I went through Customs in Gananoque, Ontario, hung my Canada courtesy flag, and started the Canadian leg of my journey. I met up with Traveller and a solo sailor on Cupcake who I had met in the Oswego Canal locks for dinner and then made my way to Kingston, Ontario the next day.
I love Kingston! It is very diverse and welcoming. There is a cute little park right by the marina and this is the second place in Ontario I have seen a public acknowledgement of the history of mistreatment of the people of the First Nations and respect for their sacrifices. Pride flags in establishments are normal and not a big deal. The crosswalk is colored with rainbows and no one is holding signs protesting or chanting about Jesus and going to hell. People are living their lives and letting others do the same without judgement. It was very refreshing and a stark contrast from the current toxicity in America. It made me feel a little less crazy and restored a bit of my faith in humanity and our global community.
To top it off, I saw a crocheted nudibranch in one of the storefronts.
While I was in Kingston, I got my first haircut on the loop and picked up an Amazon delivery – an inflatable kayak. Kali will be so happy! I had dinner and a fun night of bar hopping with Wade-ing Around and Nauti Paws. We, of course, ended up drinking Guinness in an Irish pub. Slainte! To Paul’s dismay, there was no Old Speckled Hen as advertised on their mirror so we are now on a mission to find some.
After a night in Kingston, it was time to make my way toward the Trent Severn Waterway. On the way, Wade-ing Around and I stopped at the very peaceful Cressy Point. It was my first mooring ball experience. Nailed it! It was a little tricky because I had to pull up to the ball slowly as close as I could to my hull and then hop back to my stern to grab it with my boat hook. Piece of cake. I looped it on and then walked it to my bow to tie up.
I inflated my new kayak to take it for a spin and give her a potty break on land. Kali Bong loves kayaking but this one is inflatable so a little less steady. She was super excited to hop on but only got her front legs on and then fell on in. She hates the water and honestly, I don’t know if she can swim. She had her life jacket on so I pulled her out by the handles. In doing so, I soaked myself and…. my inflatable life jacket that is triggered by moisture. It blew up like Chris Farley’s in Tommy Boy. I grabbed an old orange boxy one instead and climbed in. Once we were settled, it was fine but I realized I didn’t have my shoes. Dangit! I rowed to shore and met Dave, the owner who offered Kali a big field and he even had tennis balls with a ChuckIt ball launcher. She and Ozzy ran and ran. Boy, did she need a good romp and run!!! She had some serious pent-up energy after being on her best behavior in city pubs and sidewalks. It was a lovely evening and we both zonked out.
I wanted to get to Trenton early the next day before my meetings started so we left at 5:45am. There were wildfires blazing in Canada which blanketed the area with smoke and it looked like 4am instead. I only had a few miles of visibility so I used my radar to see oncoming boats. I jammed the throttle and went a whopping 7.5 knots to get there. Woohoo!
Trent Port Marina was by far the nicest marina yet. WOW! Pristine bathrooms, free laundry, nice long piers, free herbs from their garden, and even a water weed whacker to keep the slips and fairways clear. I was down to 1 can of chickpeas, a block of cheese, a half dozen eggs, and my 4 cans of Skyline that I was saving so I really, really needed some groceries. Thankfully, there is a Metro grocery within walking distance and holy cow – mecca! I stocked up on staples plus a few interesting Canadian items and I was back in business. I met up with Wade-ing Around, Traveller, and Nauti Paws at Captain George’s for fish and chips and then bourbon on Traveller’s boat. Drinking bourbon made me feel a little closer to my lake family in Kentucky and I slept with a smile and a warm belly.
The next day was Trent Severn day! The Trent Severn Waterway is one of the parts of this adventure that I have been looking forward to the most. I was nervous and scared and excited. Managed by Parks Canada, it is 386 kilometers long and features 44 locks, 2 hydraulic lift locks, and the Big Chute Marine Railway. It will probably take around 2 weeks and eventually I will end up in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron at Port Severn. Another week, another adventure in uncharted territory. Let’s do this!
“I think that Canada is one of the most impressive countries in the world, the way it has managed a diverse population, a migrant economy. The natural beauty of Canada is extraordinary.” and “The world needs more Canada.” – Barack Obama
To support the adventure or to track The ‘Nati Nomad’s progress, visit greatloop.thenatinomad.com.
