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Trenton, Ontario, Canada
In June 2012 we started the Great Loop in our Bayliner Explorer. This blog is for family and friends who would like to follow our comings and goings and , for now, our getting ready for the trip. If you read this blog we would love to hear your comment& suggestions.

Sunday 9 November 2014

Hello from a chilly Canada

Hello from a chilly Canada
I know it has been a while since we updated you all on our goings-on and a BIG thank you to all of you who wrote and asked where we were and what we were doing …so here you go…..

We realized last winter that we were going to have to work this summer to replenish the cruising kitty. If you are a regular reader of our blog you will know we had many issues with engines and that the cost was high.
The horse farm where we lived this summer, compliments of our friends Wayne and Pat


So we applied for a job at a RV park in Prince Edward County, not too far from where we used to live. The arrangement we made with the owners of the RV Park was that we would help with the running of the park. In return we got a site to park our 5th wheel camper and we would have an opportunity to make some money while doing some extra jobs around the park.
As soon as we arrived I knew it was not going to work out.  Gary and I gave it a good try but after a month we just left as we just couldn't see eye to eye with the owners.

Oh no!! Now we had nowhere to live and no work.

Luckily we have great friends. Wayne and Pat live on a horse farm and we were able to set up the trailer with all the amenities. For this kindness I will be forever thankful and indebted to them.
Gary got a job with an engineering company doing surveying and I got work at a cheese factory. Then Gary’s old boss got wind that he was back in the area and offered him a contract for 3 months back at his old job, he was in heaven with his old cronies.

Pat, Christelle, Gary and Wayne
Gary with his work buddies Wayne and Deb

I was working for minimum wage scooping ice-cream and selling cheese. The best part of my job , besides the free ice-cream and discounted cheese , was the wonderful kids I met and worked with.

Sierra, Courtney and Tessa The girls I worked with at the Cheese Factory


We worked a lot this past summer but we also got to see our kids and grandchildren and for the first time in years got to spend Canadian Thanksgiving as a family. We also got to touch base with friends although not as much as we wanted to.

The County is famous for its gorgeous beaches - Sandbanks National Park

At a look off , looking towards the East - In the far distance is Lake Ontario

The local county fair Picton

Sunset at Point Traverse - Prince Edward County

Tall Hollyhocks

At the Mariners Museum

Meeting up with old friends

Gary and his son, Nick and grandson Freddie


At my brother's wedding in Nova Scotia. Vic and Iren are currently on the East Coat sailing to warmer weather on their sailboat

While in Nova Scotia I met up with some old friends of mine, Jill and David

Granddaughter Mya

Grand children

So why are we still in Canada on November 08 and not in the sunny south??
Gary’s 3 month contract doesn't expire till mid-December. We had to set up the trailer trailer for winter living and so far so good. He will leave here around the 14th of December and with the help of our good friend Wayne will take the trailer down south. Once back in Florida he will prep the boat and get her ready for another season on the water.

I unfortunately had some bad news from home where my mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I am taking a few weeks in December and flying home to spend time with her and my sisters.
It is getting cooler and we are looking forward to getting south as soon as we can.


We have had many people ask us where we are going to spend winter this year. All I know is that every year we make plans and we have never been able to stick to them. Our hopes are to return back to Great Harbour Cay. We have friends who are going to Cuba and friends who are going to the Keys, all those options also sound good. We also hope to meet up with my brother Vic and his wife Iren somewhere down south. They left Nova Scotia on their sailboat, Solveig in August.

Whatever happens, we will be happy to be on the boat again. And this year we will have tons of time without the dreaded deadlines forcing us to leave the US by a certain time. And after all the hard work this summer we look forward to doing a lot of relaxing.



Hopefully we will meet up with you somewhere on the water.