Day 39 July 29, 2022

 

Day 39 Friday July 29, 2022

Midland Harbour to Frying Pan Bay in Georgian Bay

There was lots of discussion about destination and route, then charting the best route.  Decision made to head to Frying Pan Bay off Beausoleil Island.  Biggest concern was how many other boats would be there due to the holiday weekend.

Our fears became reality – when we arrived we found it pretty congested and felt uneasy about the space still available.  We decided to move on with Tug Bussle leading the way.  Off to Bone Island.  We hadn’t plotted a course so it was a little anxious but Russ got us there.  Some skinny spots and rocks hiding just below the surface.  We hit one of them (ugh), so far no issues. 

Tug Bussle anchored and then we followed suit.  Neither boat was very confident – variable winds and other boats around us makes it less than relaxing.  We are with Tug Bussle, Mountain Mermaid, Charlie Girl and Taylored for Two.

We left Midland at 10:40 and dropped anchor at 1:25.  Jerry set an anchor alarm to notify us if we drift or our anchor drags.   At 3:45pm our alarm went off – better than 3:45am!  We pulled anchor and moved the boat to a different location, further away from the other boats and hopefully less worrisome.

We thought that we would be more comfortable further away from the other boats but we soon had 2 neighbors.  Seemed like the anchor was holding, so alarm set, dinner and bed.   The wind continued to blow, quite hard at times, so Jerry knew that he wasn’t going to sleep well.  He decided on the couch so that he could keep watch during the night.  Alarm did go off during the night but it was set as an early warning and it didn’t appear that we had drifted, just lots of swinging back and forth.  Still, not much sleep for him.

What should we plan for Saturday?  Should we stay or should we go?????

Day 38 July 28, 2022

Day 38 Thursday July 28, 2022

Starport Marina, Port Severn to Midland Harbor Town Dock. 

We fueled at Starport at $2.45/liter, 230 liters.  We considered getting a pump out but thought twice when the marina quoted $55.00!! We’ll wait until it's more important……

Lock 45 Port Severn is the LAST lock on the Trent Severen, another milestone.  It is also the smallest lock, only 23 feet wide so it was a TIGHT squeeze with Tug Bussle, a See doo, an 18 footer and us.  Only a 14 foot drop but it was a struggle to keep our stern from hitting the boat beside us.  Stressful.

We are off to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay!  We hope to spend some time exploring some of the anchorages and enjoying the picturesque scenery.  And avoid hitting granite in the narrow channels.

We crossed Lake Huron to Midland Bay after cruising through some narrow spots.  Potato Channel has two 90 degree turns with limited visibility.  The narrow channel makes it difficult for 2 boats to pass by each other.  It is recommended that you radio a “Securite” bulletin announcing your entry and travel direction to warn oncoming boats.  We actually met 2 boats but were far enough from the channel that we could see them. 

I’m guessing the channel got it’s name from the rocks sticking out of the water that look like potatoes.  No mashed potatoes today….

Weather started to build as we continued our crossing with wind and a storm brewing.  We picked up speed but didn’t make it before the sky opened up.  Driving rain, wind and fog 40 minutes before we docked.  We successfully docked with the help of Russ and 2 dock hands.  Thirty minutes later the storm was over and there was sunshine the rest of the day.  Timing is everything....

Dried off, we walked to the Honoria Museum with Janet and Russ.  We learned about the indigenous peoples of the area, how they lived and the European influence on them.  Samuel de Champlain admired them and worked to partner with them in trade.  We also toured a replica of a Wendat village complete with a longhouse, wigwam, sweat lodge, Shaman’s lodge and burial rack.  The Wendats were a confederacy of 4 separate nations.

Midland is known for its murals.

  Back at the boats we joined Janet and Russ for cocktails, dinner at the Boat House Eatery, and then a nightcap.  Boaters do a lot of socializing.

One of the toughest parts of the day is planning for the next day -- possible destinations, possible routes and the WEATHER.  If it’s a weekend there is additional stress due to recreational boaters.

This is a Canadian holiday weekend…………………

Day 37 & 38, July 27 and 28, 2022

 Wednesday, July 27

Decision made for an early morning start -- Bare Feet, Tug Bussle, Mountain Mermaid and Eric's Inheritance left Orillia at 7:30am.  First challenge would be the Railroad Swing Bridge, only 14 foot clearance.  We would request an opening from the operator.  Opening is completely dependent on the train schedule for the day. The bridge doesn't open until 9am and must close 20 minutes prior to a train's arrival.  We arrived early and waited 30 minutes (floating and adjusting our course in the narrow channel) for the opening.  The bridge operator told us that we could be the only boats going through that day due to a train derailment 2 days before. Yesterday the tracks were cleared; a backlog of 13 trains would keep the bridge closed most of the day.  We were feeling lucky!

Once through the bridge we would have 2 more locks for the day before reaching the Big Chute Marine Railway.  

Caboose turned into a guest house.

