Crossing the Border

We completed the Trent-Severn happy for the experience, but left with a nagging little souvenir.  That annoying squeal from the starboard drive.

So, Sunday morning consisted of a bunch of emails to technical friends.  I am new to inboards and I have an inboard issue.  I needed help.  My help said... press on.  And we did.

We left Trenton and fantastic run down the Bay of Quinte.  Mostly up on plane, some down at a cruising idle to save fuel.  When we arrived a Prinyer's Cove there was silence.  Not enough silence to proclaim miraculous healing, but enough for comment.  "Did you hear that, no squeal", I said.  I got that look.  Maybe it was too soon.  And it was.

So, Monday morning consisted of a bunch of phone calls.  I have now convinced myself that this is nothing that I want to play with at the start of a year long adventure.  It is going to get looked at.  But, nobody can help me and all of a sudden I am feeling a little helpless.  We inched our way closer to Kingston and took up a mooring ball in Prinyer's Cove.  It turns out that we are too big to get service at this end of Lake Ontario.  The only guy that could do it said it would be two weeks before he could even start.  But, he was also very kind and offered up some suggestions.  So, kudos to Kingston Marina.

Our promised saviour comes from Brewerton, NY.  Not on Lake Ontario, but the Erie Canal.  Great news, we are heading that way!!!

We now have a plan and a favourable weather forecast.  Engines on, it is time to head for the United States of America.

The trip to Oswego, NY was 43nm.  A piece of cake cruising at 23.5 knots, blasting through small waves created by a 10 knot SW breeze.  Sometimes, size does matter.  :-)

I can't help but share our giggle from this afternoon.  "Go to the pharmacy and get your beer".  Pharmacies here are not like at home.  Here, you can get your beer and smokes.  I guess they can still sell the stuff that makes you feel better, it doesn't have to be good for you.

Only thirty-one more locks and we are on the ocean.  It doesn't sound too bad if you say it quickly.

Peterborough to Trenton

Cheers to Facebook and a chance to meet up with a friend that we haven't seen for far too many years!  Tammy your help and visit in Peterborough truly was a gift.  Many thanks!!!

Macara the fishing machine pulls another respectable Largemouth Bass out from amongst the Bluegills and Sunfish in Peterborough Marina.

We spent the following night just a mile away at the bottom of Lock 19, Scott's Mill.  We were joined by an amazing family, one year behind us in their planning for a trip down south.  We had a delightful evening tied to the wall, had dinner together played cards and talked about boating.  It's always a joy to spend time with like minded people.

Moving along we spent a night in Campbellford.  The girls went shopping while I did some boat chores.  The genny needed oil and fuel filter changes, with that complete we slipped out  mid-afternoon.

After a failed attempt to anchor above Lock 7 we moved on to Frankford.  Arriving late and with most spots taken along the wall, we were forced to take a spot that left our bow blocking the lock.  That led to an early morning so that we could catch the first lock opening clearing the path for others.  Arriving late at the lock meant that dinner plans were a bust.  We Googled 'pizza' in Frankford and found Dimitri's Pizzeria Restaurant.  A short walk later we approached a place that looked dark and empty.  Inside it was a rocking Saturday night crowd getting ready for Karaoke night.  We had a blast, the food was great and we wish we could have stayed longer.  With a young girl in tow and an early morning ahead, regretfully we had to leave.  When we left there was only one empty table in the place.

A short trip and few locks later, the Trent-Severn Waterway is now complete.  I must tip my hat to the cottage owners along the waterway, not one incident of resentment to our presence.  Quite the opposite,   Saturday evening felt like we were Santa in a Santa Claus parade.  Many a large gathering stood and waved as we passed by.  Even more impressive, while we unsuccessfully tried to anchor up a shallow back channel, three separate cottagers came out to see if we were ok.  They don't usually see such large boats up that channel.  They thought we attempting to go the wrong way.  Unfortunately, we could not get our anchors to hold.  Onward.

To the contrary, this section of waterway has put us in contact with some of the most ill willed lockmasters that you would ever want to cross paths with.  The supervisor of the 'She-devil' at, coincidently named, Haig's Reach Lock 10 will be hearing from us come Monday.  Not to mention the 'jerk' at Lock 11/12 and 'Ace' at Lock 7.  It's strange, most of the lockmasters were some of the most pleasant people, ever helpful.  Yet, this list is not complete naming the less than stellar staff along the way.

Overall, the Trent-Severn has been a great experience.  We didn't anchor out as much as we would have liked.  But, we had a better trip than we had expected.  We did bump something on Canal Lake right in the middle of the channel.  Nobody would appreciate that.  Also, we leave the channel with an annoying squeal emanating from our starboard drive.  We are currently blaming grit picked up in the shallow, dirty, weedy water that we have encountered.  Let's hope that a good long run across Lake Ontario clears that up.

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler, an ever present reminder to keep moving. Soon we will be in another country.  Our adventure continues.

