"The Big Chute, " you say???

Midland, Ontario                Wye Heritage Marina                          July 30-August 2, 2016

Mom and I saw Bev and Vic in the parking lot when she was taking me for my morning walk. We walked back to the boat with them, so Bev could come aboard for the day. No sooner did we get on board, but we were pulling out so we could be third on the Big Chute blue line. Mom fed me and the rest of them breakfast while we waited for them to open up. What a rush just watching Knot Sew Easy and then, Chasin 80 go before us.

This marine railway lock raises boats up (canoes, kayaks, skidoos to boats 100’ long) 58’ between the Severn River and Glouchester. In our case, it was lowering us that much.. Huge winch cables powered by electric motors move the platform/carriage full of boats. The new carriage we traveled on went into operation in 1977 after the 1917 one was retired. The boats are supported by slings inside the carriage.  M & D had to mark the boat as to where the slings should go based on our boats hull markings. Dad drove the boat onto the slings while they are underwater. The operators locks them into place and away we go!

Everyone stays onboard for the ride, but mom made me stay inside, so I wouldn’t be scared while she and Bev rode up on the bow to get a better view. Again, better than any amusement ride according to mom, Bev and dad!

It was so strange because even though we were in a big body of water once again, thanks to all the underwater and above rock cropping, the channel was very narrow and curvy. Dad really had to watch very carefully! 

After a beautiful hour’s cruise to Port Severn: Lock 45, we were all jammed up there. It’s by far one of the smallest locks we have encountered so far. Not many boats could go in at once. The lock masters were terrific at figuring out how many would fit together in the order they were in line. When you came out, the channel had an incredible strong current and again was NARROW!!! It takes you out in the Georgian Bay which again looks vast, but has distinctly marked channels that you must follow!

We got to this beautiful marina around 1:30 PM. It was so fun having Bev along for the ride and to lend a hand when needed. I got extra pats which I love! Vic came within the hour, so they all  could have a late lunch here at the famous Henry’s Restaurant. Dad has really been enjoying pickerel/walleye. After lunch Vic and Bev drove us back to their cottage. Vic designed it with an architect friend. He has done the greater part of the building and finishing work himself including creating furniture, open carved staircase, stone fireplace, chandlers and whatever comes to his creative mind…It is SO GORGEOUS!!! It has wonderful lake views out of all of the windows. We were so thrilled to see it and I loved enjoying the yard around it! 

Vic and Bev lent us their extra car to use for the next couple of days, so M & D and our fellow travelers could get some needed supplies. We will take it back to them and enjoy dinner at their house before we leave…can’t wait to spend more time with them!!! Once again mom and dad are feeling so blessed to have friends scattered between our two countries!!!

Our Marina by the Big Chute

The Big Chute: Lock #44

Bev having oatmeal with fresh peaches and almonds

Chasing 80 entering the carriage and you can see the slings on her with her props hanging over so they don't get damaged

Notice the railway under it and all the operators riding with us

I couldn't believe this sight even as I was photographing it! The car passing under the carriage

The top of the hill and down

            You can see the smaller boat in the front of the larger boat coming up from the Gloucester

They are almost back in the water again

...And. away they go

                                     Mike's viewpoint on the flybridge before it was lifted

Mike's view from the top of the Chute

It was a surprisingly smooth and quiet ride on the bow, but not so much up on the flybridge

                           Bev & I enjoying the open air view and chatting with the operators

Mike looking back to the top of the hill

          Bev informed us that they were illegal since it should have been a 3 seater not 2 to pull a skier

Here is the view looking back at Port Severn; Lock 45, the tiny one

Up close and personal with an osprey and her chick

Looking out into the Georgian Bay

Given all the outcropping rocks we wish there were more of these!

Oh Say Can You See, Orillia

Orillia, Ontario                           Starpoint Marina               July 27-29, 2016

Another beautiful morning greeted us, so after mom’s quick shower she took me for a long walk to photograph around the Fenlon Falls park that was right by us. So many cute middle class Victorian’s from the 1830’s on… The town was founded by James Wallis in 1834 he and a partner started a sawmill and later and grist mill and got the town going.

We all agreed if we can do it, we are going through 7 locks today and heading across Lake Simcoe to Orillia for a couple of days before moving towards the small boat channel in the Georgian Bay.

As beautiful as it is, the day just kept getting hotter making the locks that much more tiring…Kirkland Lift Lock was like Peterboro, but 3 feet shorter, but far more open…spooky! We are finally ascending which presents different lock issues…the lock masters help you put your lines through the cables…we see them first as we descend into the holes…one was 22 feet down. Incredible! The canal through these areas are so narrow and shallow our depth detector was constantly going off. Passing a boat going the other way was especially harrowing because you could see the rock abutment’s under the water on both sides…

We only hit one stump that we know of since mom felt it and then saw it pop up afterwards. Kevin and Jill said they could feel the bottom hit multiple times because their Chris Craft is deeper…once they felt it scraping the bottom, as they were  coming through the Hole in the Wall Bridge.

