Picton Harbor

This September Karen and I booked a week off from work and had planned on traveling up the Trent Severn waterway for a few days to explore the area.  Unfortunately when we arrive at our home port of Trent Port Marina, we were notified that Lock #3 was shut down for "maintenance" and expected to be shut down for a day or two.  Well....leave it to Parks Canada to not be completely forthcoming in what was really going on.  Lock #3 is not terribly far up the Trent for us, it would probably take us an hour or so to get there so there was no point in traveling up the Lock #3 if  we couldn't go much further.  So we decided to wait and see what would happen.  We kept watch on the Parks Canada website and followed their twitter feed until Sunday (the closure happened on Thursday).  Sunday, after I spoke with the marina manager, who seemed to indicate that the Lock would be shut down for the better part of the week if not longer, Karen and I decided to change our plans.  Trent Port Marina is nice, but Karen and I wanted to get out there and travel a bit to try our hands at planning a longer trip and visiting the area.  This past summer has not been great for boating and we were looking forward to heading up the Trent system.

The journey begins, Trent Port Marina is in our wake.

We talked to our dock neighbor and asked him about Picton Harbor as we decided that we would explore the North Passage from Kingston to Trenton.  The North passage takes you through protected waters outside of the busy and open shipping lanes where Lake Ontario and the St-Lawrence Seaway meet.  Our neighbor did advise us to call ahead and reserve space at the municipal wall because the Tip of the Bay Marina was in disrepair.  I called right away and as luck had it, there was space for us on a 50 ft. wall. We left the dock on what was looking like a gloomy overcast and rainy day and slowly (most of the way) made our way towards Picton Harbor.

The coast line of the Bay of Quinte is full of wetlands which are home to a variety of wildlife.

Belleville govt. pier with the Coast Guard buoy tender. 

Snake Island....full of cormorants, not sure how many snakes make their home here.

Because we had planned on taking our time to reach Picton in order to conserve fuel, I calculated that we would be arriving later that evening.  That was the initial plan, however Karen reasoned that we should make an effort to make up time and arrive in daylight as opposed to arriving at dusk when the markers might be difficult to see.  I agreed and as soon as we hit Big Bay, we throttled up both engines and watch the speed indicator start to climb until the throttles were wide open and our speed topped out at 19.89 kn....I won't mention what the fuel consumption was.  We were across Big Bay in no time and had shaved 2 hours off our time of arrival.

Woohoo! 19.1 kts.  That works out to 35.37 Km/h or 21.97 Mph, burning 40 gal/hr.

The rest of the trip to Picton Harbor was peaceful and we saw lots of great scenery.  Travelling by boat really gives you a different perspective than travelling by car.  The wind picked up a bit and we closed off the canvas to keep warm, but the trip was worth it in the end.

Passing by Deseronto

More wetlands.

What a great summer cabin!

More of the coastline on the way to Picton.

A coastal quarry operation.

The entrance into Picton Harbor.

As we entered Picton Harbor, the channel was bordered by various sailboats and smaller power boats bobbing happily on their moorings and nestled deep within the cove the fuel docks and the wall to which we would gently tie up to and make our two day stopover before continuing on to our next destination.

Check out this short video clip where I talk about our arrival at Picton Harbor.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd-Wy9FEt5U&t=52s)

Our view from the govt.pier in Picton Harbor.

Tropical Horizons tied up and resting.

Loyalist Cove

Leaving Waupoos Marina.

It was time to leave Waupoos.  We had more severe weather forecast for the area, it was time to get through Lake Ontario while we had a window to do so.  We contacted the folks over at Loyalist Cove and one of their seasonal boats was heading out for a few days which gave us some space to dock.  We tracked down the marina manager at Waupoos and paid for our stay. 

The breakwater extends well past the markers.

Waupoos Winery, there is supposed to be a dock here, we will check it out again next year.

