Friday - June 14

 

Let's hear it for the Red, White and Blue!

We were up early and ready to move to St. Catharine's Marina since we just stayed along the wall at Lock 1 last night as it was getting dark.   So appreciate the extra daylight time up here.

A very short 2 mile trip and we were settled in - this place has very old, rickety docks with mostly smaller boats, but they were able to accomodate Catrina and the folks are very friendly.    We rented a car from Enterprise and the nicest guy picked us up to drive back to the office, check in and get our Toyota Corolla.   And then we were off - 1st to visit some marinas and see if they would fit Catrina (1 will, 1 will not).    And then drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake about 12 miles and one of our favorites.    We were here in 2018 and 2019 (our 50th anniversary).   

Before driving downtown, we were in the country and went back for a return visit/lunch at Two Sisters Vineyards.    This is such a neat place surrounded by fields of vineyards (there are 37 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake and close to 150 in the Niagara region).    Another great lunch with wine (of course).   Two sisters was founded by their parents and they started the vineyard process in 2007.    In 2014, they opened the restaurant (Kitchen 76) and since we were there 5 years ago have added a large patio - it is lovely!!!   We bought 3 bottles of wine and on our way.

My excellent eggplant

Lunch overlooking the vineyards at Two Sisters

The town is charming as ever and of course, the flowers are so spectacular!    Lots of people strolling the streets with their coffees or ice cream or eating in one of many sidewalk cafes.   I didn't buy anything except for an iced Canadian maple latte at Balzac Coffee Co. - delish

Just a few of the magnificent flowers which are EVERYWHERE!!!

A few stops on the way back to St. Catharine's and settled on Catrina.   Such a gorgeous day - deep blue skies and 73.   We enjoyed these yummy desserts - (fluffy - a flakey pastry filled with a cream cheese concoction and fresh strawberries) and a butter tart!    Perfect way to end the day!😉

Delish!!!

Butter tart and fluffy

Thursday - June 13    Back to yesterday and our LONG (15 hours)  lootrip thru the Welland Canal.    We had very strong winds all day long with gusts at 35 + mph.    The Welland connects the Erie and Ontario Lakes and something Mark has always wanted to do.    We hired Rodger and Brian to help (this is their retirement job) with the lines in the 8 locks which we were downbound to 45'.   What a Godsend these guys were as they've been doing this for many years, are very familiar with all that's involved, very knowledgeable at answering our many questions, etc.    Rodger and Brian have been friends since they were teenagers, both married with 2 daughters each AND, all 3 of us are celebrating our 55th wedding anniversaries - Brian on May 31; Rodger, today and us on the 28th,   We thoroughly enjoyed having them onboard.

Rodger and Brian

One of many freighters to pass us by yesterday

80' gate as we were leaving Lock 4 connected immediately with Lock 5

These magnetic grabbers are what hold the freighters in place although the width of the locks is 80' and some of the freighters are 78; so very snug.

And these nice gals handle the lines for the pleasure craft

So, the day went on and on - it's all about the ginormous freighters that come thru here traveling from Europe back and forth carrying steel (just one example) and return with grain.    Each time they go thru the canal, they pay $23,000, ($200 for us)  so..........those guys definitely are always #1 and rest of us (pleasure craft) fall in wherever.    We were traveling thru the locks with Jack and his wife on a small sailboat from north of Toronto.    So many times throughout the day, we waited on the freighters which go slow and take a long time to get in and out of the locks.    Oh well.....it was a good experience (despite the horrific wind) and Mark can now cross that off his bucket list!    

At one time many years ago, the Seaway Control Welland Canal (controlling the locks) employed 4,000 people - today, just around 100 because bridges, locks, etc. are all  automated with cameras and electronic controls at one central location.

It's great to be back in the land of loonies, toonies, butter tarts, Wunderbars (favorite Canadian candy bar), gorgeous flowers and so much more!

Maeve helping her Nana babysit little Bristol.   Lots of fun for Maeve!