mvalwayshome

Good morning, cruisers!!  Or do we call you Cruising-voyeurs?  We are planning on a 25 miles day today.  Some skinny water ( very shallow water in the Trent Canal), Lake Simcoe (only cruise on a good day), up the Couchiching Lake and only 5 locks.  Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Sunrise Reflections in Bolsover, ON

Most, if not all, the waterways in Canada are “non-discharge” zones.  That means you cannot discharge your black (waste) tank into the water.  You have to find a “Pump Out”.  The pump out locations have a sign much like the one below.  Basically, the pump vacuums out the wastes from your holding tank.  We have encountered some excellent ones here in Canada.  If you stay at a marina, they are usually free.  If you are just passing by and need to be evacuated, then it may cost a fee dollars.

I really like this picture.  The reflections on the waters beside Always Home.

Leaving Sunset Cove Marina

At the nearest swing bridge was a pole with a huge nest.  I couldn’t tell if they were osprey or eagles.  I asked the young attendant.  Osprey!  Looks like a couple of heads bobbing up for breakfast.

Osprey Nest

Onward.  Those blue skies are captivating, aren’t they?

Approaching Bolsover Lock 37 – going down 27 feet

My first view of the inside of the lock…remember, we are going down, is the wall.  Sunlight sparkling off the slime that is reaching out from the wall.  Stretching their collective probes to gather in as much sunlight as possible as the water recedes down the lock.  Clumps of goo look like they are waving at me.  Take me with you!  Not today.  Maybe the next boat will take you away from the lock and move you farther along.  They aren’t really waving are they?

Slime reaching out for me!!

The different kinds of pine trees really caught my eye.

Greens and trees

As we are waiting briefly as we approached lock 38 which was about a mile away were geese.  Really, you say?  Well, they were minding their manners and I wasn’t paying them any attention until squawking and a mad flurry of beating wings headed toward me.

Geese approaching from behind us

Geese land ahead of us

Peace is now achieved ….. but get out of our way!!  We are coming through

Houses by Lock 38 – Talbot Lock

Approaching Lock 38 – these locks going down are more appealing, don’t you think?  Going down 14 feet.

I did mention the 5 locks today.  It must be a special day for me.  Lock 37 had goo waving at me.  Lock 38 had a rather large shrimp like creature nibbling along the lock wall.

Can you spot the one shrimp?

How about now?

Out of Lock 38 and moving on to lock 39 which is less than a mile away.  We are going very slow since the water is shallow along this stretch.  Although we aren’t required to give a Securitee’ call, we were still anxious for other boaters coming our way.

Out of Lock 38

More pastures and farms in this part of the Trent-Severn.  More rural.

Farms to the right of us

Hay Rolls – drying in the sun

Green slime on the Lock 39 wall – great depth and color

No, I haven’t figured out why some slime is fluorescent green while others is dark grey goo.  Fascinating science project, don’t you think?

Looking back in Lock 40

Rural farmland

Last Lock of the day – Lock 41… is it open??  I think they know we are coming!!

Approaching the Swing bridge just before entering Lake Simcoe

Lake Simcoe is the largest lake in the Trent-Severn Waterway.  It is around 20 miles long and 16 miles wide.  We will be only cruising in the most northeastern part of the lake.  It is said that this lake should be cruised during a good day.  OR the waves can be rather fierce. Today?  It looks pretty darn good.

Lake Simcoe – those clouds are real.  Wow.  Aren’t they pretty?!

We will be going through “The Narrows” which is the narrow part of land separating Lake Simcoe and Couchiching Lake.  Like the name implies, the current is swift and lots of people and boats congregate there.  There are several marinas within the narrows. The Port of Orillia promises to be busy since all the “Ports” we have traveled near are always very busy.  We were watching for all these things and trying to spot the marina we were going to buy some diesel fuel.

I really couldn’t take a picture of the water depth at the marina.  No sense of depth would be possible.  The marina attendant told us… isn’t it wild that you can’t tell whether the rocks below your boat is 10 feet or 2 feet?  Yes, wild!  The water was so clear, you really couldn’t tell.  Wayne pulled a never before magic act.  He backed in Always Home against the current to the fuel dock!  Several people watched in awe.  Me being one of them!!  It was truly awesome.  Where are the video cameras when you need one?  oh yea, in my pocket.  I was busy with handling lines and holding my breath to take a video.

