Towards Swift Rapids

As you can see the Trent Severn begins to get more rocky, narrow, and fun! We decided to stay on the wall at the lock at Swift Rapids

And, it was almost cold enough to go for a swim -- certainly most of the Canadians thought the water was beautiful -- I loved the thought of this -- but never got all the way in
The wall at Swift Rapids -- probably the most remote and beautiful stop along the way to date -- a one lane dirt road leads seven miles to the next village

And then, there are the lock doors to contend with

Leaving Orillia

So after a week in Orillia, Cathy and I leave during a grey and drizzling morning to head back onto the Trent Severn -- the lady in the blue top is Diedre, the manager of Hot Knots -- what a great hostess for the week!
Now we are really getting into rocky country
But the sea gulls don't seem to mind

Into every life, a little lock must happen -- Cathy's first lock after Lake Couchiching -- it's a breeze!

News blackout?

Melissa phoned last night, she's in Port Severn, ON with no internet. She is okay and having a good time, but doesn't expect to have internet until at least Friday when she meets Charlee, and will presumably update everyone then.

Just words

Am waiting for Cathy's arrival tomorrow -- then we will take off on Saturday and get into the Georgian Bay on Monday.

Having a little technology issue today -- access to internet has been impossible using my Verizon access card, so am riding someone's unsecured network right now. Will try to get it solved, but just warning you that postings may be less regular as I migrate into the north country!

Yesterday was sweater weather -- today, just take off the "er" and you'll get an idea what it is like.

Always can find an interesting boat in the marinas

I know nothing about this boat except that she is beautiful -- and old -- can't get a good shot of her over all 'cause she is under cover in a shed -- but look at the details!
The upper portion of these salon windows are stained glass -- there is a crystal chandelier hanging in the dining area ... and brocade curtains
Even the mountings for her lights are special
The bowsprit ...
And, her own dock box -- her name is Bessie May.

My Home in Orillia for the Week

I'm right off the Narrows, and watching traffic go by all the time -- except at night. It's really quite fun -- except for those that limp back into the marina with bent props and shafts.
Chessie is now guarding the fuel dock -- and greeting people and boats alike.
Across the narrows in the height of the day ...
... and as the sun is setting. Lots of ducks, geese, fish (which you can see in the clear water), and an odd otter or muscrat swiming by.
The beginning of the channel towards the next leg of the Trent Severn. The average depth of Lake Couchiching is nine feet -- but there are deeper parts.

Thunder, lightning, and rain

Saturday evening it rained all night, Sunday was much the same, today the rain stopped around 2 p.m. and it has been bright all afternoon.

Time to catch up on chores around the boat, including getting an oil change -- and cleaning up.

And reading! Read a very interesting history of this Lake Simcoe area today -- loaned by one of the people here. This was an early trade and military route to get from the St. Lawrence to Lake Huron -- and was populated by several native tribes, then the French, then the English, Irish and Scots. Mostly a summer retreat now, but several large towns around the lake are within a long commute to Toronto so people who enjoy the water congregate here.

Supposed to be rainy on and off for the rest of this week -- and then clear magically for the weekend when Cathy and I will take off for the railroad ride!

Sorry, no pictures -- unless you just want to see a wet dog and her master.

Orillia -- on the loud side -- Poker Run!!!

But before Janet left, we also got to see the boats parading from the Port of Orillia into Lake Simcoe for a Poker Run (remember there was one on the St. Lawrence earlier). What a parade, captured most inadequately in the following pictures

Orillia -- on the quiet side

Before Janet left this morning, we went to the farmers market in downtown Orillia -- entertained by this band, bought fresh strawberries, rasberries, garlic and spinach -- and ate one of the famous sausages that are sold at these markets. Could have bought lots more food, but this is my week to clean out the cupboards and get ready for the next leg of the journey.
This totem and one similar to it are on the other side of the Opera House from the farmers market -- lots of things to do in this town of about 30,000 which is a couple of hours from Toronto (I know, it would seem that we've travelled farther than that, but we are making a lot of twists and turns to get to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay)
From the bow of my boat at Hot Knots Marina, a view of the covered slips -- each slip has it's own picnic table and patio/landing area where permanent slip holders have set up barbeques and flowers -- I'm on the fuel dock, around the corner from the Narrows which joins Lake Simcoe with Lake Couchiching
Chessie has found some terrier friends to play with for the weekend -- there is one more back at the boat -- soon after this was taken the Lakeland in the bow took a dive, but she was soon scooped up and back to being a dog on an inflatable boat. This is from the stern of Sonador.
And, of course flowers from the drive into the marina. Now what more could you ask for.