Tug Bussle waiting at a lock.

47 foot drop at this lock.

Next adventure-- Big Chute Marine Railway, Lock 44.  

Drama for us -- we received a text message from boaters up ahead that the Big Chute had been closed for maintenance.  Okay, time to exercise our newest skill -- Plan B.  Reservations were made at Big Chute Marina and hope for passage the next day. Barely tied up at the marina and Big Chute was back in operation.  Over to the blue line to wait our turn and make reservations at Starport Marina in Port Severn.

The Big Chute is a 58 foot lift that brings you over land on a marine railway. You enter the chute while the rail is in the water.  You are suspended by straps, similar to when our boat gets hauled out for the season.  Once boats are loaded the railway starts travel out of the water, over land and then back into the water on the other side.  Very strange and remarkable.  It was weird to be hanging there putting our faith in the skill of the chute operators. It was funny to see the Sea Doos just sitting on the deck of the railway out of the water.  The Big Chute can carry 110 tons and boats up to 100 feet.

Check out the straps our boat is suspended from!

After 10 hours we were finally tied to a dock again and ready for a celebratory Tang and Tonic with Janet and Russ.  Late dinner (more left overs) and a short day planned for tomorrow.

Day 35 & 36 July 25 and 26, 2022

Monday July 25, 2022 Day 35

Today we traveled from Fenelen Falls Lock 34 to Sunset Cove Marina in Bolsover, Ontario. Our travel included 7 locks including Lock 36 Kirkfield Lock, the 2nd pan lock.  Our first lock was Rosedale, a lift of only 4 feet, and at that point we were at the highest point on the Great Loop at 850 feet.   We traveled Cameron Lake, Balsam Lake, and then to the Kirkfield Lock.  Swift Falls Lock

The pan lock was less anxious this time as we had done this type lock before.  Difference this time was we were going down.  Still exciting, but not unnerving. Due to an electrical storm the previous evening we had to wait for the power to be restored so that they could run the lock! They actually ended up running it manually.  We arrived at 12:15 and were through the lock at 1:20.Watching as other boats travel the Kirkfield Lock.    

  Traveling out of Kirkfield pan Lock.

Canal Lake, Hole in the wall bridge and then overnight stay at Sunset Cove Marina. Marina was a good rest stop after our 5 hour day with many locks and shallow waters.  We spent the evening with Janet and Russ (Tug Bussle) and Kathy and Richard (See Life).  Recommendation is to wait at Lock 40, assess the weather, and then decide travel across Lake Simcoe so this was a good spot. We enjoyed steak, corn on the cob, and Bob Evans mashed potatoes for dinner.Hard to see but the marina has the stern end of a fishing boat sticking out of it and the fish that is trying to get away. 

 Hole in the wall bridge.

Magnolia patiently going through a lock on See Life. 

Lake Simcoe is shallow, only 20 miles long and 16 miles wide, making it hazardous on windy days.  Storms can develop quickly and bring 8 foot waves due to the fetch -- good reason to keep an eye on the weather. We would travel 5 locks Tuesday to get to the lake.

Day 36 Tuesday, July 26, 2022

We were underway from Sunset Cove Marina in Bolsover Ontario at 8:50am, destination Orillia.  First more locks.  The Bolsover, Talbot, Portage, Thorah and Gambridge Locks are only 3.7 miles apart, 39 miles planned for the day.  Now we were traveling DOWN the Trent Severn Waterway.  We continued with Tug Bussle and See Life and joined up with Mountain Mermaid.  Lake Simcoe here we come!

Lake Simcoe was a "breeze".  Waves were 1 foot or less and gratefully not a concern.  We continued to travel with Tug Bussle, and Sea Life on to Orillia, Ontario. 

Port of Orillia Marina can accommodate 220 transient boaters and is located right in town.  Beautiful facility with immaculate showers and FREE laundry.  I took advantage of that.  Our neighbors on the dock were Erin and Chris on Bare Feet.  We met them last in Kingston.  We are all traveling pretty much the same path just at our own pace.  We took a walk into town in search of a statue of Samuel de Champlain but struck out.  The statue has been removed for renovations.  

Street art in Orillia.

Leftovers on the boat and a great video call with Eric and Courtney.  Happy Birthday Eric!

Tomorrow's adventure -- BIG CHUTE RAILWAY!

Day 33 & 34 July 23 and 24, 2022

 Day 33 July 23, Saturday

We arrived at Lakefield Lock 26 yesterday at 1:30.  It was a good stop after a 4 3/4 hour hot day.  Pleasant area with easy walk to a quaint little town.  Our original plan was to go one lock further to Young's Point but we were pooped so decided to take advantage of space on the wall.  Lock 27 was an hour away and no guarantee of any room or power.  We had a nice chat with Don and Nancy from Seas the Dream.

We said good bye to Lakefield with our next planned destination of Buckhorn Lock 31, 22 miles

 and 4 locks. 

