Our time on the Trent-Severn Waterway has come to its end today. We have enjoyed lots of new experiences, food and towns along the way! We will now be headed into Georgia Bay, which will be the cherry on top of the Canadian sundae.
We have passed through more than 60 locks. If I never see another lock for as long as I live, it will be fine with me! However….today we went through the ‘Big Chute’ lock and it was AWESOME. Instead of being in a ‘big bathtub’ that either fills up or drains out to equal the water level on the other side, this one picks the boat totally out of the water with straps and carries it over land to the water on the other side. We’re in the boat as it crosses over. It is a one-of-a-kind system so here is a link that shows more detail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DZGB52oUGY It was a good chance to inspect any damage to our props and shafts since there were several ‘bumps’ against the rocks along the way. There were some dings around the edges of both props that will eventually need to be smoothed out, but not before we get into soft-bottomed waters again. No sense fixing something that can be bent again on another rock up here in the north.
The scenery is spectacular. Narrow canals lined with maples, birches, aspens and arctic pines lead to open bays dotted with lots of tiny islands. Almost every island has a house on it no matter how small. They use boats as cars. I have no idea whether or not electric lines run under the water to them or not. The water is SO clear it makes Beaver Lake look like a mud pond. Huge water plants grow 6-8 feet tall from the bottom and you can see the fish swim around them. It’s like looking into a gigantic fish tank. Derek caught a bass off one dock and could spot his fish 30 feet away and cast right to it. He also caught a Northern Pike…something he hasn’t done since he was a kid in Minnesota. When we pull the plants off the anchor, they literally look and feel like the plastic aquarium plants for fish tanks. All the locals say that Georgia Bay will be even more clear and idyllic.
The water is almost as cold as our nights. We will be wearing long pants and long sleeves in the mornings, yet all along the waterway kids are swimming!!! The day-time highs, around 3:00, are about 72-78 degrees. When the sun goes down, we are definitely INSIDE the boat since the temps go down and the mosquito population goes way up. The mosquitos are huge, but quite slow since they have to carry around their massive weight! But it’s worth getting bit every now and then to see the bright Milky Way in the sky at night and listen to the loons.
We are now in fish-n-chips country. Every town says they have the best. What’s caught in the morning is fried up that afternoon, whether it be haddock, halibut, walleye or whatever. The local bakeries are to die for as well. The pies and tarts are so flaky and buttery. Derek and I were eating butter tarts on the side of the boat, and when crust crumbs fell in the water they gave off big rainbows of lardy goodness! If I stayed here for more than a month I would weigh 200 pounds!
Gypsea, our new kitten, is an awesome first mate and has adjusted to the waves and engine noises. We have discovered little rubber tips that you glue on her nails to save our furniture. She is also wearing her little harness and leash when she’s not inside closed doors just in case she decides to take a ‘dip’ in the water. Every day we have our own ‘America’s Funniest Videos’ watching her antics. Her favorite past time is watching Derek cast his line as he fishes and attacking every button she sees.
Mallard ducks and Canadian geese are everywhere. So are Canadian flags! People drape their houses with them. Everything is expensive. Diesel is $5 a gallon. That’s $1500 for a full tank! Yes….we are really missing having paychecks! But the people are just as nice & agreeable as the stereotype suggests. Everyone is drinking beer all the time.
We fall asleep to the rocking of the boat and a cool breeze blowing through the hatches. Derek wakes up before dawn and spends time with his two mistresses, Portia and Starla (the port and starboard engines) stroking their strainers and pulling on their dipsticks!!!!! He makes coffee and checks the weather. I wake up to sunlight coming through the hatch in the ceiling. It always takes me a while to remember where we are! No one is allowed to talk until I’ve had a smoke and some coffee. We plan where we’ll stop at the end of the day. I brush my teeth, throw on a hat, and secure everything in the boat that may slide around while underway. Derek warms up the engines, I bring in the lines, and we’re underway. Derek does 95% of the driving while I make meals, read books, take pictures, and secure us with lines to locks, walls and docks. We’re poetry in motion! As soon as we dock or anchor, we celebrate with a cold beer and give thanks to God for another safe day on the water. Evenings are spent either with Tom and Paula (our travel buddies) or watching movies or recorded shows on DishAnywhere from our DVR at home. We walk to get groceries, do laundry, or eat out. We’re exhausted every night! Life is good :)
We have passed through more than 60 locks. If I never see another lock for as long as I live, it will be fine with me! However….today we went through the ‘Big Chute’ lock and it was AWESOME. Instead of being in a ‘big bathtub’ that either fills up or drains out to equal the water level on the other side, this one picks the boat totally out of the water with straps and carries it over land to the water on the other side. We’re in the boat as it crosses over. It is a one-of-a-kind system so here is a link that shows more detail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DZGB52oUGY It was a good chance to inspect any damage to our props and shafts since there were several ‘bumps’ against the rocks along the way. There were some dings around the edges of both props that will eventually need to be smoothed out, but not before we get into soft-bottomed waters again. No sense fixing something that can be bent again on another rock up here in the north.