Onward toward Lake Couchiching

Entering the Ojibway Bay Marina became our next challenge.  The wind was up as it normally is in the middle of the afternoon.  The fuel dock had several small boats on it.  The dock master was yelling at us to move over there…gun it…over there!!!  Hand signals and body movements were what we got rather than a radio communication.  We understood his hand signals, perfectly!!  Inside the cove, the wind was minimal and the current gentle.  We found our berth easily at the head of the T-dock.  This is a small marina.  It looks like Always Home is the largest boat here.

Entrance to the Ojibway Bay Marina – pretty tight – do you see the white caps?

To end our exciting day, I posted the picture of the ketchup flavored chips.  Did I post the popcorn flavored salt I found at a grocery store in Peterborough??  What can I say?  Very interesting taste buds here in Canada.  I just had to share.  Hope you don’t mind.

Always Home at Ojibway Bay Marina, Orillia, ON

Always Home on the T-Dock

Sunset at Ojibway Bay Marina, Orillia, ON

Good Morning!!  Are you keeping up with us?  Following the lock map??  We are just in front of the Bobcaygeon Lock – Lock 32.  Today we are going over 35 miles again to get past some skinny areas before we have to go through some more skinny areas tomorrow.  Split the stress kind of decision.  However, there is excitement in the air.  We will be on the 2nd biggest lift lock in the world…but going down!!  Wait for it!

Right out our back door we can see the wall near the lock.  But, is it the blue line or just the park it and rest line?  Looks like a houseboat is over there.  Must be the park-it wall area.  The boat next to us last night is leaving at 8am to be first in line at the blue line.  We will watch him go over and take our time.  No need to hurry up and then have to wait.

Wall at the Boncaygeon Lock

Looking back at the marina toward lock 32

We must have been packed in with a bunch of boats that I didn’t get a count of.  Early morning cruisers will line up at the line.  Undoubtedly, we were in the back squeezed in with a few other boats.  😉

Homes along the waterway right after the lock 32

Going toward Lock 34

Sea Plane

There is a thing about the “Cottages”.  As you can see in this picture some of the cottages are stacked one on top of the other.  Others are more spread out.  From what we gather in talking to the locals, many of these cottages along the Trent-Severn can only be visited by water.  You have to have a boat.  Store the boat in the marina during the week, pickup your boat on Friday, and head out to your cottage for the weekend.  Like your weekend cabin in the woods.  I get it.

Cottages

More Cottages

With your cottage, you need a boat garage, right?

Boat Garage

Can’t imagine climbing these stairs to go from house to water very often – they need an elevator!

Lock 34 door closing behind us- Up 24 feet  – can you hear the door clang shut??

I think this is our friend “Aunt Aggie” locking with us.  Pretty darn close, don’t ya know.   We had to pull our fenders up so they could squeeze in.

Locking with a bunch of boats

You may ask why would anyone want to squeeze into the lock and not wait?  Well, the first come – first served rule along the popular places is ever present.  Fenelon Falls is supposed to have hydro (electricity) and water.  A very pop-popular place.

Lock 34 – Fenelon Falls

At the top I took a picture quickly as we were getting ready to vacate the lock.  What do I see??  Pizza and Ice-cream.  These Canadians really like their ice-cream.

Fenelon Falls – View from the lock as we are passing by

The wind had kicked up a bit.  You can see that by the our flags on the front of the boat.  The boats ahead are looking for the hydro stations and whether they can squeeze into the space available.  Lots of folks watching the fun.  Another one of those chaos moments when we go very slow as not to cause more chaos.  Like a parking lot during the holidays, everyone jockeying for a space.

As we are leaving the lock 34

We only go up 4 feet in the next lock.  It seems so lame compared to the others of 24 feet and that 65 footer the other day.

Lock 35 – Is that boat on the blue line?

Now we enter into the skinny waters of Talbot River.  Here the guidebooks scares the piss out of any boater by saying “any boat with over 4.5feet draft should go through this area at dead idle”.  Expect very shallow water.”    

Balsam Lake – going toward the “Trent Canal”

Trent Canal entrance

Here’s the sign showing the warning.  These signs really should be larger so you can read it before you get there!

Securitee’ Sign – Warning!!

Going through the Trent Canal

Going through at less than 5 mph.   See the rocks along the edge.  We can’t move too far out of the center of the channel.

Rocky Edge to the Canal

Wayne gave his warning.  We are going through!!  We were taken aback when we saw 2 vessels coming toward us.  One was a little dinghy sized boat with several people.  Plenty of room for them. The other boat was bigger.  They didn’t look a bit fazed by the congestion.  We, however, held our breath that we wouldn’t get caught up on the rocky edge!