Soon after, we were off again heading out of Prince Edward Bay and into Lake Ontario towards Amherst Island.  The lake was lumpy with a 1-1.5 M swell on our beam (hitting the boat sideways) that must have been the result of the heavy weather that Western Lake Ontario had experienced the day before.  When faced with uncomfortable seas you need to make a decision as to whether you plow through them or turn back.  The weather was still good and there was no indication that we would be encountering any storms so we pushed on.  I had two options to smooth out the ride: the first, would be to pick up boat speed and the second would be to alter our heading to meet the swell head on.  Since we were on a mission to conserve fuel and really test out the maximum range we could expect out of Tropical Horizons, I decided to alter our course and head out into Lake Ontario for a certain distance, then turn back towards Amherst Island effectively taking the swell on our aft quarter which would make for a more comfortable ride. 

Amherst Island marker.

Rounding Amherst Island and into smoother waters.

After a few hours of running a zigzag course we finally were back into the North Passage and smoother waters.  Before we knew it we were arriving at Loyalist Cove.  We radioed the marina office on our VHF and were instructed as to where we would be tying up.  When we arrived there what we found was friendly marina staff greeting us at the dock and a small crowded marina with every inch of dock space being well used. 

Approaching Loyalist Cove Marina.

Finally, tied up in Loyalist Cove Marina.

Once we settled in, I went to the marina office and checked in paying for two nights.  We were given a small gift bag with brochures on what to do in the area, local business listings, a small map and an eyeglass cleaning cloth.  We settled in, got Mack off the boat, went for a walk and enjoyed a local pizza for dinner (they delivered right to your slip).  The next day we were treated to a demonstration of the forces of nature as many thunder storms passed through.  We tried out some time lapse photography and generally just relaxed.

Sunset at Loyalist Cove...Red Sky Night...hmmmm.

The next day we saw many storms blow through!

In between the storms the sun came out and the winds became calm.

A workout in the park the next morning before heading out.

The following morning was bright, and cool.

Tropical Horizons tied up the morning of our departure, notice the height between the last step and the deck.

Sunrise and time to leave Loyalist Cove.

We really enjoyed our stay at Loyalist Cove, where we waited out a few storms before returning back to our home port.  The only drawback we had found with Loyalist Cove was that the docks were quite low which made it difficult to board and disembark from the decks of Tropical Horizons. We can't until next season to come back here to explore the area.

Picton to Waupoos

After our brief and enjoyable stay at the government wall in Picton harbor where we toured down Main Street, waited out a windy low pressure system and had an afternoon visit with friends, we decided to make our way East towards Loyalist Cove.  We were really unsure if Loyalist Cove would have any space for us as they were still very full when we called earlier that morning.  We shoved off, cleared the gas docks and slowly made our way out of Picton Harbor.  We followed another cruiser out of the harbor and parted ways as we headed towards Glenora and Prinyers Cove. 

Some of the homes on the way towards the Glenora Ferry.

The forecasted weather was calling for remnants from the low to linger around producing gusty winds on Lake Ontario.  We decided to take a short break and headed out into Prinyers Cove where we could possibly overnight.  Once we arrived in Prinyers Cove, we knew immediately that we would not be able to anchor there for any amount of time.  The cove is littered with mooring balls and the “marina” has dockage for a much smaller vessel than Tropical Horizons.  We had no idea who the mooring balls belonged to, nor did we know how to pay for them so we slowly turned around and headed out of the mooring field to the entrance of the cove where we would still be sheltered.  We dropped anchor here, refreshed ourselves and had some lunch while enjoying the scenery that surrounded us. 

Check out this short video commentary shot while at Prinyers Cove. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQSLm_rC0iU&t=22s)

Dropping anchor just at the mouth of Prinyers Cove.

After trying to secure a location at Loyalist Cove we decided that if the wind conditions were favorable we would head out to our next planned stop at Waupoos.  We called the marina that is located on the shores of Prince Edward County just across from Waupoos Island and moved up our reservation.  With arrangements made with Waupoos, we contacted the good people at Loyalist Cove to let them know that we would be moving on.  As we rounded the tip of Prince Edward County navigating the gap between Amherst Island and the county, Lake Ontario revealed itself to be calm and tame.  With the confirmation that we had a good weather window, we pushed on towards Waupoos where we would arrive in the early evening.

