Officially Finished The Loop

We officially finished the Loop, yesterday, Tuesday, Sept 11, 2012, at 3:30 pm. We passed the red can in Midland Bay. Hurray! Never thought we would be finishing it in a trawler, when we left Midland Bay 2 years ago, Aug 15, 2010.

We are tied to the dock at the Midland Town Dock. Today we will leave to go back to get the car in NY. Then the plan is to come back to the boat and hopefully go out and enjoy Georgian Bay for awhile. We missed the summer here because of having the engine rebuilt. We thought we would return mid June, not September.

To fill in some of the blanks of the end of our journey.

The Last Supper with Steve and Linda before they left to go back to their other boat "Yesterdays Dream" in NC

We left Bobcaygeon and travelled on to Fenelon Falls, where Steve and Linda were leaving on Saturday morning to take their boat Guppy to the marina to be put up for the winter. It was a rainy and nasty day with lots of wind. We decided it was a good day to stayed tied and read books. Mom was agreeable to this.

Mom's camera is just a smoking. She helped us on the last 24 locks. She has been a real trooper. She had some tricky times in the locks, and almost lost the pole two times. But each time she held onto it. She is probably a couple inches taller now, from being stretched out.

We left Fenelon Falls and spent the next night at Lock 40, Thorah. This lock has no public access so we had complete privacy, no other boats. The only thing that disturbed our evening was a skunk. Not sure what upset him, but we had to endure his strong aroma for awhile. Phewey.

Good to be back in our Georgian Bay landscape. There is nothing like it

The next morning we locked thru and made it the 44 miles to Swift Rapids lock. Again a pretty good lock for privacy. We shared it with 2 other boats. One of the boats who frequented this lock, made a bonfire for the evening. We did not join in, as it was just too cold.

We locked thru with the first lock opening. The plan was for my sister Kathy to come and join us for Lock 44, the marine railway. Much to our surprise, my sister Wendy joined her. Wendy was supposed to be working, but she took the day off. It must have been important to her. I suggested that this was one more thing they could check off their bucket list.

Sisters Wendy and Kathy on board for Lock 44, the Marine Railway.

It was so good to have Mom, Wendy and Kathy on board for the marine railway, and part, if only such a small part of our last day of "finishing the loop."

We were tied to the Midland Town Dock by about 4:00 pm. Made some phone calls to invite friends to the boat to celebrate with champagne. We had a great evening catching up with friends and family.

Brian and Carolyn Handy, Cheers.

Mom and Debbie Laramey. And then I forgot to keep taking pictures. It was so good to see everyone again. Craig, Heather and Jacob also came to join us, but no pictures.