Monday, Aug. 13/12 Constance Island

We left Georgina Island this morning, planning to go to Grenadier, but peeked around the corner to the south side of Constance, found no-one on the south dock, and decided to go there.  For a couple of hours we were the only ones on the island - lots of company now.  This is a really sturdy dock and it's very close to the outhouse.  Where we were yesterday, it was a LONG way over "mountainous" terrain.

When we were sitting in the shade in our chairs, this little fellow came to call, so we shared with him.

We went for a walk around the island - some of the paths were easy like this one.....

.....some were not.  It's a wee bit tricky with the boot!

This house on Hill Island, across the channel from us is "built upon the rock".  You can see how strong the current is in the narrow channels - foreground. 

This is the tower on Hill Island (Canada), across from us.  We stayed on Hill Island one time, biked to the tower, and went to the top.  Yeah, it was in an elevator.  They don't allow people to climb it anymore.  But what a view from the top!

Constance is one of the islands that the supports for the Ivy Lea Bridge are on.        It has been an absolutely gorgeous day here - warm/hot, and sunny - not a raindrop in sight.  But there was no dew on the boat this morning, and we're told that's a bad sign - bad weather coming!  The weather reports say t-storms tomorrow, so we may stay put.  At least we can run the generator on this island.

Sunday Aug. 12/12 Georgina Island

Got up this morning to rain, then the sun shone, then rain, etc etc.  It was iffy all morning.  Adrian enjoyed a game of ball with Great Uncle Paul.  The ball only had to be fetched out of the water a few times!

Amy, Maria and Gena doing the lazy river.

Dan, Amy, Maria, Adrian and Gena feeding the geese (and the fish!).  Maria is taking pictures of the geese with her "Leap Pad" - I think that's what it is called - it's like a tablet for kids.  Gena was eating more bread than the geese.  :-)

Some ducks joined the group.

Maria and Great Uncle Paul doing some fishing.

We were sorry to see them go, though understood, since it was raining again by this time - just after lunch.  Soon after they left, the sun came out and was hot for the rest of the day.

1000 Islands at last!

Left Lower Brewers, decided to sit at the top of the 4 locks at Kingston Mills until they finally got it repaired and opened, and as we approached, the doors opened and the first lot of boats went down, including us!  What a great surprise!  We were through the 4 locks in a half hour!

There is a sign on the lawn announcing that this house belongs to Kierstead, the artist - just north of Kingston.

We met up with some kayakers on the way into Kingston - Paul counted them - 30 plus.

This is a tour boat out of Kingston, with Wolfe Island in the background - there are 100's of windmills on the island!

Finally got to the back side of Georgina Island, where Donald, Nancy, Dan, Amy, and the kids were stopped.  They were able to make room on the dock for us.  This is Adrian, age 4, having fun in a bucket in the pool.  :-)

This little sweetie is Gena, age 2.

We saw 7 police boats between Gananoque and this island.  There was actually a police officer from this one ON a boat from Pennsylvania which was anchored in the little bay we were in.

Adrian and Gena feeding some geese - what the fish didn't grab first!

Maria, age 6 swimming the "lazy river".  This particular spot is known for the current which starts up the island a ways, and comes right around to beside our boat.  Lots of people come just to swim the lazy river.

Dan, Adrian and Gena after swimming the lazy river.

Don and Nancy's dog, Izzy, loves to lie on the dock watching the fish - the water is so clear, and there are a LOT of fish.  Should have brought a fishing pole!

Nancy with grandson Adrian, who is a real cuddler - I even got a good cuddle with him!  Sorry that these guys have to leave today - guess we'll stay here for at least one more day before moving on to another island.

Aug 10/12

Well this day turned out different than we anticipated.  We planned to go through the 3 locks prior to the 4 Kingston locks which would let us into the St. Lawrence River and the 1000 Islands.  But we soon discovered that the 4 locks in Kingston were closed for repairs, so we stopped at the bottom of Lower Brewers where there was still space and power.  There is an old mill here which is now an art studio, but it was closed.  We walked on the road in both directions, but it is miles from anywhere.

We left early to be ahead of this guy, but it didn't work.  Apparently, they put him through at Kingston Mills to keep him on schedule.

What big eyes you have!

I spent part of the day wandering around with my camera, even though it rained most of the day.

Robin on the barby!  But only one drumstick.  The robins sure are enjoying all this rain - I don't know how they found worms when it was so dry and the ground so hard.

One of the several old wooden bridges on the system which are swung by hand.

We have been told that they are working on the lock throughout the night - nice - right now it's pouring rain! - and that it will be open in the morning, but we're going to stay here with power until we know for sure.  There will be quite a back-log to get through I'm sure.  We were supposed to meet Donald and Nancy, Dan and Amy and the kids on an island today, but it didn't happen - maybe tomorrow.

Aug. 9/12

You know what they say about red skies at night being a sailor's delight?  Well,  last night we had the reddest sunset I ever remember seeing, and today it rained most of the day.  :-(

This blacksmith shop was built at Jones Falls to provide the hardware necessary for all the locks on the Rideau.  At some point it was deemed unnecessary, and it was used as a chicken coop.  Then many years later, it was refurbished to its original condition, and is used to give demonstrations. 

This young lady was the blacksmith of the day, and she made me a nail.

Again, we were behind the Kawartha Voyager, and spent considerable time waiting at Jones Falls, hence my chance to visit the blacksmith shop.

 This is a diagram of the 4 locks at Jones Falls.

We learned last night that the 2 year old daughter of friends of ours from the church had died tragically, and this has been heavy on our hearts.  Please pray for the Walker family, parents and 4 siblings, who all loved little Emily Rose dearly, and are devastated by her passing.

Smiths Falls Aug.8/12

Left Merrickville this morning about 8 a.m., off to the Kilmarnock lock.  Sound familliar Jeff and Kerry?  Passed this heron having a bath on our way out of the basin.

What a rare treat we had on the way to the first lock - 9 loons together in a group - very unusual!  And they hung around as we floated closer and closer.

I just liked the look of this barn and silo.

After an otherwise uneventful few locks, we arrived back in Smiths Falls.  This is a picture of the 3 old, unused locks from the bottom.             We stopped here again mainly so that we could do laundry and get groceries, fill up with water, and get a pump-out before heading to the 1000 Islands on Friday.  Just one more stop along this system for this year.