July 10, 2012

This morning we went through the first locking at the single detached and three linked locks at Jones Falls.  It was a pleasant 78 degrees, but heated up by noon when we reached Upper Brewers Locks where Betsy had parked her car 8 days ago.  Time flies when you’re having fun. We had a nice picnic lunch next to the dock.  The Canadian Parks are very clean and well-kept and there are always picnic tables and grills available.  The lock guides lists amenities and we’ve found although water has been listed, it’s not always potable.  Some locks have electricity for a small fee which is very nice so we can run the AC overnight.

Having Betsy’s car is great!  We drove into Kingston – which took about 15 minutes – and I was able to do the laundry at Confederation Basin, one of the city’s marinas.  Laundry is therapeutic – for me, anyway!  With a car, we were able to go grocery shopping and went to the farmer’s market where once again, I bought blueberries from Hammonton, NJ!  They are everywhere in Canada.  We had dinner at a recommended  Italian restaurant in downtown Kingston, then headed back to Upper Brewers.

Jack and Reese fished on the dock a while and we sat on the flybridge watching a boyscout troop swimming in the canal.  They were having a great time – photos of which are “tonight’s back yard.”  Striper played ball with Jack and Reese and we turned in for the night.  And what an awful night it was – the mosquitos were horrorendous!  I have added “two bug zappers” to my shopping list if I can get to a Wal-Mart soon!  Reesie Pie got weepy and didn’t want to go home.  They’ve had a good time living on the boat and we’ve so enjoyed their company.  I was a little weepy myself.  At one point, we brought Reese into bed with us so she didn’t have to hear the mosquitos flying by her ears.  We have screens everywhere, but they managed to squeeze in regardless. 

Jack, catching fish with his Huck Finn fishing pole

Upper Brewers, a boyscout troop swimming in the canal on a beautiful hot evening

The first of three linking locks at Jones Falls

Betsy captures a photo of an open water lily at Jones Falls

We had a picnic lunch when we arrived at Upper Brewers