Our plan did not consider that we were traveling on a beautiful Saturday with all of Canada cruising on their boats, using the locks and staying on the lock walls.  BIG MISTAKE on our part.  Our travel day started at 8:15 and never ended until 5:05!  Young's Point, Burleigh Falls, Lovesick, Buckhorn, and Bobcaygeon Locks all packed with boaters moored above and below the locks. We had been told to avoid weekend travel but hadn't really experienced problems until now.

I started calling locks and marinas ahead of us trying to get a sense of where we might be able to stay.  Marinas were full too.  When we arrived at Fenelon Falls, Lock 34, we arrived to find a spot on the grey line (area reserved for mooring and overnight stays) but no power.  It had been a 90 degree day; power would be nice for AC.  We called the lock master and asked if there was room above the lock.  Yes, but no power there either; we feared it would be taken by the time we got through the lock.  

A bird in the hand....we celebrated the end of our 9 hour day with a Tang and Tonic.  A heron joined us!

 

Dinner at Fenelon Brewery -- average beer, good brisket sandwiches.  We ran the generator for a few hours to cool the boat with AC, then opened all the windows to get the breeze and went to bed.  The sound of the dam covered the traffic noise and we slept like a log, even Jerry.

Day 34 July 24, 2022

Our friends Janet and Russ were on the upper wall of the Fenelon Lock with power.  They kept a look out for room on the wall.  

By 9:30 Sunday morning we were through the lock and at a spot with power.  Hurray!!  Once settled in we headed off to church.  St. Aloysius Church is a small, welcoming church with an active community.  We enjoyed Fr Luis Lapinid and his sermon. 

Back to the boat we picked up shopping bags and headed to the grocery store.  Soybee's Grocery is a great store with nice produce and a bakery.  We scored some MAPLE butter tarts.

 Walk back to the boat in the rain then docktails with other Loopers at The Locker at the Falls.  The Perch, Mountain Mermaid, Tug Bussle, See Life, Off Line, and Eric's Inheritance enjoyed drinks, snacks and conversation while it continued to rain hard.

Toast to Handy's Lunch, aka Earl's in Fenelon Falls!

Plan made to travel to Sunset Cove Marina, Bolsover, Ontario the next day.

Day 31 & 32 , July 21 and 22, 2022

 Thursday July 21

Another warm one! High 80s with intermittent showers.  Spent the morning catching up on odds and ends and waiting for the storms to subside.  We walked 2 miles along the Trans Canada trail to the Peterborough Museum and Archives; ALL UPHILL!! 

The museum was filled with the history and the development of the area, including the settlement and influence of the  native tribes and the industrialization of Peterborough.

Samuel de Champlain was the first European to visit the area.  Two of the islands he visited still bear the names he gave them -- Grape and Hickory Islands.  

We continue to be impressed by the beautiful home gardens. 

The walk back to the boat was better -- cooler and downhill.  It was also rewarded with a stop at Tim Horton's for a breakfast treat.

We enjoyed some local entertainment and pulled pork sandwiches at The Riverside Grill.

View of the marina on the way back from dinner.

The Peterborough fountain is lit at night.

Friday, July 22

We started our next days adventure to another sunny day.  Our boat neighbors on Nevermore are leaving too.  They headed to the first lock, only 0.5 mile away.  We headed to the fuel dock. Our fuel gauge decided to quit at the beginning of the trip so we have been logging engine hours and gallons of purchased to get a feel for a comfort level.  Since our last fill up we used 31.09 gallons for 15.4 engine hours.  That calculates to approximately 2 gallons per hour.  We did travel a bit slower this past section due to the number of locks.  We are happy about our fuel usage so far.

After we locked through the first lock (Lock 20 Ashburnham) we traveled 4.2 miles to the next.  Lock 21 is the Peterborough Lift Lock. It is a "pan" lock.  One pan is high and the other is low.  Boats enter the pan and by adding additional water to the pan (only one extra foot, equal to 130 tons) in the higher position the high pan slowly moves to the low position. Entering the Peterborough Lock.  Notice the pan in the upper position.

Notice the height of the tower as the pan raises and the boats are lifted.

Packed in the lift pan.Leaving the lock.   Notice height of the tree and the land on the horizon.

The Peterborough Lift Lock is one of 2 lift locks on the Trent.   It was completed in 1904.  We traveled 8.5 miles through 5 additional locks.  

We traveled past Trent University.             Students enjoying some time on the water.

We finished our day after locking through Lock 26 Lakefield.  Our original plan included 5.8 additional miles to Young's Point Lock 27 but Lakefield had plenty of room on the wall and offered hydro (electricity).  We traveled with boats Optimistic and Nevermore through all of the locks.  We tied to the upper wall with 5 other boats, including another looper, Seas the Dream from South Carolina.  We had a nice visit with them; they have a Mainship as well.

We watched as other boats locked through Lakefield Lock

Learning young how to handle the boat in the lock.

Cranking the door closed.

Jam packed with boats and even 2 Sea-Doos!