Wedesday Aug. 26th - We're off!

Like vagabonds, we packed up our belongings and headed out about noon. How much easier the the packing process is without the constraints of weight and number of bags you get with flying! We filled the back of the van with clothes, golf clubs, bikes and various other goodies, anything we thought we might like or need in the weeks ahead.



We crossed out of the USA and into Canada about 7 pm. We are staying at The Inn at Lock 7 in Thorold, Ontario. Every room has a view of the Welland Canal.



THE WELLAND CANAL





The Welland Canal is located in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada between two of North America's Great Lakes, Lake Ontario (74.98 meters above sea level) and Lake Erie (174.34 meters above sea level). The Welland Canal is a vital link in the St. Lawrence Seaway passage from the Atlantic Ocean to midwestern Canada and the United States. The canal is about 26.8 miles in length and includes seven lift locks and one guard lock that bring ocean and lake vessels up 99.36 meters from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. It takes a ship about half an hour to get through a single lock. The whole journey takes about 8.5 hours.