Day #66: Belleville, Ontario -- 2017Journey's End

The Engine's Water Strainer is Doing its Job

Trenton Memorial Park

This Mural is Made with the Faces of Belleville Residents

Yes, I'm a Sucker for the Wildflowers

Bicki's Solution to the 50 Pound Problem

The good news was we found antifreeze (to winterize Nellie's potable and raw water systems) on sale.   The bad news: the store was a mile from Nellie; 6 gallons of antifreeze weighs 50 pounds; and, we were hoofing it.  Bicki, ever creative, stuck out her thumb.  No one stopped.  Undeterred, she showed a little leg.  No one stopped.  I heard her muttering, "This always worked when I was 21."  A smart husband knows when to stay silent.  We walked.

Trenton to Belleville

In today's 12 mile run we didn't go through a single lock ;-)  Tonight Nellie's at Create Marine in Belleville, Ontario.  I hope she likes this place as it may be her home for the Winter.  This summer's journey was 2068 miles.  Since starting the Loop in 2015 Nellie has gone 6438 miles.  Until May 2018,  DBH.

Day #65: Trenton, Ontario

Fog Burning Off in the Blue Hole

An Air Fisherman Sets the Net

Bicki Receives A Gift

The lock masters are, in a word, congenial.  They're also a wonderful source of information.  Lock 7's master is Kevin.  He told us that in the 1800's there was a small village around Lock 7.  He pointed out where the blacksmith's shop was.  "We still find square nails there", he said.  Then after, a short  pause and a quizzical glance, he asked, "Would you like one?"  Absolutely!

Time to Enjoy the Scenery While Waiting at the Locks

A Band-Aid on Lock 3's Hernia

Major repairs on the Trent-Severn are done during the winter.  Lock 3 is limping along with a rotted section in one of its doors.  Based on the complexity of the temporary repair, which is an impressive mesh of steel and wood, a permanent repair must be both  expensive and time consuming.  Lock 7 is getting a $12M overhaul this winter.  It was built in the mid 1800s and has stood the test of time amazingly well.

Lock 1--Almost Done

Out of Lock 1, Wahoo

Trent-Severn Buoy 1--Nellie Survived the 240 Mile and 1200+ Channel Marker Gauntlet

Nellie's Route Along the Trent-Severn Waterway

Today's 7 locks and 22 miles brought us to the end of the 240 mile long Trent-Severn Waterway.  There were over 1200 channel markers along the route and we managed to pass them all on the correct side.  There was one green that we approached on the wrong side but noticed and quickly corrected the error before fate threw a penalty flag--red, left port!  Tonight we're safely tied to a dock in Trenton.  DBH

Day #64: Blue Hole

The Value of a Long, Rigid Boathook

We bought this 8' long wood pole (pictured above) in a hardware store in Juneau, Alaska.  To it we attached a brass boathook fitting.  In Alaska we used the boathook to push iceberg bits out of our way.  It's still used almost daily: to attach the bridle to the rode; and to help push Nellie's stern away when departing a mooring.   In the Trent-Severn it is also earning it's keep by clearing grass off the rode while weighing anchor.

Back-To-Back Locks 16 & 17 Bring Nellie Down 54'

Fall Colored Flowers

Lock Master's Flowers

Ontario's Freshwater Version of a Georgia Salt Marsh

Today's fun facts: 19 miles under the keel; traversed 10 locks; and, underway for 8 hours.  The journey this year has now covered 2033 miles.  Tonight we're anchored 3 miles east of Lock 8 in what the chart calls the Blue Hole.  It's pretty (see the marsh picture above) and a good anchorage, but there's nothing blue about it ;-)  DBH

Day #63: Hardy Island

Red, Left Port Window-Mounted Post-It Reminders

The Nassau Mills Lock Master told us about a large boat that went hard aground immediately after leaving his Lock.  Unable to get the boat off by any other means, the Park Service raised the river's water level.  "It took three days to get the water high enough, but we did it", the Lock Master said.  Red, left port.  Red, left port.  As a memory aid there are now red (on port) and green (on starboard) Post-Its on the wheelhouse's center window.

Fall is In the Air

The sign on the dock said, 'Don't get too close.  We may be swimming naked.'  Look as we may we saw no one.  Oh well, it is 62°F out and the water is only one degree warmer than that.

On the Blue Line in Hastings Lock 18

While crossing Rice Lake, named for the wild rice that once grew there, Nellie's 10' water depth alarm sounded.  Shortly thereafter our speed dropped percipitously while fuel consumption went up by 25%.   Hmm, we've seen this before--thy name is grass.  After stopping the boat and going hard in reverse, Bicki reported seeing clumps of weeds in our wake.  Sure enough, both speed and fuel consumption then went back to normal.

Self-Trending Lock Lines

All the Trent-Severn locks have plastic-coated, wire rope, mooring lines.  They're mounted vertically and spaced 8' apart along the lock's length.   One end of the mooring line is fastened to the top of the lock's wall while the other end is also fastened to the lock's wall but well underwater.  The mooring lines are used by boaters to keep their craft in place while locking.  We've found that a short loop around the mooring line, which is then made fast to a hawse cleat, frees our hands to do other things.

