ordered "New York" style thin crust pizza and salad to be delivered to the dock. (FYI: Wine friends we paired it with SYNC, a decent red blend from the New York, Finger Lakes.) Before shut eye we checked the Marine Weather Forcast and saw a weather window on Sunday.

With one day to provision we hustled shopping all Saturday. Making the obligatory West Marine stop, grocery store, propane and Bed Bath & Beyond ( 20% off thanks Alice). Yahoooooo, finally ready to push off the dock tomorrow morning! 

We departed Sunday morning under beautiful sunny skies. What a "Whirlwind" day (literally) .... We retraced our course from last Sepember to OSWEGO. We knew it would be a long day, with one lock on the Eire Canal and six locks on the OSWEGO Canal. Not only was it a long first day it was windy toooooo? A little crazy in Oswego lock 5, with a strong north wind gust Reenie lost hold of the lock wall rope line at midship ( leaving her line hook pole dangling from the lock wall - sorry no picture, too stressful). Captain Greg had to maneuver Thistle back to the wall, luckily we were solo in the lock!  Learning later from fellow "Loopers" we weren't alone experiencing lock 5 issues. All is OK and the dangling line hook pole was rescued (with a snicker from the lock operator). A great reminder on the first day out that Safety is always first!

We are safely on the OSWEGO Wall with fellow gold Loopers ( Linda & Jim on Symentry) waiting to cross Lake Ontario.  Three days here waiting in the rain and wind... It's a nice town :) Maybe we will attempt the Lake Ontario crossing tomorrow morning ? Good night to all XO.

Sunday morning departure from Winter Harbor.

All smiles :) :)

Along the Canal we saw a deer swimming to Pathfinder Island. This is location where James Fenimore Cooper's book, "Pathfinder" centers on taking a trip down the OSWEGO River in 1759.

Thistle on the Oswego Wall.

Rain, rain and more rain on the OSWEGO Wall, at our favorite tea shop.

Waiting with fellow Loopers to cross Lake Ontario!

Yes... It's nasty out tonight?

Docktails and appetizers on Thistle :). 

LAGUNA BEACH, CA to BREWERTON, NY

On Thursday, June 4th we flew from California to New York to start the next leg of our Great American Loop Adventure aboard Thistle. This summer we plan to travel from BREWERTON, NY (where we stored Thistle for the winter) though the Great Lakes and finish by the end of summer in Green Bay, WI.

As always, it was a hectic last few days at home packing, taking care of mail, finishing business and appointments. With one summer of boating experience under our belt, we realize and appreciate how simple life can be and how little you truly need to live happily on a boat. But, at the same time we need to be ready for almost any weather condition ... and social event! This year we are traveling on the light side. One bag each to check-on and one carry-on for our flight to the east coast. ( Yes, it's ok to laugh, Reenie had to eliminate a few pounds from her check-on bag at the last minute :)

Upon arrival in BREWERTON, Thistle looks great and ready to launch...Splash she is in the water!

Looper Tip: Inside winter storage is the way to go (slightly more expensive than outside but much easier on the boat and the owners).

We have been dreaming and planning this once in life time adventure for years and feel blessed to have family and friends traveling with us by following our blog  @ Looplifewithgregandreenie.blogspot.com 

Prior to departing we enjoyed a road trip tour of California from San Diego to Arcata enjoying LAGUNA BEACH sunsets, wild flowers and California wine with family and friends. 

The Great American Loop Map ( Red-Summer, Blue-Fall/Winter, Green-Spring) is about a 6,000 mile boating adventure. We are taking our time over multiple years...Purple-is our planned route for Summer 2015.

Thistle being moved outside from heated inside winter storage @ Winter Harbor Marina in BREWERTON, NY.

New bow thruster prop, new aluminum anodes for fresh water, replacing salt water zinc anodes and new bottom paint. She is looking pretty :)

Bike ride to dinner in BREWERTON at Brando's on the Water.

Captain Greg ready for an early departure tomorrow morning! (Old salt water zincs still on swim step.)

Quote from Mark Twain.