We did it!! It was a wonderful 6000 miles and 10 months! We completed the Great Loop on Saturday in Holland! Our son Karl drove up from Chicago and was at the dock to meet us. Kurt put our gold burgee up just before we crossed our wake in the Holland channel.

We were more relaxed as we cruised down the west coast of Lake Michigan and yet eager to get home. We stopped at favorite ports including Charlevoix to see the mushroom houses, Leland with the famous Falling Waters and Fishtown, Manistee where we paid to play at the casino and finally Pentwater where we reconnected with lots of family.

Thank you to everyone who followed our journey!

T

Island hopping towards home! We crossed back into the U.S. this week after a lovely farewell to Canada stay at Meldrum Bay on Manitoulin Island.  Smoked trout and BBQ ribs for dinner at the local Inn followed by an enjoyable evening with a salty folk singer on the veranda.

Drummond Island is where we cleared customs and started to see our flag flying. Funny how patriotic we felt after a month out of the country. We were able to get a slip on Mackinaw Island on a perfect Saturday. This was one of those stops we've been looking forward to despite having visited the island many times, but never in our own boat! We enjoyed our favorite 8 mile bike ride, fudge of course and just soaking in the touristy vibe after all the remote ports recently. To cap the week off, we cruised under the Mighty Mac at sunrise on our way to Charlevoix.

The Canadian experience continues to be full of beauty and warmth. In the last two weeks we completed the Trent Severn waterway including 45 locks and stops at many friendly ports. Highlights include Kingston, home of Queen's University and the old federal penitentiary, Campbellford, home of the Tooney and more yummy tarts, Peterborough, where we got to see Randy Bachman in concert at age 71 and Collingwood, where my Uncle Dean and Tish treated us to a wonderful Canada Day.

We are traversing the Georgian Bay now and the Canadian Shield granite is stunning and many Cottagers enjoy their own islands.  We were welcomed to raft to some boats in Frying Pan Bay during the busy weekend and have enjoyed a short respite in Parry Sound as we contemplate our final 500 miles.

The welcoming arms of Ottawa greeted us as the summer season began in earnest.  We started with  flight of 8 locks to the downtown wall where we stayed for three wonderful days. While we were lifted 72 feet in the locks alone, many boaters joined us on the wall.  The Parliament tour and the National Gallery were highlights.  The city also caters to bikers like no other place we have visited.  We were also happy to be back in Uber range and took a ride out to watch a CanAm baseball game under the lights.

The weather has been mostly 75 day/55 night, low humidity and light on bugs.  So, perfect for continuing on the Rideau canal and spending time in the tiny towns of Merrickville and Westport. Again, the people make the trip as evidenced by having dinner with the Westport mayor at the church fish fry tonight!

From Cosmo to Canals in the last two weeks. Montreal was wet but lovely. Highlights include:
- A visit to the island where Kurt last visited Expo '67 complete with the biosphere and habitat homes.
- Tour of the Notre Dame cathedral where Celine Dion was married
- The Gran Prix festivities
- Lots of beautiful foods and fashions
- Evening conversation with fellow boaters during rainstorms!

We continued the journey on The Rideau Canal through many locks and villages. Highlights include:

- Biking through Lachine and enjoying the historical museum and modern art/sculpture garden
- Dinner at an Italian restaurant on the terrace over the canal
- Many friendly townspeople who directed us to hardware stores, pastry shops and a fantastic IGA for groceries

On to Ottawa!