We didn’t make it in here until about 6 PM. Mom caved from the heat around 3:30 when we were crossing Lake Simcoe. She turned on the generator, so we could put on AC in the salon. She and I laid down in here and took a short nap…Heaven! Mom went up to relieve dad for a few before coming back downstairs with me. It kept threatening showers but thankfully none came. 

Wow, Starlight Marina outside of Orillia is incredibly fancy and very, very large. They have covered slips in three very large fairways!!! Unfortunately, the vegetation is growing into their fairways, so when dad had to back up, he got a bunch of it wrapped around his shaft and the rudders weren’t able to work properly. Making it incredibly difficult to land the boat, but he still backed it into our slip.

Everyone couldn’t get docked & hooked up fast enough! They needed a drink and it was way past my dinnertime! After getting me fed and drinks made, we all gathered at the picnic tables behind our boats, They were in the shade with a breeze…HEAVEN!

Lucky for us we are traveling with Kevin, who put on his full diving gear this AM to go down and clean our shaft and check our bottom as well as his own boat and Knot Sew Easy…

Thankfully, none of us had much real damage to our boats.  And a big 3’ snapping turtle was very happy to chomp on all those veggies Kevin cleaned off our boat’s shaft. Scared the crap out of all of us!!!

I’m really enjoying not having to move much today…but mom and dad are cleaning inside and out, catching up on laundry, and small boat repairs before they head to the pool for some much earned R & R! Can’t believe they won’t let me in the pool area! It’s not like I want to go in! It’s not a sunny day here, but it’s still plenty warm! Fine, I’m happy to stay in AC!!!

Mom and Dad returned from the pool in time to feed me…after all it is all about ME! This stop has really rejuvenated me since I got to catch up on my sleep! Mom loved it here because even though it was vast, all she had to do was flag down one of the workers in golf carts and they would give her a ride to wherever she wanted to go…

I’m bummed, I miss riding on Penny’s golf cart & didn’t get to ride these either! 

So we go out after dinner to discuss our next few days plan when all of a sudden we hear Liz scream Brandy’s name and a splash. Their old boxer Brandy had fallen off the dock between the boats. Like Lily she can’t hear, so we are trying to get her attention while Kevin, Mr. Firefighter jumps in to rescue her. Bob pushes the boats apart to give them both room to get out to open water. Mike runs to our boat when he realizes that Brandy is coming that way…he and Bob get on the swim platform to get both Brandy and Kevin out. Way more excitement than we wanted tonight! Other than scaring the poo out of her, she seemed no worse from wear… The rest of us including me, are exhausted from all that excitement!

The Narrow Canals that we were Passing through

Coming into Kirkland Lift Lock only 3 feet shorter than Peterboro

It's way more open than Peterboro

You can see down much easier which doesn't make me feel better

Leaving it behind

Bob doing double duty, holding off Kevin's boat while taking a quick snooze

Brandy  begging treats from me while at the locks

The view from above

Looking down at the lower pan

Mike catching Lily and I on the bow

Going through the Hole in the Wall Bridge

Loved seeing the Blues Brothers hanging out outside our Orillia Marina

Can't miss this seaplane

The dock office

Kevin diving our boats today

What the covered slips look like

Here's Moondance in hers

All three of us hanging out here

More Locks, but the Quaint Towns, Sites & Moments Shared are Worth It!

Lakefield, Ontario                   Lakefield Lock #26 Wall                         July 24-25, 2016

The loopers decided who was leaving first and so forth, so we wouldn’t have to wait at the locks too long…We ended up getting separated from Kevin and Steve on Lone Star. They got through first, so they were able to make it to Buckhorn before the locks closed. We got too far behind to do that, so we ended up stopping for the night at Lakefield.

“Going through the Petersborough Lift Lock was better than an amusement ride!” mom said. It was completed in 1904 and was the first one designed out of all unreinforced concrete. The two pans weigh 1300 tons when filled. With one pan up and the other down, they balance each other. You can have as many boats in each pan as will fit, the weight doesn’t matter since the boat displaces its own weight in water. When it is time to lower one pan and raise the other, one extra foot of water is added to the upper pan. The two pans are locked in place and the extra water is let out of the lower pan. The extra weight allows the upper pan to push the lower one up, while it comes down. It was so magical that mom shot a couple short videos while dad shot stills…the ride was really smooth…

After 6 or more locks in the heat (high 80's), it was 3:30 and we were all beat! 

Our cheapest night yet on the loop, we docked on the wall outside the lock and ate onboard. Some of the boaters walked down a steep flight of stairs to float in the rapids by the dam but by that time Lily and I were getting a shower. We didn’t even go into town since we had seen it the day before by car with Bev and Gary. The town was quite lovely! Our generator kept the AC running, so we were snug and cool all night; despite the thunderstorm that came through in the morning. 

Once again we were without any kind of internet or phone connection with the exception of texting…Ironically, a text with photos from an OH girlfriend came through during the night??? Crazy how technology works sometimes!!!

Our first smaller lock before the big Peterboro Lift Lock

The Famous Peterborough Lift Lock

It was impressive!

