Back in the USA

We arrived at Drummond Island Yacht Haven yesterday at 1:15pm and were cleared through customs by 1:30.  A very nice young customs agent asked it we had rought anything that we wanted to declare while in Canada.  We told him we couldn't afford to buy anything in Canada. The exchange rate was not in our favor and we found everything just higher.  Of course, we were in tourist towns for the most part and usually in marinas at that.  We did purchase a cheap 3 liter box of wine for $31.00 Canadian.  We usually buy a 5 liter in TN for $16.00.   Our trip into Canada started after leaving the Oswego canal in upstate NY and crossing Lake Ontario.  It was a rough crossing and we were glad to get tied up to a dock on the South coast just West of Kingston, Ontario. Ahead of us at that point was the Trent-Severn Waterway (240 miles),Georgian Bay(168 miles) and the North Channel(138 miles) Most of the trip is in protected waters.  Protected from the weather but not from many other hazards. The 44 locks on the Trent Severn were all clean and helpful.  Only a couple were difficult to manage and they were the ones that were in tourist towns with lots of boats and people.  The most interesting were the two pan locks where your boat was driven into a giant swimming pool or pan and then lifted to the higher water.  We had two of those and one lock where the boat was driven onto a traveling lift that took us and the boat via rail to the lower lake. The north portion of the great loop trip is challenging.  It will challenge your navigation skills, your boat handling skills, mechanical and planning skills.  Fuel and groceries are limited in some areas.  Rocks are everywhere and the channels are sometimes so narrow, alert calls on the VHF are required prior to entering them.  Marinas are widely spaced and if repairs are needed you need to do them yourself. Our generator stopped working and it took me three days to make the repair. We heard of boats hitting rocks and saw the proof at each marina where we stopped.  Storms and limited places to anchor were always a challenge.  When we did anchor we found very little mud on the bottom, mostly rock so our anchor would not hold.  Open water and storms are for another chapter. In spite of all the challenges, we saw some beautiful sites and met some wonderful people.  Lifestyle II performed great and with a few exceptions, we met the challenges and overcame them.  We had one injury.  Maggie fell and hurt her tail.  She may have broken it.  She is real pitiful.She tries to wag it and cries.  It happened during a bad storm while crossing the North Channel.  We were able to get out of it by ducking into a harbor on Cockburn Island.  The Island has 220 residents but only one that stays year round.  Tucked here in Drummond Island Yatch Haven, we marvel at all we have seen and expiencened.  We give thanks for our safe travels and look foward the the next half of the Great Loop.