"The best if yet to come. . . " Trent Severn Waterway

A man and his fishing boat.

"The Best if yet to come. . ." 

That's what they say about the Canadian waters of the Great Loop. If weather has anything to do about it, they are right. This morning we woke up in the high 60's F (20-21C) to a cloudless blue sky.

Confederation Basin Marina

Kingston, ON Canada

6-l0 July

Buskers festival lasted all weekend.

Ingrid, Alan's sister, joined us Tuesday, the 10^th to cruise some of these beautiful waters.

More bird tree islands.

Trent Port Marina

11 July, Wednesday

One of the finest marinas.  They offer shower suites.

Welcome to the Trent Severn Waterway

Sea Jamm filled up with over 470 litres of diesel before beginning the Trent. Diesel runs about $1.40/ litres or $4/gal U.S cost.  We have two tanks, each holds 220 gallons.

We didn't get too far after our delayed stop at Lock #1.

Lock #6

Frankford ON
Thursday, 12 of July

We were here at 14:00 (2:00) so Alan and Ingrid got a chance to take a swim. Spent the night tied to a wall with power. We shared a delicious grilled rib eye with hash brown potatoes and broccoli and enjoyed after dinner drinks with others, Loopers and non Loopers around a picnic table.

Friday cruising

They actually let me operate the lock!  Yeah. . . really.

Ingrid and Sherry sweeping the lock gate.  Some of the locks are manual and to open the gate, you have to sweep. We so wanted to do this.  What fun!!   Lock master (on the right) happy that he doesn't have to do it.

Ingrid at her stern locking position.  

Lock #12

Campbellford, ON

Friday night, 13th of July

Sherry & Ingrid on our way with Alan to Capers for dinner.  This giant toonie monument is right in the middle of the park.  A toonie is a Canadian 2-dollar coin.  Queen Elizabeth is pictured on this side.   

Before we started for the day, we enjoyed breakfast out at the local breakfast place, a visit to bakery where we bought more butter tarts, and the local farmer's market where we stocked up on fresh lettuce and green beans.   Although we left a food festival and many of our friends, the cruising in the rain was peaceful.. We didn't have to compete with many others in the locks.

A rainy traveling day.

Even in the rain, people were out having fun!

Lock #19 Scott's Mill

Saturday night

We had planned to eat at a local fish and chips restaurant, but it looked dicey. Although we were very tired, we managed a delicious chicken piccata and those fresh green beans from the Farmer's Market in Campbellford.

Our Sunday cruise:

Peterborough Lift Lock.  With a hydraulic lift of 65 feet, this lift remain the highest in the world.  It only takes about 2 minutes to complete a lift but it can take up to 45 minutes to load and unload the boats depending on how busy it is that day.

Kawartha Voyageur, a small cruising boat doesn't look so small coming out of the Nassau Mills lock.

Cruising through the Stoney Lake Islands:  Beautiful route sprinkled with cottages on small rocky islands.

St. Peters-on-the-Rock Anglican Church built in 1914 and still conducts services each Sunday in July and August.  There is a dock for the cottage boats.

Sunday night, Lock #28

Burleigh Falls.

It was a hot day but we made great time. Managed 9 locks. After tying up to Burleigh Falls lock wall, we swam the falls. After a hot tiring day, this was exhilarating.

There were some deep water pockets where we could swim in between all those rocks.

Gordon Yacht Harbor

Bobcaygeon 16 of July

Monday night

We made it here right before the bottom dropped out of the sky! I've always told my girls, “Presentation is important, but timing is everything!”

You may always be next, but only if the shop is open.

Tuesday Cruise on Sturgeon Lake was a bit choppy in about 15 mph gusts.

Lock#35 Rosedale

Very enjoyable and quiet evening. Mark & Lezlie on Antonia shared a pot luck dinner with us on a picnic table for dinner.

Mark & Lezlie on Antonia and Sea Jamm enjoying a picnic dinner.

Alan

Ingrid

Lock #36 Kirkfield Lift Lock

Midway of the Trent Severn Waterway

Very narrow waterways before and after Kirkfield.

From here to Georgian Bay (where we will be next) red markers are on the left and green on the right, and all locks will be locking down.

Notice the red and green navigational markers in the water ahead.  Then notice the red and green marker on the Captain's dashboard.  This is a good reminder when the markers come at you quickly.

Port of Orillia ON

18-21 of July

Baker making butter tarts in Wilkie's.

Every Looper's quest is to find the best Canadian butter tarts.  The ones from Wilkie's were Sea Jamm's favorite to date!  And I believe we prefer the tart with pecans, making them very similar to southern pecan pie.  

A friendly local showing us the picture of the mayor on the back of the maple leaf.

Orillia Opera House

Pretty houses.

and pretty churches.

Saturday's Cruise to Big Chute

More islands and cottages.

and boathouses.

Not real bear here, but there are bears in these woods.

Big Chute Marina

Saturday night, 21 of July

Sunday morning

What is the Big Chute?  "Imagine a large cradle for your boat that allows you to "portage" over land without ever stepping off your boat."  That is exactly what the Big Chute does.  It is an inclined plane that carries your boat over a change a 60 feet height.  It is the only marine railway of its kind in North America still in use.

Our friend Herb on the Big Chute as it begins its travel down the hill.

Those yellow straps (cradles) hold Sea Jamm in place as we begin our travel down hill.

My view from the bow as we slowly make our way to the water.

Ingrid's view from the stern looking backward where we had been.

It's kind of rainy today and this heron is bent over letting the water run off his nose.  I suppose he was also there to greet as we got to the end of the chute.  He was perched up there our whole trip down to the water.

“The best is yet to come” is also what my mom would say if she could speak to me now. Thank all of you for your kind condolences after she passed away the first of this month. I was so happy to get back to Sea Jamm, back to my captain, but not as happy as the last week I spent with her when she was lucid and would recognize me. 'Tis a sweet gift.

Next week. . . 

Welcome to Georgian Bay