Our hull was beginning to grow weeds in Picton so we thought it was time to leave. Besides, we had heard from our good friends Paul & Julie that they wanted to come and join us for a week of sailing the Thousand Islands, so we decided to haul up mooring lines and start moving on.
We motored our way out of Picton Harbour, and into the Adolphus Reach heading eastish past the Glenora ferry and Mom & Kathy’s cabin that they’ve rented many times.
Wind was at our head down the reach, so we were tacking our way all along. It was fun, but after 14 tacks with our big yankee sail that refused to slide through the slot so someone (ME!) had to run up to the foredeck each time and haul it through, then run back to the cockpit to manage all the other sheets as well as the flopping jib … lets just say it was exhausting. Especially since ONE person on this crew CLAIMS to have broken a rib, so she CAN’T do deck duty. Not naming names, but the lallygagger’s name starts with “A” and ends with nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 🙂 . Lots of fun
We sailed into Prinyer Cove as the sun was starting to wane and tied up to a mooring ball owned by our Stillwater friends, Chris and Deb. The cove is a real hurricane hole, with good protection all around and a small little marina deep in the bay. It’s also full of private mooring balls, such that anchoring is difficult. Luckily Chris had given us permission to use their ball, which made it very relaxing … which is what we do best. The next couple of days were spent swimming, reading, watching turtles and baking bread.
From Prinyer we headed out into Lake Ontario proper. It was great to finally be out in the open water again. Our plans were to sail to Main Duck Island, which is a bit offshore, but winds and seas were on our nose. So as usual, we went where the wind was blowing us, and headed over to Waupoos area instead. We found a nice anchorage west of the island and dropped the hook for a few days of swimming, reading, and pestering my Annnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeee:
Pulling out of Waupoos I hauled up the biggest clump of weeds I’ve ever seen. The entire 70 feet of chain was wrapped in the stalky, sticky growth. And once I got to the end the weed ball was so thick I couldn’t even see the anchor! I was fighting and cursing to clear all this junk when I looked up and see our neighbour waving something. He finally calls over: “This is what you need around here!” 
Turns out he’s lashed a garden claw to his boat hook. I pick one up later, and he was so right!
We depart Waupoos once more heading for Main Duck, but this time the wind is nonexistent to light. We struggle to get enough speed to even keep steerage. I was just about to get our light airs gennaker when a light puff of wind fills our sails. OK … we wait. Within a few minutes we had 20 knots of wind blowin’ from exactly where we wanted to go, so we listen to Neptune and headed off towards a different anchorage instead. Remember, we always go where the wind blows us 😉
The sail turned into a rollicking rollercoaster ride. We blew past our first possible anchorages, and headed towards Kingston. We were planning to get there in a few days, but with winds reaching 28 knots and boat speeds at 7+ knots for over three hours, we just kept cruising all the way to the limestone city. We dropped anchor at a popular spot near Wolfe Island, and settled in for a couple days of rolly, but relaxing living.
After two days of watching the power boats build ever-larger rafts (one was nine boats long! … what is it about power boats and rafting anyway???) we upped-anchor and officially entered the Thousand Islands. Winds were favourable, so we sailed down the rather narrow, and very busy, Bateau Channel. Ann added a few more grey hairs as she helmed and navigated our way past narrow, shallow waters, large fast moving tour ships, and tons of zippy boats everywhere!
We arrived at our anchorage a short 1.5 nm away from Gananoque and spent the next few days getting the boat ready for our visitors, and generally relaxing.
Oh, and Ann did some boat yoga just for fun. I think this is called Laughing Quacka Redhead … 😉
We pick up Julie and Paul on the weekend. Then it’s off to explore the Islands with people who actually know how to sail. Yikes!
It is wonderful to see you guys made it to the area of the world where I fondly spent so many summers of my childhood (likely on one of those zippy boats)! Other than the wind farm on Wolfe Island it is just as I remember. I do remember the wind on Lake Ontario (and wind surfing championships no less) so, I guess some things will never change! Enjoy the Thousand Islands and hopefully you will see that it is much more than a just a salad dressing inspiration (although I guess with those weeds it’s starting to make sense?). Loved this place and miss it every summer.
Right Sue! Of course you would know this area of the world. Cruising is very different from Lake Superior, but it has its charm. Any particular islands that you remember?
We’ll be hanging out here for awhile longer. Not a bad thing 🙂
Ann
I remember “Bee Island” but I’m pretty sure I named it that!…and of course Boldt Castle was an interesting distraction. We usually set off from Gananoque. I will contact my parents as we used to camp on a few of the island campsites when we weren’t “dock camping”. Enjoy the slow pace!
I wonder if Bee Island was little-Susan-short for Beaurivage? … if so, that’s where we are right now! Or maybe it was all about a young person’s encounter with BEES. Eeek.
Hey Ann,
No help from my parents I just realized reading this! They did reassure me that there was no actual “Bee Island” but I named an island after, like you said, the copious bee encounters I had! I remember something about the naming of the island being justified, but didn’t know I thought of that one! I remember stopping for a picnic on a rock once until a giant black spider crawled out of a crack and caused me some trauma. This could explain my arachnophobia? The water snakes were also a fun sight back in the day. Family legend has it that I was demonstrating my newly learned Irish Jig skills on a rocky shore for my family and friends while a snake was approaching behind me. Apparently, the movement in the jig was a bit much for whatever nefarious plans the snake had and it slipped into the water behind me. My Mom said it was difficult for her to balance freaking out herself and freaking me out! I thought maybe my dance moves were a bit off, judging by the look on her face! Oh the fun times. Good thing these are just some of the good stories I have to tell now! I do remember something about a dock with a boathouse with a crescent moon. I always wanted to ride past there. Oh how I loved those summers. I also enjoyed teaching my grade 8 teacher how to properly pronounce Gananoque! Maybe the thousand islands have had an impact on shaping the path to my future career? I am really glad you seem to be enjoying it there as much as I remember loving it!
How is the rib Ann? I can’t believe you went that far in a short time.
She says it’s getting better. Hope she doesn’t break anything else!
Yes, after a slow start we finally made some distance. We’re going to linger around here for another week or so, then start heading back to Belleville. Gotta start thinking about hauling out … where has the summer gone?
LOL, play nice Mike! 🙂
Always 😉