The morning mist at Frankford lock

Big Chute to Peterborough

It's been a while since we have had wifi.  I have been able to post our location on the Google Maps widget every night (using my cell phone as a modem for my laptop), but my last post was a more than a few days ago.

The weather at Big Chute was cold and dreary and that continued into the next day, so we travelled.  It was a great day to just sit at the wheel and sight see.  This is cottage country, so it was slow moving.  Sparrow Lake and Couchiching are the only real places to pick up and get moving.  In addition to all the cottages, we get introduced to the many low clearance swing bridges on the Trent-Severn.

3 short blasts of the horn is a request for the bridge to be opened.

The scenery is really quite beautiful.  It's been a while since I have navigated a channel as narrow as McDonald's Cut.

McDonald's Cut

We had hoped to anchor out on Lake Couchiching, but most all the anchorages were open to the north.  The wind was from the north-east and building.  Later that night the wind would build to over 20 knots, and a bit of lightning and lots of rain.  I guess we made the right choice to take a slip.  Besides, Port of Orillia is a fine marina, there are a lot worse places to seek refuge.  Adding to pleasure, we met some new friends.  They had a young girls only a year or two older than Macara.  They were back and forth, chatting and playing.  Macara even slept over on their boat.

It is never a good sign to see a windsurfer fly by your chosen anchorage.

More rain.  So, we travelled, this time all the way to Bobcaygeon.

Along the way, we saw more cottages.  No really, we did.  It seems to be a never ending competition to have the biggest, nicest cottage on the lake.

A touch of class.

The scenery changes once you leave Lake Simcoe.  No longer do you see wind swept pines and high rocky cliffs.  This is more like farm country.  Man-made canals and man-made lakes.  Canal lake used to be Grassy Creek, it is buoyed from one end to the other.  The Ports book says that maintenance staff regularly sweep the channel for dead heads.  Well, they need to get back there cause we hit something.  It is a sickening feeling.  I have been able to snorkel under the boat and I didn't see any damage, but sickening just the same.

Arched bridge across Canal Lake.  Built in 1905.

Since we left Georgian Bay all the locks have been lifting higher.  Kirkfield is the height of land on the Trent-Severn, this would be our last lift, a unique one at that.  From here on to Lake Ontario, all locks will be a decent.  And the buoys are reversed, so pay attention.  This was our first hydraulic lift lock.  Until now, we enter a chamber, they closed the door behind us, filled it will water and we drove out the front.  Kirkfield was different.  They lifted us up 49 feet in a giant bath tub.  Quickly too, it was a bit of a rush.  It sure built up the anxiety for Peterborough, a 65 foot drop!

Kirkfield Hydraulic Lift Lock 36

When we left Orillia we were told that Fenelon Falls was an easy destination.  A nice looking spot with full electrical service at the lock, a first.  But, it was busy with lots of boats and it was still raining.  So, you guessed it, we pressed on.  By the time we reached Bobcaygeon, the rain began to quit.  It looks like we have our destination for the night.

We decided to tie up at the lock wall (it's half the price of a marina slip) as the lock is right central to Bobcaygeon's downtown.  As we approached the lock I noticed an Osprey nest built right above the lock entrance.  Soon after we got tied up there was as many as 4 Osprey on the platform.  Then I saw them catch 2 fish only about fifty yards off the back of my boat.  I can't stand this, "Where is my camera"!

With the weather finally nice and the girls a little weary after a long travel day, we decided to stay put.  Beaches, ice cream and shopping were the order of the day.

Finally, we are blessed with consecutive days of nice weather.  We drop down one lock and travel six whole miles.  Our first anchorage of the trip!  Pigeon Lake, east of Big Island.  This is a popular spot!  Houseboats, cottage boats and fisherman, but we knew this going in.  Standard operating procedure with the houseboats seems to be drop a stern anchor about a boat length from shore and then proceed to crash into the island.  Once there, tie up to a tree.  Hey, it works and it's a rental.

We have been carrying around a dozen worms in the cockpit freezer since the North Channel.  Macara finally wants to go fishing.  Great choice!!!  Right off the back we caught Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, Blue Gill, Sunfish and plenty of them.  Final count 26 fish.  That'll keep a little girl happy.

Macara's 1lb 8oz Largemouth on worm and bobber.

All of a sudden, that was 3 days in the Bobcaygeon area.  Time to move on.  Next stop Lakefield.  A relatively quiet night on another lock wall.  Macara continues to be a fishing machine!  Landing another 30 fish!!!  Same dozen worms.  A few perch that would have been worth a frying pan if I had known that they would keep coming.

Next stop Peterborough!

Remember Kirkfield.  The rush that we felt going up 49'.  Now it is time for Peterborough, a 65' drop.  This time it will be different, we are going down, looking out over the front of our bath tub.  Too much build up I guess, it just didn't have the same rush.  Don't get me wrong, she is an engineering marvel.  Just not the same feeling of acceleration.

