Trip Day:
|
122
|
Latitude:
|
44°36.77 '
N
|
Locks Today:
|
0
|
Miles Today:
|
4
|
Longitude:
|
079°24.68' W
|
Locks Total:
|
77
|
Total Miles:
|
2,446
|
Location:
|
Port of Orillia
|
||
Fish for breakfast! Ron caught a perch off the bow this morning, so it was fish and grits for breakfast. Hopefully a big mouth bass will visit us soon. 
Big Chief Island proved to be a nice anchorage and we had a good night sleep. We travelled the short distance to the Port of Orillia marina and docked next to the Betty L.
This is a nice town with ample opportunity to re-provision from meat markets, liquor stores, banks, laundry all just a few blocks from the marina. The summer art display included these decorated chairs all along the main shopping district with an invitation to vote for your favorite chair.
Our packet of information and coupons from the marina had a brochure from the Opera House which was built in 1895, then rebuilt after a fire in 1915 and finally added onto in 1950. Tonight “Murder in Noirville” is playing so Bob, Madeline, Ron and I will be attending. Boat people need a little culture in their lives when the opportunity presents itself.
Trip Day:
|
121
|
Latitude:
|
44°39.58 '
N
|
Locks Today:
|
6
|
Miles Today:
|
46
|
Longitude:
|
079°23.10' W
|
Locks Total:
|
77
|
Total Miles:
|
2,442
|
Location:
|
Lake Couchinching
|
||
Leaving Rosedale Lock we entered Balsam Lake, 840 feet above sea level, which is another beautiful lake in the cottage district where an outdoorsman could be blissfully happy every day. At this point we followed man-made cuts which were the last canals made to complete the Trent-Severn Waterway in 1920. There is a sign is posted at the beginning of the narrows cut warning boaters to call on the radio to announce entrance to the canal. 
Kirkfield lock is a hydraulic lock on the same design as Peterborough, but with a 49 foot drop. It was actually more dramatic for us since you drive in the top pan almost 5 stories up, then drop down to the lower level.
Hole in the Wall bridge was constructed in 1905 with a vertical clearance of 28 feet. From a distance it certainly didn’t look wide enough for us to fit through, but of course it was and we passed through into a lovely open lake. The water in these lakes is crystal clear which all the locals attribute to the zebra mussels which are small, but mighty for filtering water. The downside to the clear water is extensive weed growth since the sunlight reaches to greater depth. Weeds grow 3-4 foot in length so boats are constantly plagued with having to clear weeds from the prop, center boards and rudders. After crossing 14 miles of Lake Simcoe we stopped for diesel, which is about $6/gal in Canada, then continued past a couple of islands until we reached Big Chief Island which was recommended as a good overnight anchorage. We followed Betty L around the island to the lee shore and we surprised to find 10 boats already at anchor. Most of the boats were smaller ski boats anchored while people waded in the shallows so we knew they would be leaving by day’s end. It took several attempts to get the anchor to hold due to the weeds, but finally we were set. We carried a baked brie and crackers to share with Bob and Madeline before we all went for a dip in the cool water. MONDAY, JULY 9TH - ROSEDALE
Trip Day:
|
120
|
Latitude:
|
44°34.31 '
N
|
Locks Today:
|
2
|
Miles Today:
|
19
|
Longitude:
|
078°46.74' W
|
Locks Total:
|
71
|
Total Miles:
|
2,396
|
Location:
|
Rosedale – Lock 35
|
||
As we left the coffee shop this morning we ran into Bob and Madeline from the Betty L who
had just arrived. We didn’t want to leave Bobcaygeon before visiting the local museum which
proved to be a good decision. A young man named Reed gave us a tour, sharing his town’s history and that of Mossom Boyd, an Irish immigrant who amassed a fortune in the logging industry. The little museum had an amazing collection of the Boyd family’s possessions from a wedding dress, silver tea services, silver brush and comb set, logging tools, and a replicate of the motor yacht Calumet. But it was the photographs that were the most impressive. Photographs of men standing on piles of logs with log poles to break apart pile ups and move the logs down the river and photographs of the original locks and homes in the area. There was also a detailed account of the reconstruction of the Bobcaygeon lock in the early 1900s when it was widened.
Shortly after leaving the lock we realized the terrain had changed again as we crossed Sturgeon Lake. This area is known for the cottages which line the shore, most of which are truly cottages, but of course there are also many expansive estates. We found the boat houses the most interesting.
These narrows were filled with river houses and over flowing with people sitting on decks and docks, kids slipping down slides into the water and swimming to the rafted floating docks. We waved as we passed.
We enjoyed the show as we watch a groups of kids rock jumping while we waited for the Fenelon Falls lock.
Continuing past Fenelon Falls we locked through Lock 35 at Rosedale. The sky was dark and threatening so we made the decision to stay the night on the lock wall where there were already 5 other boats. A family watching on the lock wall stepped up to take our lines and help us tie up. The grandfather , wearing a Canadian Hockey jersey signed by Wayne Gretzkie, engaged us in conversation for 30 minutes asking questions about our journey and sharing information on this area and what to expect in the lakes ahead. We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them and as they ready their small boat to leave, the man returned and handed me his NHL cap explaining he treasured his jersey too much to give it to me, but he wanted me to have his cap. Ron was up at the office with his Great Loop cap on his head or I would have exchanged caps with him. I hope we see him tomorrow! Rosedale is the highest elevation on the Trent-Severn so from this point we lock down. Factoid: this spot is the highest point in the world that a boat can reach from sea under its own power. (840 ft above sea level)
No comments:
Post a Comment