Hello Lake Ontario, Welland Canal, and a Giant Leap Forward

Goodbye, Erie… Hello Again, Canada!

Homeward Bound – Day #35

Lake Erie decided to be kind to us today, sunshine, manageable waves, and just enough breeze to remind us why we love doing this in the first place. It was the perfect balance of “let’s hustle home” and “okay, pause and actually enjoy this.”  We crossed back into Canadian waters with big grins and maybe a tiny victory dance happening on deck.

Choosing to stay on the American side on the way across paid off with safe harbours and, let’s be honest, better lighthouse sightseeing for me. But now? It feels incredible to be back in Ontario. One more lake. One final stretch. So many nautical miles behind us, so many memories tucked into our hearts, and home suddenly doesn’t feel far away at all.

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Hurry Up and… Wait

Homeward Bound – Day #36

We arrived a full day early for our Welland Canal transit, which is pretty impressive considering we’ve spent most of this trip refusing to be ruled by schedules. Since Mackinac Island, we’ve been “fair-weather sailors” through and through, so committing to a booked time again felt… strange. But we did it. We’re here. Early. Woohoo!

With the extra day came something we desperately needed: breathing space. Time to tidy up Agra2, reset mentally, and psych ourselves up for the big day ahead. I’m equal parts excited and nervous; — eight locks, twenty bridges, and a whole lot of coordination. Please, weather gods, be kind.

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Locks, Laughter, and a Giant Leap Forward

Homeward Bound – Day #37

Today we took on the Welland Canal!!!! And honestly!!! What an unforgettable experience. We tied up at the courtesy docks and joined our little flotilla for the day: three trawlers and one familiar sailboat… Sailing Onward!  Seeing Eric and Anna again felt like meeting up with friends you didn’t know you needed.

For our very first lock, we rafted to Sailing Onward ; my first-ever rafting experience. We were on the wall side, and Eric and Anna hopped aboard like total pros, helping keep Agra2 snug and safe. Lines secure, fenders working overtime, and hearts racing just a tiny bit. Watching them film for their YouTube channel was pretty amazing! They’re living proof that adventure is worth sharing.

Meanwhile, I’ll happily stay behind the camera, thank you very much!

Lock by lock, bridge by bridge, we worked our way through. Sharing the experience with other boats turned something intimidating into something joyful. Instead of stress, there was teamwork. Instead of fear, there was laughter. And instead of exhaustion, I ended the day buzzing with energy (possibly because Tom, Anna, and Eric handled the hardest parts — just saying).

And then… the big moment.

Hello, Lake Ontario… We’re Home!

Rolling out of that final lock into Lake Ontario felt like stepping into the last chapter of a story we can’t quite believe we’ve lived. But before rushing off, we made a little detour; when you’re this close to Tom’s big sister, you stop.  So St. Catharines it was!

Thanks to our yacht club’s reciprocal privileges, we scored a free night at the marina (huge win 🙌). We fueled up, pumped out, grabbed our spot on the visitor wall… and then, like perfect timing in a movie, Sailing Onward floated past. Their marina was out of diesel, so they came to join us, and the marina owner welcomed them like old friends, letting them tie up beside us for free too.

The evening felt like a celebration: live music drifting through the warm air, ice cream melting faster than we could eat it thanks to the heat wave, easy conversation, and that unbelievable feeling of WE DID THIS.

We faced the Welland Canal… and we didn’t just survive it. We owned it. ⚓💙

Big Picture, Life-Journey Reflection

When we first pushed off at the beginning of this journey, I don’t think I truly understood what we were signing up for. This wasn’t just about miles, charts, weather windows, and ticking “Great Lakes” off a list. It became about courage, patience, finding our rhythm as a team, and learning to breathe when the lake decided to teach us a lesson or two. Somewhere along the way, the fears turned into confidence, strangers turned into friends, and challenges turned into stories we’ll tell for years. Crossing into Lake Ontario didn’t just feel like entering our final lake… it felt like stepping into a moment of accomplishment. A quiet, steady reminder that we can do hard things, we did do hard things, and home isn’t just where we’re going… it’s what we’ve been building together along the way.

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July 21 ➜ July 22, 2024

Presque Isle, PA ➜ Port Colbourne

Sugarloaf Marina

59.2 Nautical Miles

1,159.3  Total NM

July 23, 2024

Port Colbourne ➜ Welland Canal ➜ St Catherines

Dalhousie Yacht Club

25.6 Nautical Miles

1,184.9  Total NM