We are now in Midland and will remain here for 2 nights as we are waiting the end of a long Canadian weekend.
This is our first peek at the Georgian Bay
And this is our home for the next 2 nights.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
We are in the Georgian Bay!
How do you follow up on something as unusual and exciting as the Big Chute? Well....Holy Cow we are now in the Georgian Bay! After traversing the Big Chute (lock 44) we traveled a ways to the smallest of the locks on the Trent-Severn Waterway, this one is Lock 45 in Port Severn and its the last lock on this canal system. Once we dropped down the 12' we exit the lock to the Georgian Bay. This lock being the smallest in length 84' means if you want to travel the entire TSW you must be under 84', an easy task for us. I must warn, after exiting this lock the cruising guides tell you about the current and the narrow winding channel here, I will just say it is an understatement, with all the traffic bogged up at this lock and little room for boaters to tread water waiting to go up,it can be a bit intimidating if larger boats are coming in as you need to head out as there is only room for one boat at a time, and as I said it is a Narrow 25' with a strong current and curvy.
We are now in Midland and will remain here for 2 nights as we are waiting the end of a long Canadian weekend.
This is our first peek at the Georgian Bay
And this is our home for the next 2 nights.
We are now in Midland and will remain here for 2 nights as we are waiting the end of a long Canadian weekend.
This is our first peek at the Georgian Bay
And this is our home for the next 2 nights.
WOW the Big Chute Marine Railway- July 31st
This is yet another milestone of our journey, we have read about the Big Chute in blogs and seen many photos however, to see it in person is an another thing entirely. We docked at the Big Chute Marina to take in the working aspects of it and to take many photos including Blue Skies on the Chute. We met up with Larry and Christine at the Rendezvous in Norfolk back in May but barely exchanged a hello until we once again met up with them in Orillia Ontario. It is fun and interesting to share stories with fellow loopers along the way.
What is the Big Chute you say? It is not a lock though it is counted as lock 44 in this one you and your boat are transported out of the water on a giant railway carriage over a road and down the side of a rocky hilltop back into the water below. The total drop is 60' and it is the only marine railway cart still in use in the world. Well thats one way to get from the high lake to the lower lake! It is a site to behold and even more exciting to experience the ride in person.
Here we are at the blue line with Blue Skies we took a walk to check it out. So we took photos of Blue Skies on the Chute.
Blue Skies is entering the Railway car. They are then lifted on straps and the car starts moving up the hill.
Then over the road to the other side then down the hill and out to the lower lake.
We decided to stay the night and do the Chute in the morning. This is how the chute rests at night, just off to the side of the road. What a site!
Our turn, in we go. Since we are lifted out of the water Jim asked the lock master if he would take a look at our props to see how they looked. No harm in asking ay? He said the bottom looked good and the prop had a small piece of rope on it. Hmmm Jim had thought there may be something going on below water.
This is at the bottom exiting.
We are heading down the otherside
At the top ........starting down the hill
This is what it looks like on the otherside, we just exited it.
What is the Big Chute you say? It is not a lock though it is counted as lock 44 in this one you and your boat are transported out of the water on a giant railway carriage over a road and down the side of a rocky hilltop back into the water below. The total drop is 60' and it is the only marine railway cart still in use in the world. Well thats one way to get from the high lake to the lower lake! It is a site to behold and even more exciting to experience the ride in person.
Here we are at the blue line with Blue Skies we took a walk to check it out. So we took photos of Blue Skies on the Chute.
We decided to stay the night and do the Chute in the morning. This is how the chute rests at night, just off to the side of the road. What a site!
Our turn, in we go. Since we are lifted out of the water Jim asked the lock master if he would take a look at our props to see how they looked. No harm in asking ay? He said the bottom looked good and the prop had a small piece of rope on it. Hmmm Jim had thought there may be something going on below water.
This is at the bottom exiting.
We are heading down the otherside
This is what it looks like on the otherside, we just exited it.
Friday, July 29, 2011
July 26 and 27th Lake Simcoe
July 26th
We moved from the marina in Sunset Cove to Lock 40 for the night in hopes to cross Lake Simcoe in the morning. It was quite pleasant at lock 40 and no raccoons! Jim spent the day fishing, Ashley spent the day reading, and I spent the day cleaning and watching Jim fish. The Lake was reported to have 6' waves so we waited hoping it calms down for tomorrow.
