Monday June 27: Almost to Simcoe

It was pretty windy when we arrived at Coboconk yesterday but that didn't deter Steve and Craig from doing a bit of kayaking.

The report back was "a few turtles and small fish" but nothing terribly great - I think my decision to sit this one out was a good one :-)

It was kind of a lazy day. Coboconk is a very small town with just a few stores of interest. Mostly the $1 store as we were interested in a new shower head. I 'fixed' the one we have so it was easier to shut on/off but somehow it developed a serious leak that sent water squirting all over the bathroom! But it was a success for a new one so that was a good score.

Wifi at the library was too weak to even check email on the phone. Sad that it didn't reach much past the front door. I had thought I might try again today but somehow that never happened!

Dockage for the night was at the public dock near the downtown bridge. Free - provided by the town.

The local kids still jump off of the bridge. Guess some things never change :-)

Out for breakfast at the Gull and then it was time to continue our travels. We were planning on going about 25 miles or so to spend the night at one of the 5 locks which will take us down to the level of Lake Simcoe.



Once off of Balsam Lake, we traveled on the very narrow Trent Canal - a hand dug channel that was the first part of moving through small lakes to the locks that would lower us down in elevation. Up until now, we were moving up. Balsam Lake is the summit of the canal system and this marks the highest point in the world that a boat can reach from the sea under its own power!


It's a waterway with easily visible rock ledges to the sides and it was quite interesting when this pontoon boat was coming the other direction! I wan't sure there was enough space for it to pass by Rahn de Vous! But no issues. Craig found a spot that was a bit wider the the passing.

It wasn't long before we arrived at the lift lock at Kirkfield - our first down lock.

This is the second of two lift locks - this one isn't quite as tall as the one in Peterborough and definitely not as well traveled.


As many of this kind of lock as we have traveled through, it's still fun to look out over the edge and see nothing below :-)








And of course there is always the 'hole in the wall' bridge - built in 1905.

Fun to watch Rahn de Vous pass under it.

We ended up settling in for the day at the next-to-last lock before Simcoe.

Forecast for the getting across the sometimes nasty lake looks great. It wasn't going to be sunny but the winds were less than 12 mph - good enough for us!

Should be in Orillia tomorrow ......

Saturday June 25: Fenelon Falls

It was a short 15 miles from Bobcaygeon to Fenelon Falls. Sturgeon Lake could not have been any calmer! We've been so fortunate with the weather up here – warm (sometime too warm!), sunny really beautiful days.

Craig and Karen in Rahn de Vous weren't far behind as we made the turn to starboard at the top of Sturgeon.

As we turned the corner into the channel leading to the lock, the falls was running pretty much as always. There is definitely a lack of rain up here this year as the current below the falls was pretty much nonexistent.  

The bushes spelling out Fenelon are still there and growing taller every year. Kind of nice to know that at least some things haven't changed!

Near the docks, the relatively new Fenelon Falls sign is still there as well. It's been there since at least the 70's.

We've now traveled about 155 miles from leaving the start of the Trent Canal at Trenton – with just one day of rain. Must be one of the nicest starts to summer we've ever had!

 It's a Saturday and we expected lots of boats but it was even more packed than we though it would – even below the lock. Still many fisherpeople looking for the elusive pickerel (aka walleye) but from what we saw there hasn't been much success for much of anything.

Good thing Steve fished at Lovesick. Even at the bass fishing tournament we saw, many of the bass being brought in were smaller than his!

Finally! We were here when the museum was open! Tried to see this the last couple of time but never made it inside. The building itself was called Mayboro Lodge and provided housing for visitors of the area.

It was surprising large and had an amazing collection of things from the 1800's when this area was being settled.

The dog or sheep treadmill was something we'd never seen before and quite frankly looked a bit suspect. Why would the dog or sheep keep walking?? Just not sure what the motivation would be and I question that it would really work.

When we were kids we had two burros (ordered from the Sears and Roebuck catalog no less!) and we tried carrots on a stick to get them to go. Didn't work …..

There was a schoolroom set up – complete with student desks and a dunce cap on the teacher's desk!

Karen and I love the “Rules for Teachers” posted next to the blackboard. Talk about a different world :-)

A great sunset completed the two-day stay at Fenelon Falls – on tomorrow to Coboconk.

