We cross to the other side of the St. Lawrence River, visiting towns and anchoring at several islands in Thousand Islands National Park in Canada. We end up in Kingston on Lake Ontario, where we enjoy a week of city living.
Our summer cruising continues in new territory for us – the freshwater cruising of a Great Lake and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Along the way, we are surrounded by a vintage vibe in the towns and a timeless feel on the water as we hug the NY coast of the Lake and make our way into the American Thousand Islands.
New cruising grounds for us! We exit the Hudson River to travel the historic Erie Canal and all its locks to Syracuse. Then we turn onto the Oswego Canal and head north until we get to Lake Ontario, our gateway to the Thousand Islands. Along the way we see post-industrial towns and are joined by good friends Patty and Gary for a stretch of the Erie.
We head up the Hudson River, familiar territory for us, and are reminded once again of the beauty and history in the Valley. Most stops are repeats of previous and Looper standards, but gives us a chance to revisit some favorite places.
We go back into cruising mode, heading north for the summer. The first leg is all big water — up the Chesapeake, down the Delaware, and up the Jersey Coast to NY Harbor. Retracing the same path we did two years ago almost to the day when we were doing The Great Loop. Which means there will also be lots of current Loopers to mee . But we notice it feels different this time.
It’s been an intense two months. The first was a fast run up the coast from Florida to Virginia with nearly daily travel, made fun by traveling with friends. Next was a busy month of appointments, projects, and happenings. Throughout it all, we find ourselves reflecting more and moe on Life After Boat.
Part II of our time in the Bahamas. We visit Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, and spend over a week at a tucked away resort on Grand Bahama waiting out weather. Then it’s time to come out of our trance and face the return, realizing that our time in the islands had given us a bit of a philosophical shift.
From Bimini, we change our plans to accommodate the weather and go south to the Exumas, an island chain popular for its beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the Land and Sea National Park. We snorkel, do some hiking to natural wonders and funky man-made sites, and see very small town Bahama life. Along the way we find ourselves coming under the spell of the slower pace, simple living, and natural beauty.
After a lot of planning and prep, we head from Florida to the Bahamas. After ‘the crossing’ our first stop is Bimini, gateway to the Bahamas. But that turns into a longer stay than expected.