Trent-Severn Waterway - Lovesick to Orillia

Wednesday - July 11, 2018   Lovesick to Bobcaygeon - 1 Lock

These are the type of markers we run across while in the Trent-Severn.  You can see that the channel, the area between the red triangle and the green square, is not very wide and on either side is nothing but shallow rocks.

Again, the scenery is beautiful, but there are hundreds of narrow passages to navigate through.

This is the view from the little marina we were tied up to in Bobcaygeon.  To the left of the red marker is the entrance to Lock #31.

This is still the entrance to Lock #31 looking from the lock back to the marina we were staying at way in the back.  As with all locks, boaters can tie up before going through the lock or after, for up to 2 nights. There is a small fee of 90 cents per foot.

This is the Main Street of Bobcaygeon.  A lot of little shops and restaurants but the biggest attraction is Bigley Shoe Store.  If the captain gives the 1st mate a hard time going through the lock, the lock master will give the captain a coupon for 20% off at the shoe store.  Shoes, as with anything in Canada, are very expensive.










Thursday - July 12, 2018  Bobcaygeon to Fenelon Falls -  2 Locks

 Here we decided to take a bit of the one day trips so we spent 2 nights here on the lock wall.

 Views from Bobcaygeon to Fenelon Falls

 Kawartha Voyager - Cruise ship that travels the Trent-Severn from the Kawartha Lakes to Peterborough.  The blue bow folds up so that the ship can fit in the locks.

This ship went by us when we were tied to the wall at Fenelon Falls Lock. We were sure glad it went by us while we were there because it meant that we would not meet it along the canal up ahead and try and pass side by each.

 Fenelon Falls Dam.  The lock is to the right with the calm water

Mayboro Lodge - The Fenelon Museum














Saturday - July 14, 2018    Fenelon Falls to Kirkfield - 2 locks


The run to Kirkfield was fine until the last few miles on the very narrow canal. The locals call it "The Ditch". As we entered the canal we broadcast on the VHF radio a warning to any approaching boats we have entered the canal northbound. This canal is so narrow that two boats could not pass each other. At one point we exit the narrow canal into an well marked channel, now the depth-sounder is reading numbers you don't even what to look at - from 1 1/2 to 3 feet. We need 4 1/2 feet to keep Zoey's Adventure floating. On 3 occasions we did touch bottom but at idle speed.  Was there any damage to our two props... we were hoping not.

A sampling of what the "cottages" are like along
the narrows

These 2 pictures are of The Narrows or The Ditch.  It is very narrow and if 2 boats need to pass, you literally walk them by each other.  Not only is the canal narrow but it is very shallow.

It's been years since I hit bottom with a boat with inboard motors, and frankly can't remember what it sounds like. Because it is still very shallow we will not be able to determine if anything is bent or damaged until we can get Zoey's Adventure into the open water of Lake Simcoe.  Stay tuned, we are a day away from the big lake and open water.

Today we call it quits after the Kirkfield Lift Lock and spend a very quite night on the lock wall with just one other small boat. We got to see the lift lock operate many times and it truly is an engineering marvel! Oh by the way, we are now descending. In the lift lock we just secure the boat to the side of the chamber, it's so easy just ask LouAnn .

This is the Kirkfield Lift.  You drive the boat into a big tub of water that is 41 feet in the air.  Lou Ann argued with the lock attendant as to how far we were going forward in the lock. Very daunting, to say the least.  This is the highest section of the Trent-Severn at 840.5 feet.  We are now descending with each lock.

Kirkfield Lift Lock #36.  We were in the tub on the left, up in the air.














Sunday - July 15,2018   Kirkfield to Orillia  - 5 Locks

The lockmaster forgot to collect our dockage yesterday so we settled up this morning. Only about 11 miles to Lake Simcoe, but again slow going with narrow canals, channels and 5 locks.

At one lock when we exited there where seven boats coming up the canal so we decided to tie up on the the lock wall to wait for this flotilla to pass and enter the lock. No need to try to pass seven boats in such a narrow canal; one boat OK, but not seven in single file.

Seven boats in a row, all fitting into the same lock.  The lock staff told us there was plenty of room to pass but we didn't believe her.  The water is 6' - 8' in the middle but then the sides slope up to very shallow water.

All 7 boats fitting into the lock. The last boat entering the lock will squeeze between the last 2 boats.













Must say that we often look at the scenery as we are cruising and try to compare it to other places we have been. Today, we both felt that in the canal we were cruising through, reminded us of Europe with the farmland and farmhouses on both sides of the canal.

 Views along the waterway

This view is at one of the last locks on the Trent-Severn.  Acres and acres of farm land.

This is a flooded marsh.  There is a small channel and lots of grass and weeds on either side.

We are going through the swing bridge at the end of the Trent-Severn and the entrance to Lake Simcoe.













Then the moment of truth as we enter into Lake Simcoe and are able to get Zoey's Adventure up to cruising speed to see if any damage had been done to our underwater running gear. Good news, no damage and we can tell because the are no vibrations at any speed. When a prop is damaged, even the in the least little bit, it will cause a vibration. The propellers are perfectly balanced and even the slightest nick will throw them off balance. Had we done some damage we would have had to find a marina that could haul the boat, remove the damaged prop and send it/them out to be repaired. This process could take up to a week. We can not run the boat with damaged propellers as the vibrations would cause other issues.