Preparing for the trip

Captain Jerry has been making the final preparations to North Star, our 32 foot Cape Island down east trawler. We are anxious to leave our landlubber lives behind and begin our long awaited journey around the Great Circle. Join us as we travel 10, 000 kilometers: through the historic Trent Severn Waterway; the pristine waters of Georgian Bay; the North Channel of lake Huron; and hop from beach to beach on lake Michigan. We will visit Chicago and begin our trek along the rivers: Illinois; upper Mississippi; Ohio; Cumberland: Tennessee; Tenn-Tom Waterway and the Black Warrior. We will have transited through 68 locks at this juncture. We have chosen the inner route from Mobile Alabama to Tarpon Springs Florida and the shorter Ocheechobee Waterway to reach the East coast of Florida. We will skip over to the Bahamas to wait out the winter before heading North on the Atlantic Inter Coastal Waterway.
The 10 years of researching and planning are finally at an end and we invite you to come along on our adventure.























Saturday, June 25, 2011

Slowly heading up the Trent

We travelled through 6 locks yesterday to stop at the Frankford Lock.  This is one of the few locks that offers 30 amp power.  There were only two of us locking through so all the locks were ready and waiting for us every time. We usually wear gloves as the cables and lock walls are slimy. The zebra muscles that are attached to the walls often spit at you or maybe that liquid is coming out the other end, I can't tell. The lock master says the traffic is about the same as last year which is down from previous years when the economy was better.  The staff are friendly and helpful and can tell you where you can find what you are looking for in any of the small towns you will be travelling through.

We were able to top up our fresh water that was lost due to our leak issue.  The grounds at all the locks are well groomed and the restrooms are clean.  There are picnic tables and charcoal bar-b-ques.  There are a lot of geese and at this time of year the young are cute to watch.  Don't forget to watch where you are walking, lots of geese means lots of doodoo. 

We stayed at the lock for the afternoon and moved to our free spot by the dam as you exit the canal in Frankford for the night (N44 12.524' and W077 35.603'). It is secluded, a good fishing spot. There is a good Chinese food buffet on the main street in Frankford where we met with our friends Bob and Peggy and Peter and Kathy. We are still saying farewell to friends as we make way.

North Star at Franklford Lock

Watch where you are walking!!!
The happy Loopers
Today we will reach Campbellford which is 5 more locks. Our progress is slow and enjoyable.

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