2003 THE LOOP CRUISE

In July of 2003 we set off with for a three week cruise with our friends from Canal Cruise 2002, Don and Adele and their boat Golden Daze. This was the trip for which we had gotten Cloud Nine and traveling with Don and Adele was part of the dream. Great friends and fabulous cruise companions!

Don, Adele & Tammi aboard Golden Daze in Whitehall

The Loop Cruise (sometime called the Little Loop) is a circular trip and we started it at the bottom of Lake Champlain in Whitehall, NY where the Champlain Canal starts. From there we cruised south down the Champlain Canal to the beginning of the Hudson River and then turned west onto the Erie Canal in Waterford, NY. There we had our 1st adventure: as we rounded the turn to Waterford we were startled at the number of boats docked at the wall. Steamboat Round-Up was in full swing, an event we were unaware of. Where on earth were we going to dock? And then a voice rang out from shore hailing Golden Daze. It was John Callahan, the leader of Canal Cruise 2002, and in no time he had us rafted up to participating boats, Caprice and Urger.

Caprice with Golden Daze tied off

This put us at the very heart of the celebration - rafted to two of the canal's most famous boats. What a party! Spent the afternoon touring boats, followed by sunset fireworks off the bridge

Cloud Nine rafted to tugboat Urger

Docked at Fulton

 As Steamboat Round-Up began to break up, we headed west on the Erie stopping in Amsterdam, Canajoharie, Ilion and Sylvan Beach. Had a great time revisiting these spots.









When we got to the Oswego Canal we turned north, stopping at Phoenix and Fulton.

Scrubbing the boats in Fulton

As we cruised up the Oswego Canal we paid attention to NOAA weather reports for Lake Ontario - which we had to cross on the way to Kingston, Ontario.When we got to Fulton we tied up, washed the boats and waited for the weather to calm on Lake Ontario.










When we arrived at Oswego the wind was raging and water was surging over the breakwater. We weren't going ANYWHERE until that calmed down!

Cloud Nine crosses Lake Ontario

Eventually we got a good weather window - and off we went at the crack of dawn!

Don, Adele, Tammi & Craig at the King George Irish Pub

Arriving at Kingston, Ontario felt SO GOOD!  The docks were full, the weather was gorgeous - and we were ready to explore the city!

We loved Kingston! Postponed our departure day after day but finally the time came for us to head for the 1st lock of the Rideau Canal. 







The Rideau Canal turned our cruise direction toward the east and began our tour through the towns of Ontario, heading toward Ottawa.

Adele & Tammi try their hands at cranking the lock doors

Cloud Nine and Golden Daze tied up in Smith's Falls

Changing of the Guards in Ottawa

Looking down the flight of locks
leading out of the Rideau in Ottawa
and into the Ottawa River

The Rideau Canal is not to be missed! We had a great time although felt our 3 week schedule rushed things.

 But as we headed out of Ottawa we were excited about going to Montreal. But first we had to negotiate the St. Lawrence Seaway Locks! Big-time locks, nothing like what we were used to in the Rideau & Erie.

We await our turn for the St. Lawrence Seaway lock -
while an ENORMOUS Venezuelan ship exited

The passage through the St. Lawrence has some tricky moments and a couple of Cardinal Bouys to decode, but making it to Montreal made it all worth it! What fun to arrive at this huge city by boat!!!

Beautiful Montreal!

 After enjoying Montreal for a few days we set forth once again, continuing east along the St. Lawrence to Sorel, Quebec where we turned south on the Richelieu River. The Richelieu becomes the Chambley Canal, then returns to being the river and then enters Lake Champlain - our home waters and the end of our 1st cruise with Cloud Nine.