Thursday June 23: Bobcaygeon

Cindy, Randy, Cricket, Gigit

So it was a nice surprise when Banana Bay neighbors Randy and Cindy (former owners of I Think I Can … - a Ranger Tug - and new owners of a 36' Monk) called and said they could join us for a few days of travel!

They spend their summers on a lake about an hour from the Trent system. And they even brought Gigit and Cricket with them!! Such cute dogs :-)

They joined us in Lakefield in time to enjoy the worst wind blown rain we've experienced in a long time. No issue we were safely sitting on the flybridge with the plastic up – until the wind changed direction and started blowing in the one corner not covered!

I think Craig, Karen and I were the only ones not pretty soaking wet by the time we could reasonably make our way to the cabin.

Going through the Young's Point lock the next day gave me a renewed joy in having extra hands aboard! Steve took the front line and Randy took the aft line.

Me? I just waited for the lock to fill :-)

Me, Cindy, Cricket and Craig

Spent Tuesday night at Lovesick Lock – a must stop anytime we are near it.

The grounds are well cared for – lots of picnic table and firepits (which we did not take advantage of sadly).

Steve was a very happy camper as he went to his favorite fishing spot on the dam and caught a very nice bass. Cooked on the grill for an appetizer – it was really good! How often do you have fish that is THAT fresh!

Plus time for a pleasant swim …. but actually he was cleaning off the bottom of the sensor for the depth finder to see if that was the reason it wasn't working. We're not sure yet if that did it or not.

The wind – which had been blowing all day – finally died as the sun was setting. Nice end to a great day.

Next stop: Bobcaygeon. We arrived about 2 pm yesterday and were fortunate to find room for both us and Craig and Karen on Rahn de Vous on the side of the harbor with both power and shade – perfect!

But sad news about the bakery: they no longer make Chelsea rolls :-( Apparently they are too time consuming to make because they used a dough that takes quite a while to raise Couldn't believe it was the end of the best Chelsea rolls ever – for the past 40 years. Very sad.

Fun kayaking though. Randy and Cindy's daughter Nicki and their children drove here to take Randy back to pick up their truck in Lakefield as they needed to return home today.

In the meantime, Steve and Liam and Cindy and Mea took a tour of the area in the kayaks. Best thing? Nicki made a stop at Tim Horton's for a couple of Boston Creme donuts :-) Thanks, Nicki!!

Tomorrow we're off to Fenelon Falls.

Sunday June 19: Lakefield

After a nice concert in the park at Campbellford Wednesday night, we were up early to move to the blue line on the lock - only a mile or so up the waterway.

Why the rush? The Kawartha Voyager has pulled in across the way in Campbellford and they were scheduled to be locked through at 11:00 am (pay big $$ and you too can 'schedule' your time!).

No way did we want to follow them through the next 6 locks. It worked!

Rahn de Vous approaching the flight lock.

 Craig and Karen on Rahn de Vous were with us as we headed into the second pair of flight locks on the lower Trent.

Another long day going through locks. Mmm.... maybe we WILL just go to Chicago and the rivers once we make it to the North Channel. Might be better than retracing all of these locks :-)

But our plan worked - we were able to stay a head of the Voyager and made it to Hastings. Spent the night above the lock so we didn't need to wait until 10am when the locked opened to continue our traveling.

The Voyager ALSO tied up above the lock! We just can't seem to get away ....

It was fun watching them demonstrate how the nose of the boat folds up so the Voyager can fit into the small lock just below Peterborough.

The captain was very nice. I asked him if he had ever hit anything - and after thought that this was probably not a very nice question. If he had, bad memories and if he hadn't - was I going to be the cause of his running into a boat somewhere??

It didn't seem to faze him though fortunately. He works 10 days on (Peterborough to Big Chute and back) and then has 5 days off.  Apparently the cruises are quite popular as bookings are mostly filled for this entire season. Wouldn't be a bad way to see the Trent - maybe in a few years .....

Looking west from the Hastings harbor.

We were up early again but not as early as Craig and Karen. I had agreed to a 6:30 am leave time to again beat the Voyager. All night I'm thinking about the old two train problems from my days past. If the Voyager leaves at 7 am and travels 7 mph and we leave at 9 am (after breakfast out :-)  ) traveling 8 mph, how long would it take us to catch up as we travel the 40 miles to Peterborough? The answer? WE WOULD NEVER CATCH UP!!

