Starting the Trent-Severn

 Wednesday morning, July 18^th, we started toward the Trent – Severn Waterway.  Our destination for the evening was a mooring ball on the east side of the Long Reach.  A couple had posted on the AGLCA forum that they had recently set a mooring ball and invited loopers to spend the night.  So we took them up on it.  Turns out it is a couple in their 40’s with three children (17,15,10—I think I have that correct) who are considering doing the loop in the next year or so.  When we arrived Kenn was there to greet us and help us attach to the mooring ball.  His wife, Kim, was the physician at a boys’ camp her sons were attending, so we did not get to meet her or the sons.  However, Kenn and his daughter, Katie, a delightful budding hockey player, came aboard and we had a very pleasant visit.   One of the best stories was Kenn’s entry into the world of maple syrup this past season.  It was fascinating to hear how this is done.

Kenn and Katie leaving on their jet ski

Kenn's mooring ball on Long Reach

Thursday morning we left the mooring and, as you can see, we truly entered the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Going under this bridge was quite a thrill!

 This is one of the milestones.  We have heard so many people rave about the Trent-Severn that we can hardly believe we are actually here on it!  The locks are very similar to the ones on the Rideau, so no new learning curve there.  We went through 4 locks and tied up on the wall above number 4.  Rich and a friend, Mike Long who lives in Toronto,  are supposed to join us on Friday—that is if Rich’s plane decides to take off.  His last text was "four hour delay and holding".  Remember this is the guy who didn’t join us in Carrabelle for the Gulf crossing due to a gall bladder attack/surgery and then missed the Atlantic run to NYC because his flight was cancelled.  Do things really happen in threes?

Mike Long in port queen bee seat.
Mike brought two cool Canadian pillows and more .
The perfect gift for our boat!

Rich Ray in starboard queen bee seat.

As you can see, our new crew did arrive on Friday morning.  We let them have a few hours of relaxation and then trained them for the locks. Rich took over Tom's position on the back platform and Mike and I tended the front.  It was so nice to have someone else grab the cable so all I had to do was put the line around it and tighten down.

Rich in position on the back platform.

Rich, Linda and Mike--the crew.

A great spot to catch up with an old friend.

Friday night we arrived in Campbellford.  We went through 7 locks that day, the last being a double with a combined lift of 48 feet.  Looking down on where we started was quite a sight.

Raydiance at top of lock 12 after double lift. 

Rich and Mike with drop-off at their backs.

These boats were locking down as we were locking up.

Campbellford was a nice stop.  The east wall had 50 amp power, something we don't find often in Canada.  We visited the large tooney statue in the city park and had a fine dinner out followed by an excellent  game of Five Crowns.  Can you tell who won??

Raydiance on west wall at Campbellford.

Linda and Tom under giant tooney.
The tooney is Canada's unique $2 coin.

Suspension bridge near Campbellford.

Two of the best stops at Campbellford were the bakery (cream filled doughnuts and fruit tarts) and the chocolate factory!  Oh, the waistline!

Now how could anyone resist this?  Factory was right next door.

Saturday we fueled at Campbellford--at street prices.  Still higher than the states as Canada has more taxes, but the best price by far that we have found in Canada at $1.22/liter.  We lazed out and only went through three locks and a total of 5.5 miles before ending on the lock wall above lock 15 at Healey Falls.  Several boats were there enjoying the week-end, swimming, fishing, cook-outs.  We dined on grilled chicken, sweet corn from the farmers' market in Campbellford and purple string beans that turned green when cooked with the tarts for dessert.  YUM!

A cottage along the waterway. We all decided it would be a
fine place to spend a week or a summer.

A channel leaving one of the locks.  The waterway is often very narrow.

Many of these locks have hydraulic operated gates at the lower end
but manually operated gates at the upper end.

We tripled our progress on Sunday and went 15 miles and 3 locks ending in Hastings on the upper lock wall.  Several other boats were on the wall and we had a good visit with folks from Orillia who gave us pointers on where to stay and what to watch out for on Georgian Bay.  

Seaplane--not a bad way to access your cottage!

 Rich and Mike caught a ride back to lock 4 Monday morning with a man who runs the local tourist information shop.  They were a great crew--always willing to lend a hand and tell a story.


We are waiting to hear if Rich has another travel  drama.  Hopefully, this time it will go smoothly.

Bob Duthie says if birds are standing in the water, don't go there.
Good advice!