Really close pass

Seeing them go. Looks like they just have enough room for themselves!

Through the first part of the shallow Trent Canal.  We arrived at the Kirkfield Lock.  The other Lock Lift that lowers us 49 feet rather than raises us.

Kirkfield Lock – top of the lock looking down

The other significant thing about the Kirkfield Lock, is from here to the end of the Trent-Severn we will be going down.  We understand that the lock attendants will help us with our lines so we won’t be repeating the Oswego Canal difficulties.  whew!  Also, a note to boaters, the buoy color changes at this point.

Back doors close behind us

Going Down!!

Going down you can see the piston that holds up the other tub

Wayne got some good shots from the front of the boat.

At the bottom with boats waiting for their turn going up.

This bridge is known as the “Hole in the Wall” bridge.  It is over 28 feet high in the center although it doesn’t look like it.  It was made in 1905.  Very cool!

We stopped at Sunset Cove Marina, Bolsover for the night.  Fine little place with lots of local character.  Really.  I watched a dog ( forgot to take a picture ) who was looking at the water’s edge near the dock.  The owner explained the dog was fishing.  Every so often, he actually catches something.  Thus, the local characters.  😉

Sunset Cove Marina, Bolsover, ON

Looking down river from our berth

Looking up river

Evening at Bolsover, ON

Good Morning!  Lakefield Marina is only 4 miles from the next lock 27, Young’s Point.  No need to rush up early and have to wait.  We could sleep in a bit later than yesterday since we have only 4 locks to go through today. Today will be a long day only because we are traveling 37 miles.  We will be cruising through several lakes and the 4 locks I mentioned above.  It is a little windy but clear and sunny.  65°F starts our day.  Consequently, no sunrise picture because my eyes were still closed!

However, I did have a little time to walk about and take in some interesting pictures to share.  We have noticed almost all the marinas have an ice-cream franchise.  How nice!  On a hot and exhausting day, a cup / cone of ice-cream is perfect.  They are so smart!

How long has it been since you have seen a pay phone on the side of a building?  Years, for me.

Pay Phone in Lakefield, ON

Time to leave and head on our way to Bobcaygeon.   I almost forgot to get a picture.

Leaving Lakefield Marina, Lakefield, ON

Otonabee River

This is what everyone needs.  Not only a boat garage but also a plane!!

Heading toward Clear Lake

Always remember… don’t go where you can see birds stand or walk!  I thought it was important to remember when we saw this heron standing on a rock.  A rock that we really can’t see that well.  Luckily, it is out of channel and we don’t have to worry about this rock.

Heron on a rock

As we are approaching Lock 27 are a couple of small house boats.  They are mostly rentals and have varied experienced captains.  It looks like these boats are hugging the non-blue line wall and may be in our way.  As we turn and head into the lock, they are just out of the way.

Approaching Lock 27

See that ice cream sign.  Even at this lock, if you stop off for a bit, you can satisfy your sweet tooth easily.

Ice Cream!!

See the low areas on the right?  For smaller boats to stop, tie up, and have a picnic lunch.  Too early in the day, but you can see how convenient it would be.

Out of Lock 27

Stoney Lake

Clear Lake

I took a picture of the chart plotter to show the rock “The Spoiler”.  Really!  We saw named rocks.  “Hannah’s Rock”, for example.  I assume there is a story but if the rock has a name, it must be a significant rock.  Enough so that the locals know exactly where you are if you have a mishap.

“The Spoiler”

We see houses or “cottages” along the water way.  Here are a couple of cottages built on a small piece of rock.  The cottage is amongst the trees straight ahead.  We almost didn’t see it, ourselves.

Cottage on a small piece of rock

Rocks!!  Just out of our channel.  Rather pretty.

Into Lock 28 – Burleigh Falls.

Lock 28 doors are open and ready for us

Limestone blocks – rather than concrete

Startling green slime.  I liked the color contrast to the grey walls.

We shared this busy lock with 3 boats and 2 jet skis. We let the small boats and jet skis to easily go around us after exiting the lock.  They look like they are in a hurry.  We are just poking along.

Lock 28 is loaded

View leaving Lock 28

More scenery out of lock 28

Lovesick Lake

Approaching Lock 30 – another house boat

A very busy location.  No one on the blue line, but the rest of the walls were full and it is almost noon.  This is why the cruising books say that if you want a space on the wall, get there early.  No electricity, but the little town is bustling.

