Needed to delay our departure today due wind and wave conditions. Departed at 1130 hrs and once we passed the breakwater into Lake Ontario we were introduced to the Great Lakes - a baptism of sorts! Three-to-four-foot waves from the northeast and a steady northeast wind drenched the boat. However, once we got out from the breakwater and settled into our course, things calmed a bit. It wasn’t long before we were in 100’ then 200’ depths of beautiful blue water. Eventually, as we crossed, waters depths went to 550’. And this is an inland lake!

As we approached international waters and began to get closer to shore, wave action subsided, and we were running at 23 mph. The 70-mile open water crossing took about 4 hours even with early heavy seas. We are traveling with another boat whose home port is Sturgeon Bay, WI. They, too, are on a similar schedule to get back home. Although they're not Loopers, they have come from Marathon Key, FL to get their boat home.

We’re staying at Trent Port Marina, an incredibly modern and beautiful marina located about a mile below the first lock of the Trent Severn Waterway. We settled in about 1800 hrs, after checking in with Canadian authorities and reporting our presence. We cleaned up and walked into town for dinner. We both had to wear sweatshirts for the walk back - low was 51’! Nice to have the a/c off and hatches open.

Tomorrow we will move in the Trent - Severn Waterway, a 45-lock chain of rivers and lakes which crisscross Ontario from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron / Georgian Bay. Our guess is this segment will take 14 days to travel. We plan to travel 6 locks, spending the night at Frankfort, ON. As a courtesy, foreign boaters are asked to fly the Canadian flag (higher than country of origin) together with your country of origin. Need to buy a flag in the AM.