August 16 – Merrickville
44°54′58″ N 75°50′17″ W

Thursday we travelled from Long Island to Merrickville. It rained off & on through the day but not hard enough to force us off the flybridge & into the lower (enclosed) helm station.

At the Burritts Rapids Lock we caught up with a group of 7 LeBoat charters. It was a pretty busy scene as some of the skipoers were maneuvering there boats to raft up with others in their group.

At the next lock (Lower Nicholsons) we encountered a group of 26 kayakers on a trip from Kingston to Ottawa. There was a mixture of adults & teens in the group & they were participating in a fund-raising effort “Kayaking for Cancer”. They were camping each night at a Lockstation along the way & having a good time despite the rain. A determined bunch, for sure.

We arrived in Merrickville at 2:30pm & managed to secure one of the last available dock spots on the overnight wall. The rain had finally ended & the sun made an appearance.

The group of charter boats arrived shortly after we got Santosha tied up. Time for a relaxing drink & watch the world go by us.

Photo above: the LeBoat “fleet” arrives in Merrickville.

Cheers!