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

Day #58: Golf Course Cove, Just East of Lock 38

It Rained and Blew All Night but Nellie was Secure at Anchor

The Orillia Guest Dock--Free Until 7PM

We heard that Orillia is a nice town and so, after weighing anchor, we headed to their guest dock.

The Grasses are Getting Even Thicker

The author of Jack and the Beanstalk is unknown.  My guess is he was a Canadian boater on the Trent-Severn.   He'd be fully cognizant of the water stalks that grow quickly and to incredible lengths.

Leaving Orillia's guest dock Nellie was doing 2mph when turning RPMs for 5mph.  Did I mention that Orillia is chock-a-block with stalks?  Going into reverse at high RPM convinced the Jack and his buddies to find another ride.

The Canal is long and Straight Immediately After Lake Simco

Lock #39 Flooding to Lift us ~13'

Moss Grows Well Below the High Water Mark on the Lock's South Wall

At Anchor in Golf Course Cove

Finding a suitable anchorage on a narrow waterway is always a challenge.  The nautical charts address depths adequately but not what's on the surrounding land--remember, it's bad form to throw your anchor on (or even near) someone's lawn.  That's why Bicki's new best friend is Google Maps in satellite mode.  Using it she found tonight's quiet cove on a golf course.  Barring any duffer's errant shots early tomorrow morning, this will be a perfect spot.

Orillia to a Mile East of Lock 38

It was a much more relaxing pace today.  Still, we made it through four locks and an agitated Lake Simcoe.  The chart warned that if Simcoe's winds are above 20 mph not to attempt the eastern entrance to the Trent-Severn.   The winds were 13 mph today and the entrance was we'll behaved.  A whole 24 miles (and a million stalks of grass) under the keel today.  That ups this year's total to 1878 miles.  DBH

Day #57: Trent-Severn, Orillia, Ontario

Underway into the Sunrise

It's Labor Day weekend here in Canada, the last hurrah of Summer.  Everyone that owns a boat is out on the water.

Approaching Trent-Severn Lock 45

The Trent-Severn is a bunch of lakes connected  together by locks.  Like the Mississippi, the levels of the lakes are controlled to keep the water at a navigable depth.  This year the water has been high. 

Waiting to Enter Lock 45

All the swirling and bubbling water coming over the dam creates lots of foam!  The stuff is sticky and stains.  Great.

Loading onto Big Chute's (Lock 44) Railroad Car

Today's second Lock isn't strictly a lock,  but rather a railroad car that carries boats between the lakes. 

In the Big Chute's Straps and Moving

Learned a new term today: $10 Canadian.  Back in the 1960's an immigrant paid $10 to become a citizen.  Their children were only $2.50 each. 

The Big Chute goes up 58'

Waiting on the Blue Line at Lock 43

Docking on the  'blue line' announces your desire to lock through.

Mind the Poisonous Snakes at Lock 43!

Lock 43s 47' Drop

Midland to Orillia

It took 12 hours to cover the challenging 54 miles between Midland to Orillia.  The rocks and narrow channels of Georgian Bay continue in the Trent-Severn.  But, just to make things a little more interesting, current and narrow locks are thrown into the mix too.  This year's total is now 1855 miles.  Tonight we're on the hook in Pumpkin Bay (a mile east of Orillia).  DBH