The Whole Trent-Severn to Date but Only Peterborough to Hardy Island Today

As expected, today's flat lands, and only one lock, allowed us to put some miles under the keel; 48 miles to be exact.  That puts this year's total at a nice round 1800 miles.  Tonight we're on a well set anchor in a pretty bay on the east side of Hardy Island.  DBH

Day #62: Peterborough

Narrow Waterway

You get a good sense for how steep the surrounding terrain is based on the spacing of the locks.  Today it took six locks to go eight miles.   That's pretty steep terrain and the route is mostly through narrow, man made cuts.  There's usually some rapidly flowing water too.  This creates currents which makes steering a challenge.  Tomorrow we'll go 35 miles before reaching lock 18.  That's pretty flat terrain.   We can expect more open waterways and some lakes too.  I much prefer this.

Lock 21 Peterborough Lift Lock--Think Big Bathtub that Goes Up and Down

A highlight of the Trent-Severn is Peterborough's 65' lift lock.  It's like the Kirkfield lock we went through 3 days ago, only 16' higher.  Nellie entered on the  upstream side so the tub's far side looked like an infinity pool.  I wanted to get close to the front edge but my imagination was working overtime wondering what would happen if Nellie couldn't stop.  On the approach I put Nellie in reverse and thought, transmission please don't fail me now!

Yikes, 65' Up!

Going Down with Two of Us in the Tub

Looking Back at the Lift Lock

The Weather Turns Ugly Leaving Lock 20

The Trent-Severn Cruise So Far

Part of the reason for the slow trip was weather related.  Just as we were entering Lock 19 there was a nearby lightening strike.   The lock operators waved us back and we waited on the blue line for the storm to abate.  We eventually got through but the unsettled weather convinced us to go no farther.  Tonight we're safely tied to the wall at Lock 19.  DBH

Day #61: Douro, Ontario

The Anchorage's Alarm Clock

Anchored in 10' but the Water Plants are just Below the Surface

Rush Hour at Buckhorn Lock 32

  We arrived at Lock 33 early to find four houseboats on the blue line.  So much for getting through promptly. 

Most Locks Run on Muscle Power.  Some, Like Buckhorn, Have Been Automated

Lovesick Lake

Funky Cottages Abound

Beautiful Day to Downpour in 60 Minutes

Our Mooring at Lock 24

Nellie won't be denied early passage tomorrow morning.  However, to earn that privilege she'll have to wait patiently on the blue line for 18 hours.

Our Trent-Severn Trip To date.  Today's Bit is the '7' Shape Above the Boat Icon Above

Six locks and 25 miles today.  The year's total is now 1958 miles.  Try as we may we couldn't get the hook to set in the rocky bottom between Locks 25 and 24.  Tonight Nellie is tied to the wall at Lock 24.   DBH

Day #60: Buckhorn

Our View of Fenelon Falls This Morning

The Locks' hours changed to their fall schedule today.  Instead of passing boats from 9am to 7pm, they're only open from 10am to 4pm.  Look for Nellie to be on the blue line no later than 9:30am and then to keep pressing until 4pm.  At least on those days that we want to make time.

Heading South on a Surprisingly Big Sturgeon Lake

Arriving in Bobcaygeon

We Had a Frost Warning Yesterday but Nobody Told these Flowers in Bobcaygeon

Sunset in Our Buckhorn Ancohorage

Fenelon Falls to Buckhorn

It was 31 miles and one lock to tonight's anchorage just south of Buckhorn.  That ups this year's total to 1934 miles. 

Dave, Bicki, Dad and John in 2006

Nellie lost a good crew member today:  John Spencer Howell, 29 May 1929 -- 5 Sept 2017, aged 88 years.  Fair winds and following seas Dad.  DBH

Day #59: Fenelon Falls

Lock 37

While in our first lock this morning, Lock 37, we were asked if we'd paid for last evening's moorage.  Clearly the Lock Master assumed we'd tied to the wall and so owed $.90/ft.  "We anchored out", Bicki and I both said in unison.  This brought a quizzical look.  "In a little cove by the golf course", I added.  With a dawning look of understanding the Lock Master laughed and told us that no one anchors out.  I wonder why not?  It's quieter, it's prettier, and you have a fair chance of shagging a few golf balls.

Life Takes Root in the Lock's Concrete

Hole in the Wall Bridge on Canal Lake

I'm sure glad the Hole in the Wall bridge has red and green channel markers on it, lest someone get confused on how to go under it ;-)

'Red, right, returning' is the saying, but, where exactly is the red marker on the bridge (shown above) returning us to? 

Kirkfield Lift Lock 36, Photo Credit: Norm Head

Why, to the Kirkfield Lift Lock.  It's the highest point on the Trent-Severn, 840' above sea level.  After the lock we've got to remember 'red, left, port'. 

Boats Going Down in the Lift Lock as Nellie Goes Up

Yikes!  It's a Long Way Down

At the top of Kirkfield Nellie is up 260' from where she was on Georgian Bay.

It's Narrow but We Manage to Squeeze By an Oncoming 40 SeaRay--We Both got Leaves on Our Decks During the Manuver

Welcome to Fenelon Falls

We hadn't planned to stop in Fenelon Falls but, with the winds topping out at 30mph and a thunderstorm threatening, it seemed like the prudent thing to do.  Besides, it's a cute town just begging to be explored.

The Falls with Nellie in the Background

Four locks and 24 miles today.  The total for this year is now 1902 miles.  Safely tied to Lock 34's lower wall.  And, yes, we paid the $.90/ft.  Got to remember, red, left, port, red, left port... DBH