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There's a moment on the Rideau Canal, somewhere between the second and third lock, where everything just slows down.
Kramer was on the top deck with his nose pointed into the wind, ears flapping like he was trying to take off. Sara had her feet up. I was steering from the flybridge, which sounds impressive until you realize the canal speed limit is about 6 mph and the boat practically drives itself.
But Le Boat handed us the keys after a 90-minute lesson at the dock in Smiths Falls, and somehow that was enough. You figure it out. You bump into a few things. You learn how to read the canal markers and when to slow down for a lock.
The locks were the best part, and not for the reason you'd think. Every lock on the Rideau has a lock master, and every lock master has time to talk. One guy asked where we were from, and when we said Tennessee, his whole face lit up. Huge SEC football fan. Knew more about the conference than most people we've met in the South. We stood there for ten minutes talking college football on a 200-year-old canal in Ontario while the water rose around us.
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That kept happening. Pull up to a lock, tie off, and end up in a conversation you didn't expect. One lock master told us about a restaurant in town that we'd regret skipping. He was right. Another one just wanted to know about Kramer.
We cooked dinner on the boat most nights. Nothing fancy. Pasta, a bottle of wine, whatever we grabbed from the last town. The windows stayed open. The only sound was water against the hull and Kramer snoring from the back cabin.
It was one of the best trips we've taken. And we want to send one of you on it.
We partnered with Le Boat and Destination Ontario to give away a four-night trip on the Rideau Canal. Your own boat, your own pace, no experience required. Or if another destination catches your eye, the winner can swap it for one of Le Boat's 18 bases across Canada and Europe. France, Italy, Scotland, the Netherlands, you name it.
The giveaway page isn't public yet. We haven't released the video. But you're reading this, so you get first access.
P.S. We're curious. If you could take a slow trip anywhere, no flights, no packed itinerary, just moving through a place at your own pace, where would you go? Hit reply and tell us.
π What Caught Our Eye
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Sockwell compression socks
We get asked about travel gear constantly, and the thing we recommend that surprises people most is compression socks. Not exciting. Not photogenic. But after long travel days, flights, or full days on our feet exploring a new place, they make a real difference.
Sockwell is what we wear. They're based in Chattanooga, which is home for us, and they look like normal socks, last forever, and we've tried enough brands to stop looking.
π₯ First Impressions of the Channel Tunnel (unbelievable...)
You drive your car onto a train and then sit in it while the whole thing goes under the ocean. You clear French border control in England, before you ever leave. We filmed the entire crossing because nobody explained any of it to us the first time.
If a European road trip is anywhere on your list, this is the part you'll want to see before you book it.
βA total solar eclipse crosses Iceland and Spain on Wednesday β The first total solar eclipse for mainland Europe since 1999. Totality hits Reykjavik and northern Spain, while the US and southern Canada get a partial view. If you're anywhere in the path, step outside around sunset.
βBoeing's 737-7 finally got FAA certification β It took a decade of delays, but the smaller 737 variant is now approved to fly passengers. Southwest has been waiting on this one for years. More planes eventually means more routes and more competition on fares.
βAmerican Airlines is raising Admirals Club membership by up to 75% β Starting August 23, a standard membership jumps from $850 to $1,400. The move seems designed to push people toward the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, which gets you the same access for $695. If you're currently a member, you can renew at the old rate before October 3.
βA toddler canceled an entire flight by refusing to wear a seatbelt β A Porter Airlines redeye from Victoria to Toronto was taxiing when a toddler refused to buckle up and insisted on standing in their seat. The crew returned to the gate, offloaded the family, and by the time they refiled the flight plan, the airport's runway had closed for the night. Every passenger spent the night in Victoria. If you've ever traveled with a toddler, this is either your worst nightmare or Tuesday.
βJetBlue is adding domestic first class β It's called BlueFirst, and it starts rolling out in October across all non-Mint aircraft, with about 20 planes reconfigured per month. The trade-off: economy legroom drops from 32 inches to 30 to make room for the new cabin. So you're getting a first class option, but everyone behind it pays for it.
βRick Steves' team just dropped a mid-2026 Europe overtourism report β Cable car prices to major viewpoints are up significantly, and they're now recommending advance lift ticket reservations for the first time. If you're planning a Europe trip this fall, worth a read for which spots to avoid and which alternatives to hit instead.
This is the tool we use to find every flight deal below. Premium covers the economy deals, domestic and international. Elite adds the mistake fares and premium cabin deals. One fare you actually book pays for the whole year.
Use code BIGSALE51 at checkout. It runs through August 16 and it's the lowest price Going hits all year. Last chance on this one.
We find all of these through Going. It's worth setting up alerts for your home airport. Most of these deals won't last long, so if one catches your eye, don't sit on it.
Is there a city you wish we would feature for flights? Email us back and we'll put it in the next email.
π¬ From the Replies
Last week we asked if a group RAGBRAI trip sounded like something you'd say yes to, and what would make you actually come or stop you.
Tracy didn't hesitate:
"You sold me. I'm in for RAGBRAI. Not sure what it will look like, and I may only ride part of the way (and it WILL be on an e-bike) and drive the rest, but I'm in."
Jenn was more measured, but we appreciated the honesty:
"Barriers: sleeping on the ground. We're 60 and 63 by then, and I can't picture tenting."
That's exactly the kind of feedback we need. If lodging is the thing standing between people and a week in Iowa, we want to know that before we plan it.
And then there was this one, which we deserved:
"Alex and I are mad that you didn't tell us you'd be riding in Iowa this summer, but we'd still consider coming with you next summer."
Fair enough. We'll give more notice next time.
We'll have more info on this soon. We're excited about this y'all!
Keep those emails coming. We read every one.
Thanks for reading Field Notes. We're trying to make this a space worth saving, full of things we'd actually send to a friend.
If you ever want to pass it along, here's the link to subscribe: Subscribe hereβ
And if something in here made you laugh, think, or book a flight⦠we'd love to hear about it. Just hit reply or tag us @chrisandsara_ on Instagram.
Want flight deals worth booking and travel updates that don't sound like marketing?
Join 10,000+ readers getting Field Notes. We're full-time travelers finding deals we'd actually book, bookmarking things worth your time, and writing honest updates from the road. You get the deals, the links, and the real storiesβweekly.