A rather calm Lake Ontario, not what was forecast.

Waupoos winery, not sure which one.

As we rounded Waupoos Island we watched our depth as the area between the island and the county is littered with shoals and shallow water.  I wanted to make sure that we arrived before darkness and that the harbor master would be there to assist us in docking.  We arrived just shortly after 5:00 PM as the harbor master met us on the dock.  At this time of year the harbor master normally leaves at 5:00 PM so we were happy that he stayed to help us out. 

Waupoos Marina as see from the back deck of Tropical Horizons.

The "Breakwater" at Waupoos .... Be very very careful !

Entrance into the harbor was tricky and I would not attempt it at night as the breakwater is made up of several discarded tires that seem to float just at the surface of the water.  What we saw when we arrived and tied up was not what we expected.  The docks are a little “wobbly”, the “featured hot tub” was empty and the “Blue Moose Café” looked like it had been closed for many years.  This is a bare bones marina with not much to offer.  If you have bikes there is a Cidery and a Vineyard not too far away, if you don’t, bikes are available for rent.  The pub/eatery/market was closed when we arrived so eating out was not an option here.  

All in all, at this time of year, Waupoos was a great rest stop; but there really wasn’t much to do here and service at the marina is minimal at best.  The water is clear and the surroundings are quiet, so if you are looking for a break, this is a great place to stop.

Check out this short commentary of our arrival at Waupoos Marina. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BJrj_QCDeU&t=34s)

Saving a Bird

Throughout the summer we always have the opportunity to watch various wildlife while we are on the boat.  Most of the time we are treated to a great show, just watching mating rituals, hunting and what I am sure for the animals involved is just everyday behavior.  Last year Karen and I spent a great deal of time in Cobourg waiting for a weather window to allow us to reach Trent Port Marina on a single engine.  One of our favorite birds to watch were the Caspian Tern, these masters of flight and fishing would fly over the water searching for small fish, then dive headfirst in the hopes of catching a meal.  Sometimes at the last minute they would abort the dive and continue their patrol of the harbor.  We spent hours observing these birds.  Most interesting is how they would shake like a dog in mid flight to dry off their feathers.

This year these birds were present at the Trent Port Marina and due to some boaters complaints about the noise that these birds make, the staff put out lines on the break waters with flags every few meters, to keep the birds away.  Personally I was not a fan of this for obvious reasons, I like watching these little guys do their thing.  One day Karen noticed that one of these Caspian Terns was caught in the line by it's wing and was slowly drowning.  I set to ready our dinghy as Karen recruited one of our dock mates.  The rescue was launched from the swim platform of Tropical Horizons.  As we rowed over to the breakwater, our dock mate gently scooped our feathered friend out of the water and set it onto the dock.  The bird was so exhausted it never put up a fight.  We discovered that the fishing line the marina staff used was tangled around one of it's flight feathers and this poor animal was dangling in the water by it's wing.  Once we untangled the little fella, we just sent him on the dock and hoped that he would rest up and regain enough strength to fly off and rejoin the flock.

After a few hours he was drying out and standing on his own.  Karen and I went out for a short boat trip down towards Belleville where we anchored out for a while, when we returned our little friend had flown away.  What could have been a tragic end to this bird's life caused by the complaints of a few people who don't like to listen to these wonderful creatures had a happy ending because two kindhearted individuals cared enough to help.

Selling a boat.

There comes a time when all good things must come to an end and this is one of those times.  Before I go on I need to make it clear that we are not selling Tropical Horizons rather we are selling Sparky our Newick designed Outrigger Canoe Company Summersalt 26.  We've had Sparky for about 10 years now and have enjoyed her for many seasons on the Ottawa River, but now we really spend all of our boating time here on Tropical Horizons and Sparky has not seen the water in two years.  I love sailing, and really enjoyed sailing Sparky so this has been a difficult decision for me but I know that she needs to be in the water and deserves to be sailed.

