The parade was a steady stream going north on the Trent and other traffic headed south. The houseboats started arriving mid-morning and seemed to never end!
Large mostly US boats doing the loop and smaller cruisers as well as runabouts all wanting to pass through or stop for ice cream. Of course Steve's favorite breakfast, Full Cup, was one of the numerous places to visit.
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| Tricycle and dogs will travel |
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| Electric boat Ra |
And the all electric boat Ra with it's roof of solar panels. It travels an average of 3 mph - and I thought our trawler was slow at 8!
The maximum stay at most of the locks is now 2 days so it was time for us to head out on Sunday as we had timed our arrival very well for Friday morning.Fenelon Falls was the next of the small towns as we continue to make our way north toward Georgian Bay. Somehow I expected the falls to be running with more water given the amount of water on the lower end of the Trent. But then we are only one lock away from being at the summit of the systems so thinking about that it made sense that there isn't as much water being pushed downstream.
Stokes on the Trent is still the corner store above the lock. Famous for jewelry and other gifts, this store has been here since we were first coming up here in the 50's.Amazing that it can stay in business in this day and age.
The boats passing through the lock was just like yesterday at Bobcaygeon - with the exception that added challenges of the much narrower channel and the wind that picked up. Another entertaining day just watching the boats in and out.
By Monday morning things had quieted down to the weekday normal!
Another sunshine day. We were off to Coboconk - not really sure where we were going to end up staying as the payback cold rainy weather was due in on Wednesday.
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| Balsam Lake - on the way to Coboconk |
"Our" dock was taken - sadly. And by two boats that were totally closed up so not sure what that was about as it's a public dock so we were surprised to not see anyone on the boats.
But we just went to the town dock - where the kids still congregate to jump off the bridge!Steve went kayaking - lots of current so I passed on that.
Storms were due in later in the day so we decided to move along on the canal to Kirfield - location of the second and smaller of the lift locks on the system.
From Balsam Lake to Lake Simcoe, most of the travel is in narrow man made canals.
As we watched the storm approaching from the NE, it was a race to be in and tied up before the rain and storms hit but we made it just in the nick of time!
Steve was still able to make dinner on the picnic table right next to the boat.
After an all night rain, it was foggy but rain free by morning - enough so for breakfast at the picnic table.Then it was off to the lift lock.
The plan was to tie up at a wall tonight just before entering Lake Simcoe - which can be quite rough. This would give us the option of starting out as early as we wanted.
Usually the lake is smoothest in the early morning so this plan kept our options open.Of course we had to pull into the front of the upper tub so it seemed that we were hanging over the edge of the dropoff!!
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| Hole in the wall bridge |
More travel through enclosed areas with a couple of open water lakes along the way as we moved closer and closer the Lake Simcoe.One famous bridge (1905 as I recall) called the 'hole in the wall' is always memorable!
After another 5 locks all within a 5 mile stretch (all hand operated which translate to slower :-) ) and one bridge and we were at the entrance to Lake Simcoe.
It was at this point only about 2 pm. And all it took was one look at the lake and the decision was made to cross today!!
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| Lake Simcoe beckoning us to cross! |
We weren't due to arrive to Orillia until the next day so it seemed to be an opportunity to just anchor at Big Chief Island (only 3 miles from the city of Orillia) for the night.
Off we went .....
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