The Route to Orillia involved four Locks and Two Swing Bridges

So, in case you have forgotten, here are two more reminders of what it is like to be locked inside -- no pun intended. Going down is certainly a lot easier, the lock masters help with your lines, and the ride appears to be smoother

On this short leg -- only six miles we passed through farmland, and right beside the farm roads -- even saw a tractor moving along beside us but wasn't quick enough with the camera
As we get ready to head into Lake Simcoe, a look back at the Canal

And forward, through the second swing bridge into the Lake which has a reputation for being rather nasty. Our crossing of 17 miles was beam sea, about two foot chop with some larger swells thrown in for good measure. It wasn't until we were safely tucked into the marina -- and had been to town for some provisions -- that the sky let loose with thunder, lightning, and lots of rain. That's stopped for now -- and Janet leaves in the morning.

I'll be here for almost a week -- getting some oil changed, belts tightened, and cleaning done -- oh, and simply sitting and reading.

Our Canadian Friends

We met these delightful people who are from Sarnia Ontario in one of the locks after Peterborough -- they were in two boats sharing locking adventures for several days. Just so happens they showed up at our stop last evening in Bolsover. So, what else could we do but break out the party food and drink, and have a good time visiting. The young lady on the right is with the Canadian Coast Guard during the summer -- she's the coxswain on a rescue boat in the Georgian Bay.
And this is the whole gang.
Of course, when you stop at a marina with a sense of humor like this -- you've got to have a good time.

As we get ready to leave this morning, it was cloudy and threatening -- but only threatening until we were safely ensconced in Orillia.

The Big Drop at Kirkfield

So at the end of the exciting canal ride you are at the top of the Trent System -- 840 feet above sea level -- and ready to start down to the Georgian Bay which is 578 feet above sea level. The Canadians have a great sense of humor about this. First we are going to go down 49 feet in one fell swoop -- second, you have to drive out into this pan of water suspended in the air -- if you look ahead, you will see no water just the tops of trees. Both Janet and I were fretting about this, but we were the only boat and the lock masters couldn't have been kinder helping with lines and explaining exactly what would happen.
So the last look at the Canal .. and this lock master who stays on the top as we begin our trip down
Janet even got me to come to the bow before we started down ... my fear of heights hasn't kicked in yet
Down we go, surrounded by steel towers and the sky
And, then out the bottom .. note the pan on the right is now at the top awaiting some other innocent soul.

This was followed by several miles through weedy skinny lake water -- well marked but definitely not something that you want to let drift by -- and now we are on the Talbot River at a really nice little marina (Sunset Cove -- pictures in tomorrow's post) where we will celebrate almost completing this leg with steaks on the grill and a nice bottle of wine. Tomorrow, we finish the locks leading to Lake Simcoe (another fifty feet down in five locks) and then through the lake.

Fenelon to the Trent Canal

From civilization at the wall in Fenelon
To the Trent Canal ... when you enter this stretch the Canada Parks asks that you announce securite, your vessel's length and which direction you are heading -- this is about thirty feet wide (and even less in some stretches) but the navigable water is much skinnier so boats don't pass very easily if at all. In fact, we waited at an open portion of this for a thirty foot boat down bound to pass us -- good and polite radio contact. Guess everyone knows it won't work to be either stubborn or stupid
The rock walls along the Canal
and more of the same ... I must have a dozen pictures like this taken along this six mile stretch.
What would be nice if the wall went straight down, but they don't they slope into the canal -- and you can see the ledges under the water -- sometimes with only five and a half feet of clearance. Learning to get used to this -- HAH!

Fenelon Falls

After Bobcaygeon, it was on to Fenelon Falls -- once again we were on the wall. I should have had my camera in the morning to take this picture again -- the water was only spilling over the left side and the right was just the shale that characterizes this region
This is looking downstream from the Fenelon Falls lock -- getting more used to channels like this
Walked over to the lake at Fenelon and encountered several pretty houses

A nice small town -- but we were ready to move on this morning to head through the canal to the Kirkfield Lift Lock -- so we were on the lake by 8 o'clock and waiting at the first small lock of the day by 8:15