So what kind of boat is Sparky, you ask?  Well she is a very fast and nimble trimaran.  For those of you reading this who may not know a trimaran is a sail boat that has a main central hull with two other hulls on each side for stability.  Traditional sail boats of the single hull variety know as mono-hulls rely on the weight and depth of a keel under the hull to counteract the forces of the wind and propel the boat forward through the water.  A multi-hull relies on the distance between the hulls for stability and a dagger board or smaller keels or a combination of both to transfer the energy from the sails into the water and propel the boat forward.  Sparky is 26 feet long and 21 feet wide and carries approximately 550 sq. ft. of sail area, which is a lot for a boat that only weighs 1300 lbs.!  Built in 1984 the design was, as with all Newicks, radical.  She has a rotating mast and is made up of carbon fiber in strategic locations which was far ahead of the time for 1984.  Sparky is not a cruising boat, she is fast, very fast indeed as I have had her sailing at over 27 kts.   When you look at her lines, you just know that this is a special boat.

We recently had an offer on her from a British gentleman who knew Newick (who passed away in 2013).  He had spoken to me over the phone one day about Sparky and was very interested in her.  In fact he put in an offer to purchase her and a down payment.  So, we loaded up Sparky with all of her bits and pieces as well as her sails and towed her down to Trenton where we keep Tropical Horizons.  When I met this gentleman on a Friday to assemble Sparky, I was surprised that this elderly gentleman, who had obvious mobility issues, was interested in Sparky.  I figured perhaps he just wanted to own a piece of nautical history as there are only 4 of these boats left in the world.  We assembled Sparky and brought her over to a slip in the marina where the next morning I walked them through the mast raising process.  Once the mast was raised we headed out for a test sail and the gentleman wanted to have his wife and friend sailing with him along with the broker.  I did express some concern about all of the people on board and mentioned that he could have performance or passengers.  He wanted both.

Newick designed many winning multi-hulls and Sparky is such a boat.  To put it in terms that most of us can understand, Sparky is a "sailing Bugatti" not an "KIA".  I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with a KIA but both vehicles are clearly designed for different purposes.  Sparky demands your full attention when you sail her, she is very sensitive to weight distribution and you must pay attention to the wind and the sails, otherwise you will get in trouble quickly.  You also need to be mobile on this boat and have a certain amount of strength and agility.  I'm by no means a small guy, but I can move around quickly when needed and I have the strength and endurance needed to manage Sparky.  This perspective buyer did not.  So after the sea-trials when we returned to the marina slip, this gentleman stressed that he needed some time to think about the purchase.  We parted ways, and as I spoke with the broker, I knew in my heart that he would not be Sparky's new owner.  Three days later, he called the broker and backed out of the deal stating that Sparky was "too much boat for him to handle"

I'm a little disappointed but I am sure that there is someone out there who is the right person for Sparky and that the wind will fill her sails again soon.  On the bright side, I was able to sail her again and that was lots of fun.

More Fireworks and the AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruisers' Association)

It's now official!  Karen and I have joined the AGLCA and are taking an active part in the organization as Harbor Hosts.  So what exactly is the AGLCA?  The AGLCA is a volunteer driven organization that supports and helps connect various "Loopers" as they undertake, plan and complete the Great Loop.  The association provides a real treasure trove of information about the loop and the motor cruising lifestyle as well as partnerships with various service and equipment providers.  As I mentioned in my last post Karen and I had the pleasure of meeting various "Loopers" as they entered the Trent Severn portion of their journey and we were truly inspired!  Thank you to Bad Habit, Shell Belle, and Cork Screw among many for your kindness, friendship and inspiration.

