H2O Getaways

10/24/2026

In May 2021, John found two rundown houseboats for sale in Brockville.

We convinced our friends Aaron & Kate and their two girls, to join us for the adventure of bringing them home. Other friends were on Frank & Herb duty while we were gone.

We were so excited.

Right up until we stepped aboard. 🫣 OMG - We have to sleep on these? 😳

I can’t lie, I shed a few tears as we left the dock.

We headed out under sunny blue skies with high hopes for an uneventful trip.

Which lasted about 20 minutes.

One boat lost power. We rafted together until John & Aaron figured out there was water in the gas line, changed the fuel filter, and got us moving again.

Then came the wind. Really high wind.

We had no choice but to shelter overnight at an island with a giant NO DOCKING sign cue to COVID restrictions, but honestly, who was coming out there to kick us off? 😂

Over the next two days, John & Aaron dealt with one thing after another: four fuel filters, an oil change, a blown starter and a torn alternator belt.

That last one involved John’s sister Jill buying a new belt at Canadian Tire and paddleboarding it out to us as we passed her house.

You really can’t make this stuff up.

Like we always say, it takes a village.

There is absolutely no way we could have done that trip alone, and we are still incredibly grateful for the friends and family who jumped in and helped us get those two boats home. 💕

And somehow… that was only the beginning.

10/19/2026

It was a cold, sunny day in March 2021 when John & I started renovating our very first boat, a 1999 Gibson 37 Sport Cruiser we affectionately named Miss Percy, after Lock 8, Percy Reach.

She basically felt like my firstborn. 😂

It took us two months to transform her inside and out, and man, what a learning curve. There were tears, endless paint colours, way too many tile samples, a lot of trips to Fabricland, Dulux Paints and Home Depot, and enough time spent there that we knew the staff by name.

By the time we finished, she was absolutely adorable.
We couldn’t wait to get her on the water and let others experience her too.

Then came our first big lesson: as much as we loved Miss Percy, most guests were looking for a more traditional houseboat experience.
And while she was beautiful, she could also do 40 mph, which isn’t exactly the kind of boat you hand over to someone with little or no boating experience. 😂
Add a few changes to insurance requirements, and we knew we had to rethink things.

So John started hunting for more traditional houseboats to renovate, while I came to terms with saying goodbye to Miss Percy so someone else could love her as much as we did. ☀️ And that’s where Part 2 begins….stay tuned.

10/13/2026

Thanksgiving weekend may be behind us, but we’re still thinking about everything we have to be grateful for. And honestly, sometimes we’re not even sure where to start. ❤️
Our wonderful guests, our online community, Parks Canada and the amazing lock staff along the Trent-Severn Waterway. All our friends and family who show up for us in so many ways, big and small.
We’re so thankful for all of you. 🥰

Of course, things don’t always go according to plan, and some days are harder than others. But we’re doing our darndest to appreciate those moments too! (PS…it’s not as easy! 😉)

It’s been quite a year, with some exciting changes ahead. Thank you everyone who’s been part of this journey!
Thank you for supporting us, cheering us on and believing in us. ❤️
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! 🍂 J&J

10/06/2026

Cool mornings, warm afternoons, quiet locks, and the brilliant pops of red, yellow & orange in the trees that remind us how lucky we are to live in Canada.
We love this part of the season. 🍁

10/03/2026

10/01/2026

Moral of the story? Just because you’re scared doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
Sometimes you just need to see someone else do it first. ❤️.

09/24/2026

Thinking about a houseboat trip in 2027?
If you’ve got questions, send them our way.

Want to know which boat might suit your crew best? Curious about dates, routes, or how the whole thing works? We’re happy to help.

And if you’re ready to start planning, ask us about our Early Bird Discount.

📞Call or email us with your preferred dates and boat, and we’ll get you set up. See you on the water! 💦

09/23/2026

Now that it’s officially fall and summer is slipping away … seems like a good time to ask…how was your summer?

Ours was busy in the best way. Most days, the dock was empty except for turnover days, with boats coming and going and people heading off for their week on the water. It felt really good to see so many folks out there enjoying it.

We met lots of lovely new guests, enjoyed catching up with our regulars, and even managed to sneak in a few properly relaxing days on our own boat.

One good thing from our summer? Honestly, probably that. Getting a little time on the water ourselves and remembering why we love it out here in the first place.

We’ve still got some fall boating ahead of us, but before summer disappears completely…
What was one good thing from yours?

09/18/2026

John & I want to thank everyone who reached out, shared a memory, or sent us a message about Herbie. We’ve read every one, and they’ve meant more to us than we can say. ❤️

It’s been lovely hearing how many people had their own little connection with him. He had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world.

And he had the most expressive face, which was quite an accomplishment for a guy with no eyebrows. 😆

We miss him terribly, but hearing your stories and knowing how much happiness he shared with so many of you has been a wonderful gift.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ❤️