PRESCOTT , ONTARIO

PRESCOTT, Ontario

Well after an initial heavy travel schedule for the first week, we are relaxing in Prescott, on our way down the St. Lawrence ,visiting Monique , a dear aunt.  For the first day since we left we slept on shore. Had a terrific visit and evening. Spent the afternoon, visiting Merrickville another community 30 miles north on the Rideau Canal system.
Katie and Nadia (daughters) are coming up Saturday for an afternoon visit and are bringing our US Customs decal , which we ordered a few days ago , and was to take 4-6 weeks processing time, to us.
No sooner had I applied on Wednesday morning and paid the $30 US, it was Fed Ex'd and in Barrie Thursday night.  Bet "Wilson" had something to do with this .

Anyway, although a rushed first week, things went relatively smooth, battery issue now resolved and everything (mechanically ) working fine.
We are on our way up to Montreal, and will wait until after the long weekend to get there.
So far 40 locks down the Trent system and we will enter the St Lawrence seaway system ( 7 locks @$25 each tomorrow, as we continue to head downstream to Montreal and then onto Sorely, QC to pick up the Richleau (Chambly canal system to Lake Champlain))We have secured all our documents to travel in the states and clear to stay for 1 year if we choose.

I will continue to blog our journey , probably about once a week to show you where we are.  So far about 300- 325 nautical miles, weather has been so-so, some good days, some cold, but we have managed to miss almost all the storms... so far, but don't count my luck too much further.
Hurricane Christobol is heading out over the Atlantic and will have no effect on us, but obviously something we have to keep tuned to.

Ciao  or cheers for now.

Some pictures to show where we have been.

 

First 2 are of Kingston, Confederation Park and RMC University, Last one is Singer Castle on the St Lawrence

Brockville

Prescott Coast Guard

 

 

Rice Lake

Sitting in Rice Lake on the hook, have missed 3 days of rain. Storms were all around us but those lucky  horseshoes I managed to swallow before I left have come in handy.  Here is a picture of Peterborough Lift lock... couldn't believe the reflection of the sky in the water.  Maybe it was just me that saw it...  As well Fenlen Falls. Off down the Trent for the last 100km to Trenton... may be there late Sunday night.

Indulgence ready to roll

Mast down , boat almost set to shake this City, 2 months of refitting the vessels.... new inverter, batteries, electrical system, solar panel, plumbing refits, radar taken down, Chartplotter re- set, hot water heater replaced, heat exchanger  repaired...

STARTING WHERE WE LEFT OFF SEPT 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Sept 18-10 Final Entry JOURNEY FROM NOWHERE

JOUNEY FROM NOWHERE
Well it's been 3 weeks since our unbelievable summer. The Admiral and I cannot believe it is completed and are thrilled that we achieved our goals. This, we hope, is not the last time we have an opportunity to pursue a dream such as this.
We are a bit overwhelmed with what we did and often asked about it, we are speechless. We usually end up talking about specific incidents or experiences that occurred to us while we were out. As we reflect a bit more, we then talk about what it meant to us.
Once you get beyond the "romance" of a sailing adventure, you can start to get down to the basic elements of what you did.
No doubt this was an adventure and if our health or current situations change, this may be a once in a lifetime summer. We hope not.
The dream started 12 years ago when we first took up sailing. We were looking for something, an activity , that we both could share. A few years before this, Joanne was diagnosed with a condition that resulted in her getting a disability pension. We were unsure of what was in store down the road. Once we realized that we both had a common interest in sailing and the challenges that it created and after several boats ( footitis). We started to formulate some plans. The journey we just completed was originally planned as a "Freedom 55 "project, to sail with the Belugas up the St Lawrence.
We were only 2 years late in realizing this plan. Over the years we modified our plans and ended up changing the destination only. We settled on Montreal, but in hindsight and perhaps with better planning, preparedness, etc. We probably could have achieved the original dream ( Belugas) but who knew what to expect.

We were never bored, some days were long and tedious, ( what can you do when you listen to the drone of a diesel engine for 5-6 or more hours) To be honest, I don’t recall, but something kept us physically, mentally and spiritually active. The Admiral and I learned a great deal about ourselves, our relationship, our boat and its abilities and likewise our own skills and abilities. We came a little more tuned into some basics of life. Once you strip away a few levels of “clutter” ( tv, newspapers, day to day life as we all live it, work, and other commitments, that seem to get in the way of living, you can get down to some basics. How much money, success, etc do you need to survive/exist/ live? I don’t have an answer for this question, but I do know that what we have is more than what we need. Not that I’m ready to give it up, at least yet, but this was a necessary exercise to go through, as I approach that time when, I may not be able to work and contribute like I feel I should.
Can we exist on $100/$75/$50/day?? in a boating lifestyle. Once you strip away the house, cars, insurances, monthly/weekly monetary commitments, (memberships, dues, computers, magazines subscriptions, churches, investments, etc) How much do you need., how basic do you want to get?


Well … Guess what …I found out where “Nowhere “ is!
Again after reflecting a bit, I should really call this blog JOURNEY FROM NOWHERE. Not Journey to NOWHERE.

No Where is dreaming about something, but never doing anything about it. We are thrilled that we actually left the dock, and pursued our dream for 8 weeks. Like most people, we had anxiety and concern over the trip, and questioned our skills, commitment and desire to actually do it. We left No Where ( the dock) on July 3, and arrived back in Barrie, 8 weeks later. We realized that it didn’t matter where we went, as we knew each day would bring us a new adventure. Perhaps many parts of the day’s adventures were familiar, but we also realized the excitement of the unknown. Where would be at the end of the day and what did it take to get there, Is what we enjoyed.
FUTURE
The great thing is, is that this adventure hasn’t closed a single door or opportunity. In fact, we are in great position to plan what we are going to do over the next years, to get us to the position for further adventure. The islands, North channel, the Mississippi?....
Our adventure opened our eyes to the following; None of these are viewed as negative or positive, but are observations and thoughts.

1) Get a bigger boat with some of the features we would like ( conveniences)
2) Refit our existing boat, as we know that it is quite capable to do what we want it to
3) Get better skilled ( courses, training off shore experiences,)
4) Get more experience in varying conditions ( weather, water, air)
5) Be better planned ( 2nd, 3rd and 4rth contingency plans)
6) I realize that I still need to set goals/targets and that I am result oriented. ( Not quite ready to pack it all in.
7) I realized that I enjoyed the constant movement , 20 -30 miles per day ( 5-6 hours of going somewhere)
8) I probably enjoyed the urban part of our adventure, visiting towns, observing and interacting with people a bit more than the “wilderness side of the adventure. Don’t get me wrong the landscapes, were fantastic, but “people “are sparse. In fact , I thought nature took a vacation, while I was up north, we didn’t see the wildlife we thought we would ( moose, deer, eagles, etc) ( Guess that’s why I love my career , being in the people business at the Recreation Centre I do have to work on the wilderness side a bit and find a happy balance between the 2.
Well like I said, as I read my own blog.

I started out with a number of objectives.
1) Complete the Journey
2) Come back with my wife
3) Come back with my boat
4) Come back with my wife and boat,
5) I did come back

And
I finally left “NOWHERE”
Time for bigger and wilder dreams.

For those that have followed the Journey, I thank you as it was fun sharing the Journey. As I close this adventure, the only advice I can give you, is to leave your Nowhere, (leave your “dock”)while it is possible. Who knows what is around the corner?
The Admiral and Captain.

Posted by Full Circle at 1:16 PM