A perfect exit from Point Breeze and entry into Canada.

First, I have to share with you the photos from the perfect sailing experience for Dave, David and Waz, on Dave's yacht. They came in second over all, and with some REAL wind:) What a great way to finish our stay.
The gun went off at around 6.40pm, and they didn't tie up at the dock until 9pm. It was getting pretty dark by then and we were all hungry!!!
The race course isn't too far off the shore, and Robyn and I could see the sails go back and forth, from the house where we sat outside in the sun, until it got too hot.

I took these photos from the fly bridge of the boat, where Robyn and I retired to the cooler environment.

 

We thought this was our fellas with the white Spinnaker, but I don't think it was!

Dave's boat and crew coming back into the river at the end of the race. The light was gorgeous.

Taking down the sail, and motoring in to the dock.

The final touches! and she is all wrapped up.

While the boys were out on the water, and Robyn had gone inside to finish some food etc, I went and took some final photos, around the house and water. The light was gorgeous, and the garden delightful. I love that late afternoon light:)

Robyn and Dave have a lovely nest in this pretty little river community..well, I should say They have 'CREATED' this lovely little cottage. They do it so well!
We have truly appreciated being part of the community for 8 days, and spending time with two lots of friends from different times in our lives. We hope to see both of them again in the not too distant future. Both have been uncommonly generous!

After the boys finished putting all the sails et al away, we all made our way over to the Yacht Club for dinner. The food is catered by the members, but in a coordinated way, so it is especially good.

We said our goodbyes at home afterwards, as we were leaving at 6.30am the next morning (Friday..today!).

The alarm went off at 6am, we showered, put the coffee on and set about our usual countdown to casting off routine. We have our own chores to attend to, and know them well and in order, now. It works!

We left the dock at just  6.35am. The air was cool and crisp...delightful! and the sun was just coming up.
Isn't the light fantastic? It makes the surface of the water and the horizon appear bent:)

 The sun was most welcome, on the fly deck. The boat was on Autopilot, at this stage! Either one of us sit there and monitor the screens and progress...this was obviously MY turn, and I had to take some photos, so....just for a moment!!

Yes, the depth is 600.7 feet ! How about that:)

 Once we were further away from land, the cold crept in, and soon we were bundled up...well, this was the first layer...

Then came the sheepskin slippers, then the down jacket and the scarf...mine. Waz added his woollen hat eventually and had it on when we came through the Murray Canal, still. It was warm again once we got closer to the coastline of Canada.

Mr and Mrs Silly Middle-Class Retired Loopers. This was taken as we crossed the line from the USA into Canada.

We saw this large vessel on the horizon, to our surprise. I don't know why we would be surprised, but it hadn't honestly entered our consciousness that there might be large ships out there! funny!

 I suggested we alter course, slightly. We looked to be on a collision course with him...you can see our deviation in the dotted line .

I REALLY hate balloons with a passion. This is what happens to them when they are let go near water. Fortunately there are no dolphin or other sea mammals out there to get entangled! lets hope it washes up on the shoreline somewhere and it gets put in the trash!

We hoisted our Quarantine Flag, which is required to enter Canada. Only the Captain of the vessel can step ashore upon entry. Waz had to go through the customs reporting system when we first arrived at the Marina in Trenton.

 I spent a long time taking the perfect photo of our wake. Isnt it sculptural? I love watching the surface tension and the way the wake bends at the far end.

 We were certainly lucky to have such a glorious day. Isnt this just stunning!!

 We have to round Presqu'ile Point at the Light House and follow the red buoys into the bay, then along the Murray Canal to yet another Bay.

 Ok.. I just had to throw this one in here for good measure:)

 The light house could have been a bit more imaginative or decorative...is this Canada??lol

Oh dear! Shallow water AGAIN!! Grrrrrrrrr. 9.7 feet deep.

This red/white marker has an Osprey Nest in the top of it. Both parents were in the nest when we passed. We still get a buzz from seeing them on the nest. It is great that they are breeding from Florida to Canada and beyond.

The Murray canal has two swing bridges...one at each end of the canal. We had to wait at both ends for sail boats to catch up with us, and also for the boats coming towards us (going west) to go through first, on the first bridge, but correctly, we had the right of way on the second. Some of the power boats (small) were pretty pushy, though.

This is the first swing bridge, and we had to give way to the sail boat. The power boat was asked to wait!

The second bridge we had right of way, and as I looked back, I took this photo of the yacht behind us paying his $5 into the can that the bridge master is holding out...for heavens sake, get a better method of payment...this one is laughable! We bought a years pass, so we didn't have to go through this charade, fortunately.

This chart shows us at the eastern end of the Murray Canal.

We are officially in the Canadian Canal System. This was the sign on the second swing bridge, which was hard to read with the Binoculars. There is no indication of who to call to open the bridge for you.

And we are out of the Murray Canal into...

 The Bay of Quinte...shallow! 6.7ft.

Some large homes with gorgeous lawns on the Bay. I am on permanent Mowa withdrawal, I think:)

We had to follow the red buoys and do this large arc in order to get to the Marina. It was not deep here either!.

We hailed the Marina, and Craig, the Dockmaster, asked us to come in with fenders on the Port side and stern first. Aieee....not only was it difficult to see how much room we had, but we also had to go around two boats, one on each side of the docks, to get to the back space. The front being the fuel dock and there was a boat on it already. They couldn't walk the boat back, as this was occupied. Waz did a test run to see how the current was running and how much he had to compensate for the wind which came up just for the purpose, of course! sheesh! There looks to be a lot more room than there actually is!
So, we are sandwiched in with the other boats. Our dinghy is about 5 feet from the Ocean Alexander on the right, there. Credit to Waz AND the dockmaster for achieving the almost impossible...in my eyes.
I have given up on the idea of ever docking this vessel. I don't have the experience, and I am not going to get it. You cannot substitute 50 yrs of large boat experience, not to mention his NZ Coastguard Training. I will leave it to the expert. Just hope I don't ever have to do it because Waz CANT.

We took a walk up to the bridge to take photos of the marina...will have to put those up tomorrow...it is 1/2 11 right now, and I cannot keep my eyes open. We will be here for the weekend, so I will have time...tomorrow. Night night!