08/22 - 08/28 - Rideau Canal Cruise

Sorry Fred,

We've been thinking of you and missed you on our cruise. I was all set to post pictures on Friday, but the photo album had not been created yet. All my pictures with captions are on my computer at work and since we have a long weekend, I won't get to post them until Tuesday. I have a much faster connection at work so you'll just have to wait.

Dun
 
Crossing into the US

So, there were us 7 adult men crammed into the mini van driving from Ottawa to Clayton, NY to get our Towing rigs. At the US Customs entry, the agent looks in the van and says: “ I guess you can’t be carrying much back with you; there’s no space.” “IDs please.” “What were you doing in Canada?”

I replied: “We took our boats up the Rideau Canal and are going back to get our Tow rigs.”

The agent then asked: “ How did you guys meet?”

I replied: “On the internet.”

Now the agent was comparing our passports with a computer screen, and you could see him trying to keep a straight face. But, he failed. First the corners of his mouth curled up ( but he was fighting it). Then he broke into a grin.

I asked: “ Would it help if I said our wives are waiting for us in Ottawa?”

He started laughing and replied: “Not at this point.”
 
Glad you had a nice time. You guys never looked THAT WAY to me. I guess they believed you about your wife waiting.

Looking forward to the pics.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the swimming cat)
 
OK, we have some pictures posted. I think Rick did his usual excellent job of describing the trip, but I want to add that we find so much enjoyment from the company of other C-Brats on these trips, that we can't wait for the next one. The day's fly by and we forget sometimes what day we're on. We visited a place that we had only heard about in tales from people like El and Bill, and forever will remember the good times and good friends. Thank you all...and especially our organizer, Rick. Great Job, Eh.

Next year...on to Maine!
 
Thank you Dun, Thank you Dave, Thank you Rick, and all the rest of you,

The pictures are great. It is a very interesting place to go. I will have to do it sometime.

Maybe we should think of a springtime cruise inside the state of Rhode Island for next spring. Close to where it all started. Just an idea.
I shall start to scout it out. I will bring my boat.

Fred
 
Dear Friends:

Like Fred, I have been enjoying your cruise vicariously. Thanks for your individual posts, Rick's review, and the album of photos. The Rideau is on my "must do" list.

Darlene and I will be retiring in June 2008. So hopefully, next year...

To date, we have logged 500+ miles on L. Ontario this summer. We spent one full day on the Erie Canal, locking through the double locks in Lockport and cruising out to the Niagara R. (and return).

We have a new CD-22 in western NY. A couple met me at the Golden Hill SP one morning (as I was putting my boat on the trailer at the launch), and we struck up a conversation. A few days later, I took him (John) out for a couple of hours (in front of his home on L. Ontario). A month later, following several e-mail exchanges between us, he wrote to inform me he had purchased a brand new CD-22 from a dealer in MI! I'll pass along more info and get them on this site later this fall.

Cordially, Wayne
 
Lock Leap-Frog the C-Dory Game

Gee, I'm surprised we haven't heard from Dave or Dayna about the game they invented - Lock Leap-Frog.

When you try to put 6 C-Dorys into a lock that already has some boats, you have to raft. On the Rideau Canal most locks come in multiples. So, you move from 1 lock directly into another, up to 3-4 times on the central part of the canal.

On the Rideau when boats are rafted the Lockmaster directs the order of exiting the first lock and entering the next lock. Invariably, the C-Dory that is rafted (the Rafter) in the first lock goes to the wall in the next lock, and the boat that was rafted to (the Raftee) rafts to that C-Dory. Hence, Leap Frog.

Well with 4 locks, Lock Leap Frog can get interesting, except as Dayna pointed out, the Rafter is useless once rafted, as the Raftee does all the work of fending off the Lock Wall. So, we C-Dorys added a new wrinkle to this game.

On the Rideau, when exiting locks, it is frowned upon to start your engine before the Lock Doors open. So to spice up this Lock Leap-Frog, we added a scoring system. If you can start your engine before the doors open without the Lockmaster yelling at you, you score 5 Pts. If you get yelled at, that is a Disqualification. You have to re-start from the bottom of the locks.

I lost score, but I think Widget gets high point honors for this cruise; Dave always snuck in an early engine start.

Rick from Maine
 
Our Rideau Adventure - so very special between "Lock Leap Frog" to "Bed and Breakfast Bingo". Most memorable, though, is all of us doing all of this, and wanting to do it again! David and Dayna p.s. we posted a pix of Rick's "dip", and then the mighty warriors return to their very patient first mates in Ottawa.
 
I posted a photo of Hunky Dory's new Chandelier in the Rideau Canal Cruise album. This was the chandelier that Carol picked up in Westport since Dave got us there 10 minutes before the shops closed! Now when you C-Brats eat on Hunky Dory, Jackets & Ties will be mandatory (though underwear will still be optional).

Rick from Maine
 
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