Campbellford to Orillia, Ont
Locks! Locks! Locks! We dream, talk and travel thru locks! We have travelled about 160 miles since Campbellford and have traveled 40 locks on the Trent Severn and 30 on the Erie. We have 4 locks left on the TS. Before the Lift lock in Kirkfield we had elevated to 840 ft. This is the highest level a boat can travel with its own power in the entire world. We also traveled up the Peterborough Lift Lock (65 feet) and down the Kirkfield Lift Lock (49) feet. Both were an extraordinary adventure.
The lift locks are hydraulic with two "pans"; one up, one down. You enter a designated pan, tie to a railing, Each of the pans weighs 1300 tons when filled and are balanced when one is up and one is down. The amount of boats in a pan does not matter. The pans move up/down when a foot of water (130 tons) is added to the upper pan, allowing it to go down and the other pan to go up. (It is physics and chemistry at its finest.) It is a quick ride, very scenic, with lots of spectators. What an experience.
The lock masters on the TS are much more friendly and helpful than on the Erie and Oswego. Many are college students. Their salary is tied in with student aide, which is interesting. Many are young women; in one lock, they told me they actually have a couple of "ladies' nights" where the staff is all women. There are only tired looking men in the US locks; some of whom were pleasant; many were grumpy; many walked as if they needed hip replacements. I'm sure they don't help boaters because of Worker's Comp issues.
Ah, the notorious houseboats. We have been through the part of the Trent Severn called the Kawartha Lakes region. Locks and canals connect lakes (many man-made) with each other. Each lake seemed more beautiful than the last. With minimal wind, the travel was easy. However, the area is famous (infamous) for its houseboat rentals. And, they were out in great form on the weekend of Canada Day(July1). The houseboats have small engines, no keel for control, untrained, and often drunk captains and are a general menace. The lockmasters have many stories to tell about houseboats spinning in the locks, hitting other boats, etc. We spent the Canada Day weekend in Bobcaygeon where drunk kids on houseboats made for a noisy weekend.
Bobcaygeon was a cute little town with a huge shoe store. We enjoyed a great little parade, a concert with a high school band and chorus that gave us chills, and spectacular fireworks. It was here that we met an enjoyable elderly couple who have completed the loop three times; they loved each trip. We are already thinking we could do this, again; there is so much to see!
We have stayed at lock walls for the past several nights; marinas are few and far between or are too small. When at a wall, there usually is no power, but our generator gives creature comforts, if needed. Wi-fi is not available at the walls, usually, but phone service has been excellent. The wall tie-up might be in the middle of town or in the middle of nowhere. We tied for the night after the Kirkfield Lift Lock; there was a wonderful breeze, peace and quiet, and we were entertained until early evening with boats entering and leaving the lift lock.I suppose it could be boring to some, but we love it!
We are now in Orillia, Ont.; a small city at the beginning of Lake Couchiching. (Say that 10 times fast!). It is a city marina with 206 slips; a few other Loopers (Merried With Her and Sea Pal) are also here. We will be here for a few days. Have to still plan out the next stop.
We are getting close to Georgian Bay; 4 more locks including the Chute which is a "railway" lock. Oh, yes, we topped off our fuel tanks at $139.9/liter which is about $5.35/gal..... Stay tuned for that adventure.....
Locks! Locks! Locks! We dream, talk and travel thru locks! We have travelled about 160 miles since Campbellford and have traveled 40 locks on the Trent Severn and 30 on the Erie. We have 4 locks left on the TS. Before the Lift lock in Kirkfield we had elevated to 840 ft. This is the highest level a boat can travel with its own power in the entire world. We also traveled up the Peterborough Lift Lock (65 feet) and down the Kirkfield Lift Lock (49) feet. Both were an extraordinary adventure.
The lift locks are hydraulic with two "pans"; one up, one down. You enter a designated pan, tie to a railing, Each of the pans weighs 1300 tons when filled and are balanced when one is up and one is down. The amount of boats in a pan does not matter. The pans move up/down when a foot of water (130 tons) is added to the upper pan, allowing it to go down and the other pan to go up. (It is physics and chemistry at its finest.) It is a quick ride, very scenic, with lots of spectators. What an experience.
The lock masters on the TS are much more friendly and helpful than on the Erie and Oswego. Many are college students. Their salary is tied in with student aide, which is interesting. Many are young women; in one lock, they told me they actually have a couple of "ladies' nights" where the staff is all women. There are only tired looking men in the US locks; some of whom were pleasant; many were grumpy; many walked as if they needed hip replacements. I'm sure they don't help boaters because of Worker's Comp issues.
Ah, the notorious houseboats. We have been through the part of the Trent Severn called the Kawartha Lakes region. Locks and canals connect lakes (many man-made) with each other. Each lake seemed more beautiful than the last. With minimal wind, the travel was easy. However, the area is famous (infamous) for its houseboat rentals. And, they were out in great form on the weekend of Canada Day(July1). The houseboats have small engines, no keel for control, untrained, and often drunk captains and are a general menace. The lockmasters have many stories to tell about houseboats spinning in the locks, hitting other boats, etc. We spent the Canada Day weekend in Bobcaygeon where drunk kids on houseboats made for a noisy weekend.
Bobcaygeon was a cute little town with a huge shoe store. We enjoyed a great little parade, a concert with a high school band and chorus that gave us chills, and spectacular fireworks. It was here that we met an enjoyable elderly couple who have completed the loop three times; they loved each trip. We are already thinking we could do this, again; there is so much to see!
We have stayed at lock walls for the past several nights; marinas are few and far between or are too small. When at a wall, there usually is no power, but our generator gives creature comforts, if needed. Wi-fi is not available at the walls, usually, but phone service has been excellent. The wall tie-up might be in the middle of town or in the middle of nowhere. We tied for the night after the Kirkfield Lift Lock; there was a wonderful breeze, peace and quiet, and we were entertained until early evening with boats entering and leaving the lift lock.I suppose it could be boring to some, but we love it!
We are now in Orillia, Ont.; a small city at the beginning of Lake Couchiching. (Say that 10 times fast!). It is a city marina with 206 slips; a few other Loopers (Merried With Her and Sea Pal) are also here. We will be here for a few days. Have to still plan out the next stop.
We are getting close to Georgian Bay; 4 more locks including the Chute which is a "railway" lock. Oh, yes, we topped off our fuel tanks at $139.9/liter which is about $5.35/gal..... Stay tuned for that adventure.....
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