Approaching Lock 31 – Buckhorn

There were people milling around all over.  You can see the folks sitting in the park bench below watching the boats go by.  Lots of boats at the top of the lock vying for space on the wall.

Buckhorn Lock 31

Mainstreet Buckhorn, ON – as you cruise by

We were so busy trying not to run over any of the jet skis, kayakers, and house boats that I didn’t get any pictures of the chaos.  Orderly chaos.

Buckhorn Lake

You can tell it is a bit windy.  The AGLCA flag is flying and there are small white caps on the waves but our ride wasn’t bad at all.

Buckhorn Lake – Pidgeon Lake

As we come into Bobcaygeon for the night, we found a dozen kayakers and canners on the water.  They seemed not to mind any of the boats.  As we approached our dock for the night, I finally acted like a school crossing guard….  “You guys go ahead, will ya?  Hey you guys in the back – Hold up!!  We need to sneak in there!”  Finally, they looked up and saw our big boat coming close.  No Problem.  We snuck in at the end of the fuel dock right along the river at the Gordon Yacht Harbour.

Kids Kayaking!

Small place that caters to the smaller boats.  In fact, a boat was moving from the fuel dock to a back slip when we were coming in.  The dock master went to help the 40 footer.  A woman was standing on the dock who said she would catch our line.  Turns out the woman was on the boat in front of us saw the dock master busy and lent a helping hand!!  Boaters helping boaters!!  We didn’t know at the time.  We thanked her profusely for helping.

We had a great day on the water.  A tad windy by the end of the day.  We are hoping to get to Bolsover, ON tomorrow.

Sunset in Bobcaygeon, ON

Good Morning!! Today is OUR day to traverse the Peterborough Lift Lock!!  Wayne is not as excited as I am.  He didn’t go to the Peterborough Lock before hand to check it out.  He just read in a guidebook that they call it “The Tub“.  You go up into the air.  “No big deal”say the man who really doesn’t like heights. hahaha

Leaving Peterborough Marina – Cool 65°F and Sunny

I am sure these folks at Lock 20 – Ashburnham – feel neglected.  They get no press.  But you have to get through lock 20 before you can go into the infamous Peterborough Lift Lock.

Lock 20 – We only went up 12 feet

Here we go!  Approaching Lock 21.  We will be entering the right “tub” and will get a great view of the country side.  How exciting!  There will be a couple of other boats on the lift lock with us.

Approaching the Peterborough Lift Lock

The back gate closes and the locking pins are placed one at a time.  What would happen if all the water fell out of the “tub” on the way up??  Would we just settle on the bottom of the tub or go with the water??  Did I tie up our boat tight enough to the cable?  Why am I thinking these things?  Thanks to the crew of Nearly Perfect for pointing out the possibility!  Rarely happens, but it has.  Great!

Putting the back door pins in place

Nearing the top of Lock 21!

The golf course looks pretty good from this view.

What a great view from 65 feet. On top of the World!

All done in a matter of minutes.  There were 2 boats in the lock with us.  One went on toward the next lock.  The second one turned around to go down again!!  We should have done that.  The whole trip was over with before we really had a chance to savor the experience.  Wayne kept his head down and watched the steel supports really closely.  He didn’t get any pictures.  Nor see the beautiful view I had.

Leaving the Peterborough Lift Lock 21

Almost anticlimactic.  We really need to do another lift lock.  Wait…there is another one up ahead, we heard.  Wonders never cease.

7 locks today.  Onward for the next 5.  Yes, we count the lift lock as one of the locks even though we really didn’t do much.  The swing bridge up ahead is usually open since it works with the locks.  I thought the rope swing was a nifty idea.  I remember those days when I used a swing to fall into cold river water.  Great fun for kids.

Bridge with yellow rope swing

The next several locks will be really close to one another.  I might as well stay on the bow and wait.  Hey, up ahead….what is that in the water??

Wayne there is debris up ahead!

There are geese in the water way.  I start talking to them.  Out of the way!!  Really, you need to move or we will run over you.  I am waving my arms… out of the way!!!  Like they can see me and understand my gestures.  🙂  They really look unconcerned, don’t they?  Maybe it is the engine noise.  They finally made a decision to go back toward the side they came from rather than go across to the other side.

Not Debris – Geese!!

We apparently are still in the city of Peterborough because the Peterborough Rowing Club members were out and enjoying the day.

