Boat & trailer parking somewhere along the Rideau?

C

Casey

New member
We're planning to spend the summer exploring Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island and do quite a bit of truck camping in each of those areas.

Although we don't have a schedule, we'll probably leave Florida in about mid-May and get back to Florida in September or October.

There is a possibility that we may have a month or two toward the end of the summer to cruise the Rideau Canal. (Last summer's trip up he ICW and Erie Canal didn't really give us time for the Rideau, so maybe THIS summer.)

With that in mind, we're planning to tow "Dessert 1st" up to Canada, and would like to find a commercial dry storage area where we can leave the boat relatively close to the Rideau for a couple months while we're off exploring the Atlantic Provinces (then return to cruise the Rideau Loop).

Although we can certainly 'wing-it, and probably find someplace when we get up to Canada - I thought I'd run this past the C-Brat Brain Trust and see if there are any ideas!

Any suggestions appreciated.

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Casey and Mary, I envy your plans! :mrgreen:

Newfoundland - I havn't been there but it is on my bucket list. I have met lots of people from there and many are among my best friends. They are very friendly and hospitable. The ferry ride is about 8 hours and can be dependant on conditions.

PEI - We spent 10 days there in 1999. Mostly by the Point Prim Lighthouse. It was an amazing place. Visited the Anne of Green Gables homestead. Dug fresh mussels, had a bonfire on the beach, got up every am around 5 and walked along the shore when the tide was out(then came back to bed) 8) . Very laid back people. Went there by the bridge and returned on the ferry.

Nova Scotia - We also spent time there in 1999. Great place. Didn't have time to do the Cabot Trail but everybody that I talk to that has recommends it. We stayed mostly at the Bay of Fundy National Park. Almost took out a moose at 5am(or maybe he almost took us out)! Digby is the scallop capital of North America. From there you can go out a long point, take 2 short ferry rides and visit Brier Island - it is beautiful. There is a hotel but some people stay by the lighthouse - not an official camp ground but it was allowed when we were there. They have whale watching tours and we saw lots of seals on the shore early am. Just 1 small grocery store there and things were very expensive. The Hopewell Rocks are worth stopping to see. Bay of Fundy has some of the highest tides in the world.

New Brunswick and Quebec - lot of people talk French. We went to see the Magnetic Hill in New Brunswick - waste of time - don't go out of your way to see it.

Rideau Canal - been on my bucket list for years. Spent a lot of time near Perth when I was young - almost drowned in The Rideau back in the 1970's - but I still want to go back! Think of doing a mini loop someday - Ottawa - Kingston - Montreal - Ottawa. Probably not, but what is life without dreams? 8)

I don't know off hand of a place for you to park near Kingston but any information you want on the places you want to visit can be obtained from Tourism Canada. Info on a specific place can be found if you google Tourism(then name of place). They will send you a ton of info in the mail or email. Lots of merchants will send discount or 2for1 coupons in with the info they send you. You can also contact Parks Canada. Our locks are operated by Parks Canada and the lock pass you get is also good at many other parks. We have Provincial Parks, National Parks, Conservation Areas and numerous privately owned parks. My uncle is the chairman of The Wandering Canadians Inc. He has spent the last 30 years pulling his camper all over North America. He might be able to give you a heads up on some good camp grounds.(google his group for contact info).

Feel free to contact me if there is anything I might be able to assist you with.

Regards, Rob
 
Bob,

Thanks for the info.

Although this is not a "spontaneous" trip, it's only loosely planned and we've been looking forward to it since last summer. It will develop as it comes along. We've heard so many folks talk admiringly about the 'Newfies.

Tent camping, "truck" camping, an occasional motel ... just exploring our way along. That just the way we like to 'travel. 2014 was our last non-boating Advenure. It consisted of ten weeks in Europe with commercial, one week, bicycle rides on each end and eight weeks in between of unplanned wandering. We, quite literally, didn't have an overall route let alone a daily route(!) -- we just made it up as went along, and it turned out wonderfully. Mostly AirB&B's, busses and trains. It was a Wonderful experience. ...so we're expecting a fun time in Canada as well.

Best,
C&M
 
We launched in Cape Vincent N.Y. It's a nice town with a free dock and a public ramp within walking distance. A ferry crosses from there into Canada. You can clear customs at the Wolf Island ferry dock. We got permission to leave our rig from the city. We saw several covered boat storage buildings in town. You should be able to find a place to leave the boat there.
We can talk about it when you get here to Hontoon Island.

Bill
 
Casey":17o8g1ol said:
It will develop as it comes along. We've heard so many folks talk admiringly about the 'Newfies.
Click to expand...

I hear you, some of the most beautiful, memorable places we have seen were discovered unplanned - by accident?

As for the Newfies, I have heard of people being invited into homes for the night when travelling in the more remote areas. They are the kind of people that would share their last beer with you and generally all seem to have a great sense of humour.

The Uncle that I mentioned(who is 86 this year) and has pulled his 26' travel trailer with his 1976 Buick Le Sabre(454) all over North America has seen some amazing sights. Last summer at our family reunion campout he told me that after all he has seen eventually scenery is scenery, a tree is a tree, a lake is a lake, etc. but the thing he remembers and cherishes the most is the people and friendships that he met and made along the way.

Enjoy your trip and don't forget to post pictures so we can enjoy.
Rob
 
Casey-
As I think we have mentioned to you, during visits, some of the best travel experiences we have had drifting around North America by road, have been with folks in Newfoundland. They ere cordial, welcoming, took in family when we had some car trouble, and shared meals, tales, and wonderful evenings singing songs and playing guitars. You'll have fine travels in the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Might even want to take the supply boat from St. Anthony north along the Labrador coast. A great trip with the locals, and wonderful fresh-caught local food and villages to visit. Not a tourist trip -- it's a supply boat for locals, but if there's a bunk available, you can head north on a marvelous trip.
 
Casey & Mary
Your summer plans sound great.
If you do head to Newfoundland, we recommend taking the ferry to Argentia to get there and return from Port-aux- Basque. Saves you crossing the province twice. We booked early and managed to get a cabin for the trip to NFLD. Well worth the extra. We loved the atmosphere on that long crossing.
Pippy Park is handy for visiting St-John's. We do not book many parks ahead of time but Pippy Park would be the exception. It fills up early.
Lots of driving to see Newfoundland but we loved it in 2000 & 2006.
Too many special places to start naming them but we loved the small outposts.
We did not make it up the northern Peninsula and across to the North Shore as Bill suggested and we regretted it latter but we just run out of time.
We loved all four maritime provinces and both times the three months flew by.
Have a great trip & have fun exploring.
Ed
 
If you're still looking for a place to leave the truck/trailer, find a good place to launch the boat and then find a public storage yard nearby. We tried this on the Sacramento River and it was cheap and secure. A marina wants a steep fee to park the rig.

Boris
 
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