I made my apologies to Craig and Karen - they left ahead of the Voyager. I slept and had breakfast out ..... We did indeed NOT catch up :-)

Another gorgeous travel day with light winds, lots of sun and great views.

This end of the Trent isn't nearly as populated as the more central region - where there are more lakes, small towns and open areas than there are locks.

The Canadian geese are everywhere. It must be getting late already as the young are almost as large as the adults already.

Of course our favorite are the loons. We were fortunate to spot a pair with two relatively young chicks.

It was calm enough as we traveled for Steve to begin working on the teak railing. Using a sander to remove all of the finish, he'll then put several coats of cetol to keep it looking nice for another year or so.

In and tied up by 2 or so below the lock near Peterborough.

Really nice place for the night. Easy ride into town (for breakfast and a movie - just HAD to see Finding Dory).

On the way back from the show Saturday we came across a wooden boat show in one of the parks.

The old Johnson motor looks just like the one in the basement at the farm! A 1958 model as I recall.








Amazing boats in unbelievable condition. Funny how there are collectors of just about anything!

There was even an old Peterborough runabout made when this area was home to some great boatbuilders.

After returning to the boat about 2 or so on Saturday, we headed up the waterway. Seven locks between us and Lakefield so the idea was to travel through most of them and spend the night on a lock wall again.

First the lift lock. For info, click here.

The rest of the locks are the old hand operated locks that are nice historically but a pain to travel through as they are just so much slower :-)

Dinner and then breakfast dockside at Duoro lock. Hard to beat :-)








And morning was so quiet.

Two locks and we'll be in Lakefield!!

Wednesday June 15: Campbellford

We arrived yesterday at Campbellford after another six locks and 24 miles. Concert in the park tonight so we decided to stay a couple of nights.

Weather has warmed up - shorts were in order for today for a change. It's so much nicer when the day is warm and sunny!

The couple (Craig and Karen) in the boat in front of us are from San Juan Capistrano, CA. Not too far north of where Matt and Wendy have their home. Very nice folks - but then I seem to say that about all of the boaters we meet :-)

The second day we spent in Trenton was really enjoyable. Time to do some relaxing and reading. And of course some work.

One of the worst things to hear when you push the button to start the engine is silence ….. as happened the other day in one of the locks on the Erie Canal.

No problem – quick grab the hammer and hit the starter! Good to go … for now.

After that we were hesitant to shut the engine off when locking through (much to the dismay of the two guys in the sailboat behind us who were breathing the diesel fumes – sorry for that).

Steve out of habit shut the engine down in the next lock. Yikes! No problem, we started right up.

But he was on the phone to American Diesel (guru's of the Ford Lehman engine) to order a new one. It arrived to Pirate's Cove but we never seemed to find the time to install it! But it's on the boat if needed :-)

And then we didn't start again in one of the locks when we were headed toward Oswego and Lake Ontario. Hammer out – hit starter and good to go. Really though? Let's get this done.

So we spent time in Trenton to replace the starter. Only 3 bolts and a few wires. Of course it took twice as long as we thought it would but then what else is new ...  No more worries about not starting in the locks :-)

This is the travel we enjoy on the Trent - low winds (not always the case but mostly).

Beautiful waterways - Steve is sitting on a bollard contemplating ???

Spent the night at Lock 6 - Frankford. Peaceful with no trains!!

Bonus is power at the lock (one of 3 that now have electric) and breakfast just down the road.

It' still jean and jacket weather but good things awaited us inside the aptly named Oasis Restaurant.

The first peameal bacon of the trip - we were both quite happy as it's one of our favorite Canadian specialties.

Cured pork loin (so low in saturated fat) rolled in cornmeal.

Breakfast food of champions .....

 Steve managed to get a picture of the Baltimore Oriole that was in the tree near the boat. Quite the noisy guy.

The trip from Frankford was chilly but once again a beautiful sunny day. The six locks included the flight lock at Ranney Falls.

Truly amazing engineering accomplishment. Total lift is 48 feet as you move from the lower lock into the attached second lock.

Best thing we saw? Many pairs of swans with their young. Don't recall seeing so many here last year on the lower Trent. 

We'll take that as a good sign!