July 27 Today is the Captains birthday
Crossing Lake Simcoe was a wonderful day for this trip the lake was calm and sunny. Fueled up and pumped out once we got across as Orilla does not have these services. The plan is to spend 2 days at Orilla Marina though it is stay 2 days get the 3rd for free we are hoping to make up some time. The time spent here will be restocking the galley and a ton of laundry.
July 28th and 29th
Will as it turns out we took advantage of the free 3 rd night stay. This morning was stormy and we had not realised at the time that this is a holiday, civic day is monday and a long weekend for Canada. Sort of our Labor day weekend. So once again we will be traveling on a weekend as we need to get moving this one day on 2 days off is really killing our schedule but at least we were lucky to get a slip THIS weekend. Tomorrow morning we will head out of Orilla and hopefully stay at a lock wall, ideally we are hoping to stay on the wall at the Big Chute. If that doesn't work out we will either anchor out there or if time allows, we can head into Midland on Saturday. Our reservations are for Sunday and Monday but the harbour master said he would make room for us even though its a busy long weekend. Bay Point Yachting Center, they are AGLCA sponsors and offer a loopers discount. When I made the reservations for a slip I asked if they had laundry facilities (on site) as the last 2 places did not! Orilla it was a 1/2 mile walk up hill to laundry and as I said I had a ton, well now its tons. This is the first time we have had an issue in locating a convenient laundry.
hmmm they must know something about the weather
A storm is coming in, glad we stayed at the lock. Hopefully Lake Simcoe will be calm tomorrow.
These nasty things are called Snappy's they are a version of a Hot Dog very popular in the Oswego area. We did not like them a pork veal mix. I had them in the freezer and when jim ran out of bait I sugguested he use them. The fish didn't like them either. Sorry Mike I was planning on serving them to you next time we saw you.
just hangin tight at lock 40
This beautiful old boat was in the movie Absence of Malice with Paul Newman and Sally Fields. This couple from New Zealand have a 2 year travel plan to take her around the east coast canals and rivers of Canada and the US.
Heading towards Lake Simcoe, train overhead on the railroad bridge
The Port of Orillia
Well that is a heck of a name for a band
Orilla is a nice stop lots of shops, they have a really good used book store, a couple of ice cream shops, one right across the street from the marina a 24 hours grocery store just a block away the LCBO is right there as well and many resturants in town. I highly recommend Studabakers for really good pub grub. Oh, there is also an excellent bakery in town as well.
We moved from the marina in Sunset Cove to Lock 40 for the night in hopes to cross Lake Simcoe in the morning. It was quite pleasant at lock 40 and no raccoons! Jim spent the day fishing, Ashley spent the day reading, and I spent the day cleaning and watching Jim fish. The Lake was reported to have 6' waves so we waited hoping it calms down for tomorrow.
July 27 Today is the Captains birthday
Crossing Lake Simcoe was a wonderful day for this trip the lake was calm and sunny. Fueled up and pumped out once we got across as Orilla does not have these services. The plan is to spend 2 days at Orilla Marina though it is stay 2 days get the 3rd for free we are hoping to make up some time. The time spent here will be restocking the galley and a ton of laundry.
July 28th and 29th
Will as it turns out we took advantage of the free 3 rd night stay. This morning was stormy and we had not realised at the time that this is a holiday, civic day is monday and a long weekend for Canada. Sort of our Labor day weekend. So once again we will be traveling on a weekend as we need to get moving this one day on 2 days off is really killing our schedule but at least we were lucky to get a slip THIS weekend. Tomorrow morning we will head out of Orilla and hopefully stay at a lock wall, ideally we are hoping to stay on the wall at the Big Chute. If that doesn't work out we will either anchor out there or if time allows, we can head into Midland on Saturday. Our reservations are for Sunday and Monday but the harbour master said he would make room for us even though its a busy long weekend. Bay Point Yachting Center, they are AGLCA sponsors and offer a loopers discount. When I made the reservations for a slip I asked if they had laundry facilities (on site) as the last 2 places did not! Orilla it was a 1/2 mile walk up hill to laundry and as I said I had a ton, well now its tons. This is the first time we have had an issue in locating a convenient laundry.
hmmm they must know something about the weather
A storm is coming in, glad we stayed at the lock. Hopefully Lake Simcoe will be calm tomorrow.
These nasty things are called Snappy's they are a version of a Hot Dog very popular in the Oswego area. We did not like them a pork veal mix. I had them in the freezer and when jim ran out of bait I sugguested he use them. The fish didn't like them either. Sorry Mike I was planning on serving them to you next time we saw you.
just hangin tight at lock 40
This beautiful old boat was in the movie Absence of Malice with Paul Newman and Sally Fields. This couple from New Zealand have a 2 year travel plan to take her around the east coast canals and rivers of Canada and the US.
