The Adventures of Monk's Vineyard - The Great Loop and Beyond: July 29, Day 46

We got up relatively early this morning so we would be ready for the first lockage at 8:30. However, they had the first lock empty so we figured they would lock boats through from the other direction first. However, they started filling the lock so then we decided they were going to lock us through so we pulled off the wall and got in position to enter the lock. Then they decided to empty it …. It was a little confusing, but finally they were ready for us and we locked through with one other boat. We proceeded to Lower Brewers Mills where they put us in the lock, but then told us we would have to wait approximately ½ hour for another boat. It was a very pleasant setting so we just roamed the grounds waiting for the other boat. It was a beautiful day. Warm, slight breeze and sunny.

After locking through we proceeded on our way. We were hoping to time it right for the last 4 locks at Kingston. They are step locks, so they must all be done right after another …. like the beginning (the flight of 8 in Ottawa), but only half the number.

When we arrived around 11:00 the lock was closed so we tied up on the blue line. The lockmaster came down and told us they had just started a boat through so our wait would probably be a couple of hours. We had a quick lunch and Linda roamed around getting steps and taking pictures. They had a bit of a problem with the last lock gate and had to bring out the maintenance crew. They seem to fix everything with a hammer, wood, wire and, who knows, maybe duct tape. Soon all was well and the single boat proceeded out the last lock.

After the boats at the bottom locked up, we finally got into the locks around 1:30. The last 4 locks went pretty smoothly. We were with 4 other boats. After that it was a short run, through a narrow channel, into Kingston. We had finished the Rideau Canal!! We arrived at our marina around 2:30 and topped off with fuel, got a pumpout and settled into our slip. It is an older marina, but quiet, and they did have diesel and pumpout which the bigger Confederation Basin Marina did not have.

We had received a phone call earlier in the day from another Monk owner, Dick Guckel. He and his wife Suzi were currently in Kingston on their way to the Rideau Canal. They invited us to join them for drinks at a local pub. There was also another couple they were traveling with, Greg and Donna Howard on an American Tug. We had a couple of drinks and swapped stories.
Later we explored the city a bit and then back to the boat and to bed. We decided we would stay in Kingston through Saturday morning.

Leaving Upper Brewers Mills early in the morning. Notice the tent on the grass. Some people that have kids on board with them put up tents for the night for the kids to sleep in.