Peterborough Lift Lock 21

Sorry for the long post.  We will have to work harder to find wifi more often. 

Gotta run.  There is more fun to be had!!!

Trent-Severn Big Chute Marine Railway

Go where the wind blows you.  Words to live by.

With the forecast calling for big winds, there was no more time for waiting.  It was time to go.

We had an absolutely beautiful trip across Georgian Bay.  There were lots of boats on the water.  Trying to get to where they wanted to be before the forecasted winds pick up.  Fisherman take note... I don't recall ever marking so many fish on the sonar.  Lots of bait fish even.

Day 2.  The Trent-Severn.  Navigation buoys.  And locks.  Lots of locks.

One of the highlight features of the system is Big Chute.  Instead of a lock, a marine railway car.

Big Chute.  The view from the observation deck.

Knot Yet entering the Big Chute rail car.

Knot Yet going up and over.

Crossing the road at Big Chute.

They build some pretty nice cottages on the Trent-Severn.

Not a bad little get away.

The wildlife knows the way.

Osprey nest on a navigation aid.

A few things to tidy up first

After another great trip to the North Channel.  May I never tire of that place.  We decided to go back to Wiarton and try and clear up some administrative stuff.  We had hoped to see our mailbox stuffed full of Health Cards, dinghy registration numbers and our new PLB.  One out of 3 was the best we could do.  The PLB and Health Cards are going to try and catch up with us someplace.

Tomorrow we leave.  Has anybody heard that before?

The wind gods do not appear to be favouring us.  Or maybe they are just giving us the kick in the rear end we need to get going.  If there is a time to leave, it is tomorrow.  And even that is questionable, but we will try.  If we don't make it across the bay tomorrow we are staring at forecasts for 25knots for the next 3 days.  That's not my idea of fun.  So, tomorrow we leave.

My life on the internet these days looks like this...

www.weatheroffice.gc.ca

www.passageweather.com

www.nhc.noaa.gov/

I can't change the weather, but I have plenty of information to aid me from suffering from it.

The Benjamin Islands

No trip to the North Channel is ever complete without a night or two in the Benjamin Islands.

We chose three.

With a little imagination and being willing to adapt, we are always able to get a nice little anchorage to ourselves.  This year was no different.  While the popular anchorages had traffic coming and going like a 400 series highway, we sat by ourselves, with our own little beach, happy as could be.

This is just one of the reasons...

And another...

And sometimes the journey is the destination...

Knot Yet up and cruising...

Monday night had a forecast for showers and thunderstorms, so we took that opportunity to take a dock for the night in Little Current.  By the looks of the radar it looked like a pretty exciting night out in the Benjamins.  We were just as happy to be tied to a dock.

Finally, as our sabbatical countdown timer approaches zero...

Something appropriate and totally inappropriate all at the same time.  I am on a Boat!

Killarney to Little Current

First things first when you get to Killarney.  I need my fish bus fix!

Macara driving the dinghy to go get fish 'n chips.

Saturday night turned out to be a great night.  Dinner wound up being reservations for 12.  We were joined by Big Bert and Kris's brother's family aboard their F32 Trojan.  I care not to count the number of years in a row that I have had the Prime Rib at Killarney Mountain Lodge on my first Saturday night in the North Channel, let's just say that I have a pretty good streak going.

Kris's brother Mike and wife Kim have a daughter that is only a few months younger than Macara.  KML is a great place for kids and the two hit it off right away.

After dinner, we slide over to the Carousel and listen to Andy Lowe sing.  Like we have every year we have been to the North Channel.  Coincidently, he started playing at the Carousel that very same year.

In the Carousel, through a friend of a friend of a friend, I had the pleasure of meeting a very interesting gentleman by the name of Charlie Miller.  A few years ago, he and his family did the very same trip that we are about to start out on.  We discussed this and that about boating on the east coast and out in the Bahamas.  We had a great time.  Towards the end of the evening he introduced me to his daughter, a beautiful young girl, now around 16 or so.  We, too, had a great chat.  She told me about the great parts of the trip and the parts that she wished she remembered better.  She offered me some great advice.  Such an easy girl to talk to.

It never ceases to amaze me the size of boats that I see when in those special cruising places.

Killarney is fun, but it was time to go.

My parents were not far away, coincidently in one of our favourite anchorages.  We gave them a call and said "Let's hook up."

Our anchor was barely over the side and Macara had her life jacket on and jumping for Papa's dinghy.  And soon, not long after she was back, "Look at the fish I caught!"  You see, last summer, Macara caught her first fish with Papa.  It was a small Pike that was lost at the side of the boat because they had no net.  This year, Papa was much better prepared.

I just have to add, McDonald's is missing something.  I love their breakfast burritos, but for the last couple mornings I have been adding left over Pike bits to my egg burritos.  It's fantastic!  Life is good!!!

We are in Little Current.  Let's see where the wind blows us.