Have you got the Ports Cruising Guide for Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands?

[URL]http://www.portsbooks.com/cruising-guides[/URL]

Cheers,
Graham

Harold, are you planning on making this a delivery trip or do you want to do some sight seeing on the way? Where are you picking up the boat? Coming back on the north or south side or some of each? That's our home turf so perhaps I can give you some ideas.

[quote=bakerha;9164]Bstreet - I'll be meeting up with the boat at Alexandria Bay, NY for the return leg to Erie PA. We are sightseeing / adventuring all the way, North and South shore destinations are all possible as well. And any help along the way will surely be appreciated.[/quote]

Harold, that's a great place to start. A Bay (as its known down here) is a great summer town though mainly powerboats hang out there.

From there I would suggest crossing over to the Canadian side and go through the 3 groups of islands that are part of the national park off Gananoque. We like the US side but other than Clayton and Cape Vincent there's less to see there and few anchorages. Needless to say, get your fuel and booze before you leave your side.

If you get the Ports guide as was suggested it has a very big section on the islands. If you like anchoring out there's plenty of very nice spots around the islands, some national park islands have moorings. Make sure you are familiar with the park rules as covered in the ports guide.

We try to respect the cottagers and not anchor on their doorstep, there is getting to be a lot of ill will in that area now about lack of respect from boaters for cottagers. We've seen the behaviour of some and sympathize with the cottagers, there's a lot of very ignorant boaters out there, usually with boats that don't have sails. Best seen mid-week, it gets busy on weekends and we will not go into that area on any long weekend, the boat traffic is insane. Town of Gananoque is very picturesque has a good municipal marina and shopping. Brakey Bay on the east end of Wolfe Isand is just outside the park boundaries and is a nice anchorage on the way to Kingston.

Kingston has a great downtown, lots of restaurants, a great ice cream shop and a lot of history happened there. Most people passing through stay at the municipally owned Confederation Basin, it's right downtown, you will likely need to call ahead to reserve a dock. Couple of other marinas there but not so handy to downtown. Tends to be a tad noisy but for one night it's OK. If you like quiet (we do) or can't get in downtown go to Collins Bay Marina, quieter than downtown, nicest Marina around and great people running it, handy to a big grocery store, a chandlery (Pride Marine) and several restaurants.

From there you have to decide north or south. If you want to cut a big chunk of lake sailing off and do some exploring then stay on the north shore and go down through the Bay of Quinte. Lots of gunkholing, many well protected anchorages, fairly short day runs give you lots of time to relax and explore. Going west you'll probably have to motor a fair bit but we still manage to get a lot of sailing in as well.

On the back of Amherst Island there are three anchorages, Kerr Bay is the biggest, very nice spot but on weekends local boats from Kingston fill it up. Stella is small and weedy but well protected and there's a bit of a village there, quaint.

If you have time I would suggest a side trip going out the cut between Amherst Island and Prince Edward County (another huge island known locally as "The County") and down to Waupoos. A very different area at the head of a huge bay, has a very down east feel to it. Decent rustic marina and some good anchoring spots, very pretty area and boat traffic is usually not heavy even in summer. Don't anchor on the north side of Waupoos island in a west or south wind, it is extremely weedy. Very good winery there at Waupoos, their dock is accessible by dinghy. The County is becoming famous for their wineries, there are many now making very good wines.

Then come back up Prince Edward Bay and back into Adophus Reach. A must see is Prinyer's Cove, it is on the eastern tip of The County just west of the cut between The County and Amherst Island. Nothing else like it around, it is probably our favourite spot, just a very pretty, unique place. Small marina there with some supplies but no fuel. Head west to visit the town of Picton, you might get a spot at the yacht club if you call ahead or go to the head of the bay there's a big restaurant there with lots of docking. You're right downtown and handy to everything. It's another unique town.

From Picton head up Long Reach towards Belleville, there are several good anchorages described in the Ports book along that stretch, we favour Ram Island (great all weather anchorage though off the beaten track a bit), Foresters Island and Northport (both these are out in a nor'easter). They are all isolated with no services.

Belleville is a nice stop (it's were we keep our boat) though the municipal marina (Meyer's Pier) is a stretch from downtown and downtown is not what it used to be (big box store illness). Nice seafood restaurant on the water opposite the yacht club a block from the marina though ("The Boathouse").

From there you go down to the bottom of the Bay of Quinte to the Murray Canal which takes you to Brighton and back onto the open lake. Two swing bridges on the Murray, you pay to go through at the 2nd bridge heading west, bridge tender at Brighton Road (west end of the canal) holds a cup out on a stick and you drop the money in it as you pass, it's 5 bucks so get two toonies and a looney before you get there, bills tend to get blown out of the cup. Brighton is a nice spot, can anchor in the bay if the wind's not up much or tie up at the end of the Murray for free. Very small marina there and the yacht club is extremely shallow, local knowledge only. Nice restaurant right on the bay (Dougal's) and a pretty spot.

After Brighton it's just hopping between harbours. Cobourg has a very good municipal marina with fuel, very close to downtown and lots of restaurants though the grocery stores have moved out with the big boxes. Port Hope harbour is shallow and best avoided although they are dredging it again. From there I am not familiar with much heading west on either shore, it's an area we planned on doing this summer.

If you go down the south shore instead of the north from Kingston, you will want to stop at Clayton and Cape Vincent, we particularly like Cape Vincent but do not tie up or anchor there in any kind of north/north east wind, it is not protected at all and can get very ugly (speaking from experience here).

After that, Chaumont Bay (they say it "Shmo" on your side of the line) is a big open bay but has a couple of nice anchorages that are well protected from the prevailing southwesterlies. Can be tough to get out of if the wind is up though. Sackets Harbour is a quaint town which we like a lot though anchoring is nearly impossible and it's difficult to get a slip. From there on we have yet to visit so can't tell you much, that was also on our planned "lap of the lake" for this summer, which may or may not be happening.

The best part of the lake is the east end, it'll be a great trip, hope you enjoy it.