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…Tikaani has been our home for 4 months… our dream home… so this return has mixed feelings. The biggest feeling… WE DID IT! Our next, and soon-to-be, adventure is Grandparenting!

Saturday, September 7

In Montreal, docked at Port D’Escale again; it’s right in the old city. Although it is a pain to get to due to the huge current against us that last nautical mile under the bridge, you can’t beat the location! We requested a bow-in, easy access mooring and were directed to the inner harbour which required a 180 turn to land Tikaani on the dock… not what we had in mind. We arrived around 5pm which made the 7pm Anniversary Dinner rez at Maggie Oakes do-able. Wandering the old town is very touristy but a great vibe.

Sunday, September 8, 2025

After a grocery run and laundry we walked the town. The “When & If”, a Tallship, was at the marina with a busted transmission – this wooden sailboat was launched in 1938 for General Patton who hoped to travel the globe in her. It now plies the waters attending the Tall Ships Regattas. We met Kate Dingus, crew member, and got to understand what a commitment the crew must make. Tikaani’s crew, Jenny, arrived at 5pm and we enjoyed a fantastic meal at Hayat – yummy middle eastern fare.

Monday, September 9

Booked at the St.Lambert lock for 9am; so off at 7:30am –Kate helped as we had little fairway to turn, so we sprung off the stern and left before the wind got up. Perfect!

Locks were uneventful, but we were the only pleasure craft booked in. We did circles till the green light, entered, went to the very front and caught the lines. All fenders were out. The St.Lawrence Seaway have a very good website to book the locks ahead, to know which side to fender up and for payment. We went through 4 locks and 2 bridges – all timed for pleasure craft passage doing 5-6kts and to complete in 1 day.

Tuesday, September 10

Now onto the USA locks which are not booked. We left at 7am, motored through wandering St.Lawrence and it’s populated shores and moored at the base of Eisenhauer lock. Steve called to request passage and they waved us in. We lassooed a bullard with a bit of difficulty… eg. steering your vessel into a cement wall and throwing a line around a recessed ‘hook’ is not so easy. Then we sat in the lock for 2 hours as they did maintenance in the 2^nd lock. But that is the way it is – commercial traffic gets priority. We got through the 2^nd Snell lock with no delay. It was our plan to drop anchor just before the next lock (CDN), Iroquois. We knew it would hold us as that is where we had to do an emergency anchor after loosing engine on the way down in June! So we dropped anchor at sunset and had a peaceful night, despite the big ships passing 100 yards beside us.

Wednesday, September 11

Iroquois locks was a drive through as the water levels were even. Good communication with the lockmaster makes all the difference.

Destination today… somewhere in the Thousand Islands! Lots more boats around, passing Gananoque, we were in familiar territory, however, Mulcaster was busy and we don’t like ‘busy’… so we motored around to the next deep bay (>2m deep) and dropped anchor. It was swan central with a few motor boats driving by but all settled into a very pleasant anchorage and quiet night.

Thursday, September 12

Portsmouth Harbour called back to confirm there was room at their visitor’s dock (otherwise we were dropping the dinghy off in the channel to motor her in! ). Somehow the visitors dock look more narrow then we remembered but we docked bow in quite comfortably. Jenny caught the 2pm train; we walked Kingston and had an early dinner at the fabulous Portsmouth Tavern (oldest pub in Kingston).

Friday, September 13

At 8am the Wheat Kings Bakery opened… and we were there! Yummy! At 9am we were at the Kingston Penitentiary for the 1.5 hr tour, with a quick visit to the Museum. What a fascinating tour of Canadian history; so well done as you get the stories from people who have worked there. James, son, was due at 2:30pm. Portsmouth Olympic Harbour was getting busy with little people and we realized that the Canadian Open Design Kingston Regatta was this weekend! This is a big deal. Lasers, 420s, 470s, Optimus – they were all launching and practicing. Oops… how to exit this harbour without a bowthruster.. only way was to go further in and circle, but this is where the launch dock is. We found a window and managed not to interfere too much with CORK – Phew! 

The intent was to anchor off Amherst Island. With the winds from the SW, the north bays were best, but other boats had the same idea. We anchored in Kerr Bay, sharing with 6 other sailing vessels… this is the most boats we had seen in one harbour this whole trip!

Saturday September 14

Next anchorage – Bay of Quinte, South of Sandy Cove. It was a motor the whole way, despite the forecast for south winds midday. Fall colours were in evidence here more than any where else. Water was glass, 6knts motoring was easy.

Sunday September 15

Predictwind was variable depending on the model chosen. We had plan A, B, C & D. Left early with brekky on the way. Murray canal by 11am, Brighton by 1pm.

Plan A to anchor in Presquile Bay was scrapped… let’s keep going! Plan B to anchor until wind came up at 2am… scrapped. Plan C – let’s head out to the lake and take our chances… 1 model predicted wind from 2 to 7pm. We got that wind and were satisfied doing 3 to 5kts with main and genoa. Just hoped the rest of the forecast for an East wind through the night would come true – otherwise we motor. This meant we would arrive at PCYC/home on Monday afternoon. We alerted family and friends and prepared for a night on the water.

8pm to 12am – motored. 12am to 1pm downwind saiing! The northern lights were active and the stars amazing, until the ½ moon rose with an orange hew.

Sailing with main and Genoa at first but had to slow the boat down to ensure Grandpe could be on the dock to greet us. So, a gentle main-only downwind sail with 1 gibe saw us to Toronto.

Monday September 15

For timing, we anchored off Hanlon’s Beach for 2 hours to clean up and nap. It was a gorgeous sailing day. Docked, hugs, bubbly and an “I can’t believe we have done it” feeling was the afternoon. Combine that with the loss of sleep and we are happy but weary. Thinkin’ we should read our blog and make it all real again!

The boat fix list is 4 pages, the bowthruster is a must-fix-fast and life, work and family will fill our days.

Thank you for reading this blog. Safe and happy travels to all.

Best,

Steve & Alison