8th Update - Gillespie's Great Loop

This portion of the trip completed the Trent Severn Waterway, took us across the Bay of Quinte and then across Lake Ontario to Oswego, NY.... Back in the USA... While on the Trent, we went through 43 locks... some totally manual and others very automated. All locks were nice and clean and the lock masters were friendly and helpful. They helped with your lines and shared tips on the area. The 6 week journey through Canada was pleasant, enjoyable, and exciting.

The photos below are from the town of Picton, Ontario. This was the last night we spent in Canada.

We then traveled the Oswego Canal, then east on the Erie Canal (NY State Barge Canal) to the Cayaga/Seneca Lake access and our home town of Seneca Falls, NY.

We left Picton at 6:30 am heading to Oswego. Lake Ontario was calm and great for traveling and we arrived in Oswego Harbor at 1:00pm. After we cleared US Customs, we decided that it was such a nice day that we would start down the Oswego Canal and head towards Baldwinsville and hopefully a visit with our good friends, Bill and Barb Reigel. The day was beautiful and very warm. Seven locks later and a longer than expected trip, we arrived at Baldwinsville at 8:30 pm. Bill and Barb were waiting for us at the locks after we docked and then we went to dinner. We also had breakfast with them the next day and then continued east on the Erie Canal to Seneca Falls and family.

The following photos are of the Oswego Habor Light and the ships in the harbor entrance.



These are views on the Oswego River/Canal.





The following are photos through the Erie Canal, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and the original Erie Canal Aquaducts. At the end of July we left our boat in Seneca Falls and headed to Hamilton, Ohio for my children fix.

The next set of photos were taken during our visit with family and friends in Seneca Falls.

Bill and I are still in Hamilton, Ohio, visiting with our children and grandchildren. We expect to
be back on the water in the middle of August.... heading to North Carolina. George and Dorothy Najarian, from Winnetka, IL, will be joining us in Seneca Falls to continue on our adventure...