Early morning Rowers

More rowers and swimmers in the water

An interesting twist to the bridge support.  Is this physics at work here or aesthetics?

Twisted bridge supports

Let’s focus, folks!  We have 5 more locks to do today.

Approaching Lock 22 – up 14 feet

Top of Lock 22 – looks like a great place to visit

A half mile and we are at Lock 23….

Approaching Lock 23 – Up 12 feet

Lock 24 came and went.  Up another 12 feet.

After Lock 24 –

The surrounding area has turned rural.  We saw several large farms in the distance.  Reminds me of the large farms we saw in Pennsylvania area.   Large barns and supporting buildings.  Huge tracks of land.

Small boat coming out of Lock 25 – ahead in the distance

As we were waiting for the boat to come out of the lock, I was able to take in the surrounding area.  The houses along the Trent -Severn waterway have lots of flowers in full bloom.  Great color.  The different kinds of trees dotting the landscape dazzles the senses.

Looking back at the top of Lock 25 – only10 feet up

Entering the last lock of the day… Lock 26 – up 16 feet

141 feet UP in 7 locks today.  We were lucky to go through the last several locks with just one other boat – the crew of Sequacious.   Makes locking easier when there aren’t lots of boats to worry about as the water swirls the boat to and fro.   All of the locks have names I should note.  I posted the map of the lock system which shows the number and name.  I think we just use the numbers because secretly we are subtracting from 45 the number of locks we have left to go through on the Trent-Severn.

We stayed at the Lakefield Marina.  7 locks and the day was done!!   When Wayne was napping I got an ice-cream and enjoyed a friendly chat with another Looper.  Off to the Beer Store around the corner.  The dock staff told us if we visited the Beer Store, then we have seen the town!!  Yep.  Just had to get that MGD while I can!!  in Canada, no less.

Kids enjoying themselves on their way to the beach across the river.

Sunset in Lakefield, ON.  Only 19 more locks to go.

Good Morning!!  I have been invited to join the crew of Nearly Perfect and Spirit on a walk to the Peterborough Lift Lock this rainy day.  I decided to make this a separate posting because I have pictures that are very interesting.

Wayne captured a fantastic sunrise in Peterborough, ON

The Lift Lock is about 1.5 miles away from the marina.  We walked across the bridge to the other side, of course.  I like the mosaic signage and artwork on the bridge.

Peterborough Bridge

On the Peterborough Bridge looking toward the Marina – a drizzly day

This wondrous structure is the Peterborough Lift Lock.  What is so special about it?  The first think you should notice is the big rectangle up in the air on the right of the picture.  See it?  Well, in the past locks, we have driven Always Home into a lock in which the water moves up or down.  We stay on top of the water and get carried along for the ride.  Like riding a tide or wave.  Remember all those cables, lines and ropes I have had to snag along the way?  This lock is different.

Peterborough Lift Lock – lifts the water and the boat up/down 65 feet

This Lift Lock is the largest “Lift Lock” in the world!!  You drive your boat into the rectangle lock.  Tie to a cable.  The lock or chamber raises or lowers the boat AND the water surrounding the boat!!  Peterborough Lift Lock will be raising us 65 feet on Monday.  (And lower someone else 65 feet on the other side.)

The Peterborough Lift Lock works using physics.   The rectangle lock chamber is 140 feet long.  It holds 228, 000 gallons of water.  The pistons raise and lower like a see-saw.  One lock will lower as the other lock is raised.  To make the top lock go down – and raise the bottom lock – the top lock has 1 extra foot of water added to it.  The imbalance between the two locks causes the top to fall and the bottom to raise.  Pretty simple??  In a matter of 2-5 minutes and the ride is over.

Over 109 years old and still working.

I cannot imagine 20,000 cubic meters of concrete.  I mixed a wheel barrel at a time in my back yard which was about a 1 cubic foot.   Just amazing.

History of the Peterborough Lift Lock

Pictures of the construction at the Peterborough Visitor Center.  We enjoyed our visit there.  They have a video of how the lock works in one room.  A movie in another.  The normal gift shop.  Very friendly people to announce whenever another boat is going into the lock for visitors to scurry out and watch the boats go up/down.

We will be going UP on Monday.  Wayne doesn’t like heights so he will probably not look out over the side.  Me?  I may have to go onto the fly bridge to get a really good shot.  <just kidding>  I won’t have time.  What an engineering marvel.

Night Skies in Peterborough Marina