So what is this Great Loop?  I like to think of it as North America's nautical version of Spain's El Camino de Compostela.  Where the Camino is about the journey so is the loop.  Where is the starting point?  That's the great thing about a loop, there is no start and the end is when you return to your starting point also known as "crossing your wake".  So what is the route that the loop takes?  Well if we were to start from our home port of Trent Port Marina, we would work our way up through the Trent Severn Waterway into Georgian Bay.  From there, continue up through the North Passage linking Lake Huron and Lake Michigan passing through the Mackinac Straights.  From Lake Michigan we would head down towards Chicago and through a river system that leads all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.  Entering the Gulf of Mexico cruising along the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, passage to the Bahamas for the winter is possible, or simply explore the Florida Keys.  As the weather warms up, it's time to head back up North through the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) travelling through Florida, Georgia, The Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York.  Once in New York, the journey continues up the Hudson river system towards the Erie Canal or further up into the St Lawrence via lake Champlain.  Depending on the boat, the Erie Canal may be taken right out into Lake Erie or the Oswego spur canal can be taken leading to Lake Ontario. If the St. Lawrence route is taken then, there is the option of traveling along the lower Ottawa River and Rideau Canal or through the Thousand Islands.

There are so many different routes and variations to take, one could spend years following the seasons and exploring different areas that the Great Loop has to offer. This is our eventual plan.  For now we are getting ready and making sure that Tropical Horizons will be able to carry us along this journey.  For the time being, we continue to gain more experience in various weather conditions as we explore our home waters first.  We meet various "Loopers" at our home port, extend to them friendship and hospitality and lend a helping hand when needed.  We listen to other "Loopers" stories and learn from their experiences and finally we're just enjoying the time we spend planning this grand adventure.

Now the title of this entry also mentions Fireworks!  Well did we have a great show on the 14th of July!  Mystical Fireworks put on a great show.  From the ground up into the sky overhead of the Trent River the display was just amazing.  I've taken some video and Karen was taking photos of the entire 25 minute display!  We'll have the video up on YouTube shortly, once I finish editing and Karen has some choice photos up on our Facebook page for you to enjoy.

That's it for now, may the winds be in your favor and the seas carry you gently to your tropical horizons.

A wet Spring and Summer won't Dampen our Spirits!

Life aboard Tropical Horizons is always a welcome break from our everyday lives on land and in the proverbial rat race.  We always manage to enjoy our weekends regardless of what the weather throws at us.  It seems that this year has been abnormally cool and wet but that doesn't matter, time on the boat is always relaxing for us even if it is spent on the aft deck reading a book, in the engine room checking over things, adding features and upgrading systems or just having a nap.  We love time on the boat and this past vacation week was no exception.  We took Tropical Horizons out to the fuel dock to top off the tanks, and pump out the holding tank and ended up taking a friend out for an unplanned cruise towards Belleville.  Later that week we shared a dinner with friends and made new friends as the "Loopers" started making their way up the Trent Severn Waterway.

This past week the Loopers that we met really did give Karen and I a strong desire to make things happen.  We've joined the American Great Loop Cruisers Association and have put our name down as a Harbor Host for both Trenton and Ottawa as our time is spent between both locations offering help to those who are completing the Great Loop.  Many thanks to the crews of "Shell Belle", "Cork Screw", "Bad Habit"," " and "Heaven to Betsy" among a few for your encouragement and for taking the time to answer our questions about leaving land life behind in exchange for a life afloat.

The week also had us taking part in a Canada Day Flotilla that our friends Katherine and Norm organized.  This was a fun way to take part in the festivities, I think this may become a yearly event for the Trent Port Marina "residents".  The winds were a bit of a concern to both Karen and I, however; we got off of the dock safely and got back in without much fuss which was great as we had a captive audience. The day ended with some shared cocktails, and a spectacular fireworks display at night.



Finally on Sunday, the sun decided to grace us with an appearance and most of us took advantage of the clearing weather to wash down our boats.  I still need to get up on the hardtop over the back deck and get that washed up along with the radar arch.  That's a job for next weekend, along with finally routing the wires for the navigation lights on the arch.

Keeping in line with my commitment to blog actively and add to the video content on our YouTube channel, I'll have a video edit of the fireworks display from July 1st.