The scenery is spectacular. Narrow canals lined with maples, birches, aspens and arctic pines lead to open bays dotted with lots of tiny islands. Almost every island has a house on it no matter how small. They use boats as cars. I have no idea whether or not electric lines run under the water to them or not. The water is SO clear it makes Beaver Lake look like a mud pond. Huge water plants grow 6-8 feet tall from the bottom and you can see the fish swim around them. It’s like looking into a gigantic fish tank. Derek caught a bass off one dock and could spot his fish 30 feet away and cast right to it. He also caught a Northern Pike…something he hasn’t done since he was a kid in Minnesota. When we pull the plants off the anchor, they literally look and feel like the plastic aquarium plants for fish tanks. All the locals say that Georgia Bay will be even more clear and idyllic.
The water is almost as cold as our nights. We will be wearing long pants and long sleeves in the mornings, yet all along the waterway kids are swimming!!! The day-time highs, around 3:00, are about 72-78 degrees. When the sun goes down, we are definitely INSIDE the boat since the temps go down and the mosquito population goes way up. The mosquitos are huge, but quite slow since they have to carry around their massive weight! But it’s worth getting bit every now and then to see the bright Milky Way in the sky at night and listen to the loons.
We are now in fish-n-chips country. Every town says they have the best. What’s caught in the morning is fried up that afternoon, whether it be haddock, halibut, walleye or whatever. The local bakeries are to die for as well. The pies and tarts are so flaky and buttery. Derek and I were eating butter tarts on the side of the boat, and when crust crumbs fell in the water they gave off big rainbows of lardy goodness! If I stayed here for more than a month I would weigh 200 pounds!
Gypsea, our new kitten, is an awesome first mate and has adjusted to the waves and engine noises. We have discovered little rubber tips that you glue on her nails to save our furniture. She is also wearing her little harness and leash when she’s not inside closed doors just in case she decides to take a ‘dip’ in the water. Every day we have our own ‘America’s Funniest Videos’ watching her antics. Her favorite past time is watching Derek cast his line as he fishes and attacking every button she sees.
Mallard ducks and Canadian geese are everywhere. So are Canadian flags! People drape their houses with them. Everything is expensive. Diesel is $5 a gallon. That’s $1500 for a full tank! Yes….we are really missing having paychecks! But the people are just as nice & agreeable as the stereotype suggests. Everyone is drinking beer all the time.
We fall asleep to the rocking of the boat and a cool breeze blowing through the hatches. Derek wakes up before dawn and spends time with his two mistresses, Portia and Starla (the port and starboard engines) stroking their strainers and pulling on their dipsticks!!!!! He makes coffee and checks the weather. I wake up to sunlight coming through the hatch in the ceiling. It always takes me a while to remember where we are! No one is allowed to talk until I’ve had a smoke and some coffee. We plan where we’ll stop at the end of the day. I brush my teeth, throw on a hat, and secure everything in the boat that may slide around while underway. Derek warms up the engines, I bring in the lines, and we’re underway. Derek does 95% of the driving while I make meals, read books, take pictures, and secure us with lines to locks, walls and docks. We’re poetry in motion! As soon as we dock or anchor, we celebrate with a cold beer and give thanks to God for another safe day on the water. Evenings are spent either with Tom and Paula (our travel buddies) or watching movies or recorded shows on DishAnywhere from our DVR at home. We walk to get groceries, do laundry, or eat out. We’re exhausted every night! Life is good :)