Days 333 and 334 - Niagara Falls — Captain Father John

Miles cruised $0, locks transited 0, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $60, daily high temperature 76°f

On Wednesday afternoon it rained like it was the end of the world. I hope there where no boats out on the lake. The Canadians have been complaining about drought conditions. We have experienced a foot of rain in two days. I declare the drought to be over.

Good news for Laura and Artie on Leap of Faith. Their sea trial went well before the storm and their spare propellers arrived today. They are on their way on Thursday to continue their Loop adventure. They will follow the same route through Georgian Bay that I posted for CL two days ago.

I rented a car for Priscilla’s and my trip to Niagara Falls on Thursday. We wanted to pack some items we no longer need from the boat in the car. Then we loaded up Dale and Andy and drove to Georgian Bay. We visited the Queen’s Cove Marina in Victoria Harbor. They have a low fuel price and a nice restaurant next door. In addition they had a great deal on polo shirts so Dale and I each bought a shirt. We will be at Queen’s Cove Marina on Tuesday. Next we drove over to lock #44 the Big Chute Railway. This is where the lock system is a giant railway car that lifts boats on slings and carries them across the road and down a hill to the waterway on the other side. It was very interesting to watch the process. CL will be hanging from those slings on Tuesday morning.

We walked past the lock docks where we could stay overnight for 90 cents a foot. Then we walked over to the Big Chute Marina where we saw the Looper boat with the English couple onboard. At the marina the price was $1.25 per foot with electricity. We booked a slip for Monday night. The marina also has a small restaurant that sells Chapman’s ice cream. We all ordered ice cream and sat outdoors on the deck. As we were eating our ice cream Laura and Artie from Leap of Faith walked by so we invited them over. Their plan was to go beyond the Big Chute but were delayed departing the marina this morning. They decided to tie up overnight on the lower lock wall. We were happy to hear that their boat is running well after all the repairs.

Sometimes when the docks are too short to climb off the swim platform and the docks are too low to use only our one step on the side, a little creativity is required. We lashed our extra swim ladder to our step and made an easy way to get on and off the boat.

Priscilla and John drove to Niagara Falls from Orillia. It was a 3.5 hour drive. Crossing into the US the customs agents didn’t quite understand that we entered Canada by boat and were driving out and then driving back to our boat. I guess we didn’t fit the profile so they waved us through over the Rainbow Bridge into New York. We met our family at the Sheraton at the Falls. JP, Racheal and Eleanor drove from Chicago and Alison, Oscar and Jackson drove from Boston.

Rachel, JP, Eleanor, Jackson, Alison and Oscar.

Bonus photo – Winston Churchill .

We will return to Orillia on Sunday and cruise to the Big Chute lock on Monday.

Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote of the day.

“The only way to get a good crew is to marry one.”
– Eric Hiscock.

Eric Charles Hiscock – 14 March 1908 – 15 September 1986) was a British sailor and author of books on small boat sailing and ocean cruising. Together with his wife and crew Susan Oakes Hiscock – 18 May 1913 – 12 May 1995, he authored numerous accounts of their short cruises and world circumnavigations, accomplished over several decades. His works also include several technical how-to books on sailing and ocean cruising and a film made on board Wanderer III entitled Beyond The West Horizon.