This is a map of the route we took.
We started our cruise from Lock 1 Marina in Waterford, NY, heading South on the Champlain Canal to Waterford.
Here we entered the Erie Canal and made our way to Clifton Park where we stopped at Mohawk Marina for the night. The next day it was very windy with rough waters. We decided to stop in Amsterdam and wait for better weather. In Amsterdam, at Riverfront Park we meet up with other boaters doing the Loop. While listening to the band concert we sat around talking about our trips. After a couple of days we said good by to new friends and continued West along the Erie, stopping to overnight in St Johnsville.
After leaving St Johnsville we approached Lock 17, the largest lock in the New York State canal system, with a lift of 40.5 feet. We entered the lock and just as we started going up Amy noticed a large log trapped under the stern of the boat. She was unable to move it so we waited until the lock was filled and I could get back there to help. With me on the swim platform pushing the log out and Amy and the lock master pushing the stern of the boat in the opposite direction we got it free. Thankfully she saw it or I’d be looking for new props.
Continuing on we stopped at Herkimer Terminal wall and Bellamy Harbor Park. Because the weather was to cool, we decided not to stop at Sylvan Beach. It was a perfect day to cross Lake Oneida.
The water was calm which made for a quick trip across the lake. In Brewerton we stayed on the terminal wall for the night. The next day we stopped in Phoenix , home to the Bridge House Brats. The Bridge House Brats are a group of local kids who help boaters at the town dock, take food orders from boaters and pick up the food from local restaurants and serve the food at the picnic tables or you can eat on your boat. It is a great rest stop on the Oswego Canal. From here we went the rest of the way to Oswego. In Oswego we visited Ft. Ontario. It was very interesting to see these forts first hand and learn so much more about the war of 1812.
The next day was very nice and we had a good crossing of Lake Ontario. We first stopped in Cape Vincent. Then on to Clayton where we walked around town and visited the antique boat museum. This is a must see. They have all types of boats and old motors. You can even go for a ride on a couple of the old boats. After leaving Clayton it was off to Singer Castle and Boldt Castle. Singer Castle was built by Frederick Bourne who was the fifth President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which is where the name “Singer Castle” came from.
Boldt Castle on Heart Island was built by George C. Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The castle was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise. She died before the castle was finished and he stopped work on it.
After exploring The Thousand Islands area and Alexander Bay we headed back up the St. Lawrence river to Kingston, Ontario. Here we checked in at Confederation Basin where we cleared customs. Kingston is one of the most historic cities in Canada with many churches, old buildings, picturesque neighborhoods, and 19th century fortifications
Kingston was the start of our trip up the Rideau Canal. The Rideau is a canal you need to pay attention to your charts and the buoys. In many places the channel is very narrow with tight turns. You can have a hundred feet on each side of you and your in a 20 foot wide channel. The water outside the channel can be only a foot or two deep. This is where local knowledge can be very helpful. Other places are narrow with sharp turns. For us the worse part of doing the Rideau was all the Deer flies.
From Kingston we head North with stops in Seeleys Bay, Jones Falls,Newboro, and Westport. Westports town marina is a very nice stop. Where we were docked is a small island. This picture was taken from what is called Spy Point. This is a good stop to get supplies.
From Westport we worked our way through the Rideau to Smith Falls. It was very windy crossing the Big Rideau Lake but by the time we got to Poonamalie Lock the winds died down. From here it was just a short run to Smith Falls where we stayed on the wall. Smith Falls is very nice because there is an awful lot within walking distance even a Walmart. We left Smith Falls on Canada Day (July 1st) and arrived in Merrickville just as they we starting their Canada Day festival. Tied up to the wall and we joined in with the celebration.
The next day we left Merrickville and went as far as Black Rapids. It was another windy day and a long run. There isn’t much to see on this part of the Rideau and I just wanted to get as many miles in as I could. The next day we were off to Ottawa. It was a nice run into Ottawa where we spent a couple of days tied up at the wall on the Rideau Canal. From here it was an easy walk to Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market. 
From Ottawa we stopped at Hull which is the central district and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, then on to Le Château Montebello, the world’s largest log cabin.
Going through the Carillon Canal Lock was very impressive. It has a massive 200 ton guillotine gate and drops you down 66 feet.
Stopped at St Anne De Bellevue Lock wall for lunch and a little break, but ended up staying for an extra day because of electrical problems. After much searching and trial and error I found out it was a bad ground. We ran a new ground wire and everything was fine so the next day we were on the go again.. From St. Anne we headed for the Lachine canal instead of the St Lawrence Seaway. Because we are able to drop our camper top and be under eight feet we were able to take this quicker and easier route.
The Lachine canal would have taken us right to the Marina Port d’Escale in Old Montreal, but because of a dock strike the marina was closed. We were able to get a slip at Yacht Club Montreal. This is a great marina right in Old Montreal. We stayed here for a few days exploring the city.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal and the Notre Dame Basilica were places you should not miss. Another great sight was the underground mall, or as they call it “The Underground City” It really is like a city under the city.
From Montreal we headed down the St. Lawrence river to Sorel, where we picked up the Richelieu River.
Because of a strong current going with us I was able to make great time on this leg of the trip and we headed down the Richelieu River. We stopped at the St Our lock wall for the night.The next day we had lunch and fueled up at the Marina de Chambly. It was funny going through the Chambly locks, the Lock Master would get us through then drive to the next lock to meet us there then he drove down to open a bridge for us. We went as far as St Jeans and stopped for the night. The next day we cleared customs and were on Lake Champlain.
The water was calm on the lake and we decided to head over to North Hero and spend some time in Pelots Bay, which is a very nice, well protected North-end anchorage. From here we rode around North Hero and headed for Burton Island State Park marina. Because of an oil spill they had there we could not stay so off we went. Heading west through the North Hero-Grand Isle Draw Bridge, then the Gut, we went to St Armand Beach.
From St. Armand Beach it was off to Plattsburgh City Marina then to White Sands Beach off Au Sable Point, NY. Really enjoyed a swim here, washed the boat and took a nice walk. We stayed of anchor here overnight, but by the next morning it was not so nice. The wind had really picked up from the South and it was getting rough out there. The forecast was for strong winds and heavy rain, so I decide to head for the safety of Malletts Bay. Here we checked into Malletts Bay Marina.
After leaving Malletts Bay it was off to Burlington for a few days.
We had a pleasant stay at the Burlington Community Boathouse and enjoyed the Church Street Marketplace. Now we take the free bus instead of walking up the hill on College St. We left Burlington and head South to Otter Creek where we worked our way into Vergennes Falls.
The lights come on at about 9 PM and go off after a few hours. Every few minutes they change color. Kind of like a mine Niagara Falls. After leaving here we stopped at Orchard Point near the Lake Champlain Bridge for lunch and a swim. This was cut short due to bad weather coming in. The decision was made to pull anchor and run down to Chipman Point Marina. Just got in and the boat secured when a violent storm hit.
From Chipmans it was into the Champlain Canal, a stop in Ft. Edwards and another at Mechanicville Terminal Wall than our last stop Lock One Marina. All together we went through 107 Locks, and traveled close to 1000 miles. It was a great adventure as well a learn experience.
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