Heading towards Lake Simcoe, train overhead on the railroad bridge
The Port of Orillia
Orilla is a nice stop lots of shops, they have a really good used book store, a couple of ice cream shops, one right across the street from the marina a 24 hours grocery store just a block away the LCBO is right there as well and many resturants in town. I highly recommend Studabakers for really good pub grub. Oh, there is also an excellent bakery in town as well.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 24th The Trent Canal and the Kirkfield hydraulic lift lock
The Trent Canal, 6 miles long with a speed limit of 5 mph, believe me you will not want to go much faster as it is very narrow with overhanging trees and rock shelves lining the sides not much room for on coming traffic or drifting thoughts here.
We made it out safe and sound, now we are at the marsh lands of Mitchell lake still keeping an eye out for deadheads (branches and debris sunken just below the waterline)
The Kirkfield hydraulic lift lock 2nd in size to the Peterborough, there are only 9 locks of this type ever built. The other 7 are in England, France and Belgium. This lock lifts or lowers 49' the Peterborough lifts or lowers 65', I have got to say going down one of these locks is quite thrilling, when going down you enter the lock and it looks as though you are going right off the edge. Here we watch Salt n Sand lock through they will drop 49' really quickly, as they go down the other tub or pan is coming up with boats from the otherside. You can see we are at the same level as the boats before they drop.
Here they are still dropping.
And out they go.
Now its our turn!
We thought it was really cool.
The hole in the wall....yup we fit.
At the end of our day we spent a night at Sunset Cove Marina with Rich and Carol we ordered pizza and shared our days experience. As it turned out Salt n Sand hit bottom 3 times along the way, theres the difference a 1 foot makes.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Fenelon Falls saved by Gold Loopers
Nice boathouse ay?
Busy busy at Bobcaygeon tight squeeze
Honey I'm HOME!
Cooling down in your back yard.
A great place for the kids to hang out and cool down. We had fun watching them jump from the cliff.
It was a weekend and a hot one at that, all the marinas that could handle a boat our size were all filled up for the weekend and unfortunately for us the walls were as well. Late in the day and no where to go as we were heading into Fenelon Falls we passed a gold looper dock to the side right before the falls we waved and continued on. When we reached the lock that too was filled up, now what? We got a call from the looper we had just passed they said the upper lock was filled as well BUT if we wanted we could raft up to their boat for the night with 50amp service as well! As it turned out Barbara and Norm Newton had finished the loop in 2001, their boat Beta Omega a 42' Hatteras is on their dock at the house . We enjoyed the night with the great company of Norm and Barbara it was very generous of them to allow us to raft up to their boat. They said we could stay as long as we wanted but it was time to move on. As we were leaving in the morning they told us to tell our looper friends that if they are in the need of a dock for the night it is available. By the way anyone looking for a looper boat Beta Omega is for sale and she sure is pretty. If you would like the phone number to reach Barbara and Norm e-mail me and I will send it along to you.
Beta Omega shes For Sale
July 21st Lakefield to Lovesick Lake Ontario
Today was extremely hot for Canada, in the 90's with lots of humidity and even hotter down in the locks with no air. Lakefield marina was a pleasing site, we all took a swim as soon as we tied up for the night, since the water was so refreshing I thought it a good time to give a scrub down of the hull at the waterline. Really I just didn't want to get out of the water, one side got done anyway. This is a great stop, there is a butcher shop, a deli with some gourmet items as well as a Greek restaurant which we ate at all a stones throw away.
Click on the photo for a larger view
On the lock walls as well as at this marina people can spend their vacations traveling in their small boats and camping out along the way, here 2 boats traveling together with children pitch the tents for the kids and the adults get to sleep on the boats.
90 degrees and dreaming of snow?
Private dock for your plane
Saint Peters On the Rock Anglican Church on the Hells Gate Passage. You can only get to church by boat.
The scenery is getting prettier as we go through Hells Gate as promised, they say this is what we have to look forward to in the Georgian Bay.
Lock 30 (upper) Lovesick Lake Lock, we spent the night here and the sunset was beautiful. However, as warned in the cruising book the raccoons WILL be on your boat at night. Make sure if you stop here to close all the hatches and windows.
The refection of the sunset on the buildings across the lake.
Jim doing double duty, fishing and watching the sunset.
It was worth the visiting raccoons in order to have this spectacular view.
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