From Easter to near the end of May, we have a weird spring: warm, then cold, then freezing, then warm, then blustery, then cold again, and all the time lots and lots of rain. So much rain, the water levels in the Great Lakes are higher than anyone can remember, with flooding and general despair from Michigan to Quebec. Lakers (huge cargo ships) can’t get under bridges in the States, the New York state Erie Canal opening is postponed, and the start of the season for the Rideau and Trent Severn Waterways are put back a week – so far.
Many marinas everywhere are flooded and can’t launch boats or take visitors because their fixed docks are under water. At Loyalist Cove Marina, where our boat is, we have floating docks, but there’s only so far they can rise until the water spills over onto land.
Meanwhile, we woke True North III from her long winter’s nap over several visits down from the city to the marina, working with the chief mechanic, Dave P, and the crew to get her ready for launch, and finish off the items which were still on the winter jobs list – exhaust leak, stuffing boxes repacked, new LED lights, new stovetop installed, etc., etc. And etc.
We launched on May 4 on what turned out to be a glorious sunny day sandwiched between others typified by drizzle, rain and wind. The twin Perkins diesels fired first time, and the check for leaks was fine. We took her over to our slip and tied up. Total engine hours this season s far: 0.25.
It felt good to be afloat again – like a seal, a boat seems ungainly on land, graceful in the water.
We also launched the dinghy, and rigged it on the new davit system on the back of the boat.
Over the next few weeks, Stephen went back and forth to continue the preparations with the notion of setting off on our summer cruise the first week in June. But that now depends on the water levels, since the first leg of the journey will be the 240 mile Trent Severn Waterway, and we’re still waiting to hear when it will open. (More on the plan for summer next post).
And the water is high as an elephant’s eye…
