This blog is the work of Stella and Finn Russell and was created during the summer of 2016.  We visited with our grandparents on their trawler, Harbour Reach, along with our parents and our Aunt Beth.  We cruised 105 miles from Montebello, Quebec Canada to Smith Falls, Ontario Canada.

Stella's Story

We got picked up the first day at the airport. We went to the hotel and we fell asleep in one second. The next day we went to Ottawa with the boat.
 

Harbour Reach

Looking at Parliament from Ottawa River just before the 8 locks

When we went through the locks it was really like, WOW!  We also went to the light festival.  It was really cool!

Stella's favorite light display

Finn and I slept on the boat.  When we woke up, we went shopping in Ottawa and we bought loads of things.

Don't look now

Then the girls had a pedicure and our feet became beautiful.

Oh so glittery!

Grandma, Mama, and I went for a walk after dinner and we saw a big spider statue.  Later we went back to the boat and fell asleep.

Not the spider, but another nice statue we saw on our walk

The next day we took the boat to Hartswell Lock.  Finn, Mama, and I were taking turns on the bikes.

It was really fun because we could go really fast.

Look, I can even carry my bike!

When we wanted to have dinner outside at the picnic table, it was a sad day.  When we got everything ready, it started pouring rain and we needed to take everything back inside.

The next day we went to Long Island and we went for some very fast dinghy rides.  Mama and I went swimming in the river.

 

Just Mama, me, and our noodles

 We went rowing in the boat to fish some fishing stuff out of the trees.

For dinner we had lasagna and it was super nice!

The next day we went with the boat to Burritts Rapids.  Mama and I went swimming.  We also all played Frisbee.  For dinner we had pizza.

 

The photographer at work

The next day we went with the boat to Smith Falls.
 

Captain Stella

Everybody had a tiny walk and then we all rested.  After we rested we all had a tiny snack.  After that tiny mini, mini, mini snack I went for a walk with my Dad.  It was a really nice walk and when we came back to the boat we went for a car ride. In the car we were trying to find a bookstore and we found one.  So we parked the car.  We walked over to the bookstore and it was closed, so we just went for a wander.  After our wandering, we went back to the boat.  For dinner we had chicken stir-fry with rice.  It sounds quite yucky, but I had a rice sandwich and it was super nice.  I wish I could have that dinner again!  After dinner, Grandma and I went for a walk to the hotel where my mama, my Dad, and Beth were going to sleep.  When we came back from the walk, the guys went to the hotel and the boaters played Kings in the Corner.  After I won, we went to bed.

The next day we all slept really late, 9:00.

Do I really have to get up?

 

I'll get the Cheerios!

After we had cheerios for breakfast, we went sailing.  it was super fun.  We went swimming off the boat.  After swimming we went to get ice cream, but it was closed.  We went back to the boat and had pizza for dinner.  Later we went to bed on the boat.

Can I be the boss today?

The last day we went swimming and sailing.

Stella and Becky

We had some scones and then we went to the hotel near the airport because the next day we are going to the airport.

Finn's Story

The first day we left from Amsterdam to go to the airport.  The first flight took 9 hours and we went to Toronto. I watched 4 movies and read a lot. The second flight took an hour and a half. I watched one movie. Then we went to a hotel and went to bed, the next morning we went to my grandma and grandpa’s boat. We looked around a bit.

Then we set off, a bit later we came to Ottawa and went past 8 locks the next two nights we stayed by a bridge. I fished a lot and even caught a catfish!

 

Finn's favorite at Parliament's Light and Sound Show

After that we went to Hartwell’s lock and I and my sister were allowed to work the lock. It was quite fun and grandma took a lot of pictures.

After that we went on a bike ride.

Finn braiding the dock lines

Moving the boat off the blue line

 

Guess what we had for breakfast?

The next day we went to Long Island lock and I went fishing.  We also went on a dinghy ride that was very fun.  My sister and my mom found a lot of fishing tackle in a tree and they gave it to me! 

Finn, prepared to watch for obstacles

The Kawartha Voyageur, a cruise boat with the bow folded up to fit in the lock

 

Finn helping make lasagna for dinner at Long Island lock

After that we went to Burritts Rapids.  There I spent a lot of time reading. For dinner we had pizza. We stayed there for the night.

I helped to steer the boat

We saw a plane tied to a dock

                                                                                    

The front of the plane was really cool

The next day we went to Smiths Falls and went through 14 locks in a distance of 18 miles. I went for three walks and came across a sort of remote control boat festival.  There was this guy who had set up this headset and put a camera in his boat. He let me try the headset on it was really cool! He also showed me that the anchor could really go down.  After that he said that he had made the boat himself, how cool is that? 

In the museum at Smith Falls we could play Captain

I caught my first Pike at Smith Falls!

Finn at the helm sailing like a pro

Photo Gallery From Ottawa, Canada to Smith Falls, Canada by boat

These are more pictures from our boating trip in Canada

Happy Days

Dada getting ready to tie us to the blue line

We are all tied up, waiting our turn to go up the 8 locks

The first day we went up 8 locks and ended up in Ottawa

The hotel at the top of the 8 locks

Mama by a flower pot in Ottawa

Grandma and Finn getting the fenders in place

What are these clowns doing?

Waiting at the Long Island locks

Up one lock, three more to go at Long Island locks

Moving into lock 2, keeping the lines in place for the next one.

Long Island Locks near sunset

Look at these blue gloves!

The swimming was good at Smith Falls!

Grandma and Stella

Grandpa, Finn, and Stella

Finn and Mama

Stella and Mama

Finn

Sailing at Smith Falls was also fun!

Grandpa, Finn, and Stella

Mama and Stella

Stella and Mama

Smith Falls was a good place to read!

Dada, Aunt Beth, and Grandpa

Dada behind the screens

What dirty blue gloves I have

We hope you enjoyed hearing about our trip