One of the doors inside this structure 

Our view before our lift

The last few moments of the lift lock...I'll put the longer video on my Facebook page

Mike staying busy while we waited on the blue line for a lock to open

Photographing Kevin holding the cable lines, they are much cleaner in fresh water

Some of the lock stations go out of their way decorating and landscaping

Trent University, a liberal arts school who is making a name for itself in human genome research. It was founded in 1964 with the help of GE Canada

I'm a sucker for beautiful old farms

Here we are lined up along the wall for the night

Some of the dams are far more elaborate than others

Nothing like floating in the rapids after a long hard day!

Bob is looking rather blissful here...

Buckhorn, Ontario                 Lock #31 Wall with Electric                  July 25-26, 2016

We took off about 8:30 AM with Knot Sew Easy and Chasin 80 and had a easy, but very overcast morning. Fortunately, the winds didn’t start to pick up until our last 2 out 6 locks, so that kept our boating much easier for everyone. The lakes we crossed today had even more tiny islands with cabins, houses and even one small church on them…Talking about living on an island…these sure are small! Hardly any room for me to go on some of them…

The House boaters are out in force, so we try to stay out of their way since most of them have no clue how to drive those boats!

Thanks to this morning’s rain, our boat lines that were tied to the walls were covered in grass and dirt…the minute we brought them on board all that stuff was covering our boat. YUCK! Mom and dad were not happy about that! They like to keep Moondance Ship Shape! 

The good news for me today is we got in about 1:00, so I didn’t have to hold it so long. 

Dad immediately started cleaning the boat while mom helped me catch up on my blog. The other loopers took off to see this one couple, Laura n Rick (who had hitched a ride on Knot Sew Easy’s) leave today. 

We will see the loopers at dock tails later…Mom told dad they are bringing me with them when they go into town in a few because it’s too hot to leave me on the boat without AC. (They are working on the dock’s electric panels .) I’ll be happy to see the town especially now that the sun came out and it’s a prettier day! 

We have a long park right beside our boat, & the canal, so I’m really loving that!!! Dad informed us that we are about half way on our Great Loop trip and past the half way point of the Trent Severn Waterway.

We enjoyed dock tails on the picnic tables beside our boat. After dinner we all came back there…Kevin & Jill ate dinner there, while dad, mom, Liz and Bob played Kings in the Corner, (a card game similar to Soltaire.) Mom & Liz were lucky last night, so Bob is looking for revenge tonight!

 Here we are docked at the Buckhorn wall

Some of the cottages on these tiny islands


No man is an island???


 I decided to make the photo look old tyme too... a church on an island


a natural dam creating smaller falls


I could live here


Hanging on the blue line at Bobcaygeon...it looked fun!



One of the more contemporary boat houses

Here is a good example of flowers everywhere

Fenelon Falls, Ontario    Lock #34 Wall with Electric & Water        July 26- 27, 2016

Thank you Lord for another gorgeous day!!! This part of Canada is definitely as advertised! Just pristine views everywhere you look. We saw more cottages beside the water and on small islands again along with a couple McMansion’s Canadian style. They sure love their seaplanes up here too. Mom can’t blame them!!!  She and dad only rode in one once, but they loved it!!! 

It turns out we couldn’t have stayed at Bobcaygeon today, if we wanted to!!! The lock wall was packed when we went though about 11:30 AM. It’s just fine! Fenelon Falls looks to be just as beautiful and interesting as Bobcaygeon. The waterway along the lock walls here is just beautiful! Flowers, grass, sculptures, darling artist cottages, B & B’s and so on…Can’t wait for mom and dad to go out exploring so I can get a decent nap in! 

Mom told me she that they went to Tim Horton’s to send out some of my blog…but they came back for dock tails on our boat later. After dock tails, Kevin, Jill and Mom and Dad went to Murphy’s Pub. They said the food was really good. Mom said her hamburger was as good as the Culinary Institute’s Tavern and dad had stuffed shepherd's pie potato skins. 
No leftovers again…How rude of them!

They came back and the 3 of us watched a lovely sunset from our flybridge…before enjoying another Downtown Abbey episode and bed…
Somehow mom managed to get a lot of laundry finished in our short stop here. 

                                      We couldn't believe not one, but two seaplanes


                                                       Making the turn down the canal

Talking about a party house, they weren't missing many toys...

            
                   Coming into Fenelon Falls, loved the artwork under the outdoor patio

Fenlon Falls right before the Lock

                                                                         a closer view

A Heron Checking out Life


 What the Lock signs look like


Two of the lock hands chatting in between boats...wonderful painting on the lock house


Our view by our boat on the lock wall...not too chabby!


Looking back to the lock and town


A very short walk into town


Our view across from us at all the rental cottages, it was so shallow over there we saw people swimming and walking in it

Dock tails with Bob and Liz

and Kevin & Jill

Murphy's Pub

A two minute walk from us was the Fenelon Museum 

By the Museum, a middle class Victorian

Another one...so many cute ones!