Bonnie returned from her travels, her work in Virginia Beach, and, with congradulations to Charlie on FINALLY receiving his Captain's License. There is one little difference between his and mine. Charlie's USCG license is a 100 ton license, off shore; mine is up to 50 tons on inland waters. He also meets the requirements for STCW 1995 Regulations without further endorsement. I do not know what that means . . . but it must be important. He's excited!
On our way into the Peterborough Lift Lock. Captain Bonnie is at the wheel and Captain "100 ton" is on deck to handle the lines.
After arriving at the top of the lift . . . a look back can be a little scary. Its a long way down for a 38,000 lb boat..................
Narrow little channels as we worked our way Northwest on the TrentSevern. Seven locks just to go from Peterborough to Lakefield, ten miles.
Passage through Stoney Lake (note, not muddy lake but stoney lake . . . wander off course and you bend a prop or shaft...) takes you through "Hells Gate". In Hells Gate is the St. Peters-on-the-Rock Anglican Church which occupies the entire island it sits upon and can only be reached by boat.
Following an overnight at Bobcaygeon we entered a stretch just called the "Trent Canal". It is so narrow that boats greater than 40' (that's us) are required to announce a "security-call" on Channel 16 as we make passage . . . this is so little guys . . . if they have a radio and have it turned on . . . will know we are coming. In this channel we are the "aircraft-carrier-of-the-north" and all little fellows must get out of our way.
Up to the Kirkfield Lock we have been elevated some 600' . . . now it is time to go down. We wait for the boats to leave the lift lock, similar to Peterborough, so we may enter and NOT go over the edge . . . and start down.
Bonnie inched SONATA to the edge of the lift lock for the ride down. We were thankful for "reverse" and "stop" on the engines.
This picture is an example of some of the fine "cottages" along the Trent-Severn Waterway.
On our way to Lake Simcoe we entered the "pasture-land" and spent an overnight on a lock wall at Lock 40, Thorah. Just at the bow of the boat (the picture taken did not do justice and is not included) was a swallow's nest. Mom went from the nest to the water and back each time collecting bugs to feed her three young. She would sit atop our burgee and look at us sitting on the bow of the boat to see if it was OK to reveal the location of her nest, her young. What a great, quite, peaceful evening!
Departing the Trent Canal we entered Lake Simcoe. Winds were forecasted out of the SouthWest at 20-25 . . . correct. We had the wind and waves on our stern and surfed all the way to Orillia were we stopped for lunch. After lunch we pressed on to the "Big Chute."
We tied up at the "Blue Line" (tying up on the blue line means you want to proceed through the next lock when it opens) we had the Big Chute looming in front of us for the evening. Even with the challenges facing her the next day Bonnie slept well.....
The Big Chute, the cradle, is run on two tracks so that it goes into the water but remains fairly level. Straps then raise under the boat, much like a regular travel-lift in the boat yards, and once raised the entire structure moves by way of cable power from one waterway to the other.
As the Chute is driven into the water Bonnie carefully maneuvers SONATA into position to enter the Chute for the ride over the highway and down into the water on the other side.
Having cleared the road (highway) we start the trip down and release from the Big Chute.
Having skillfully maneuvered into the Chute and now out of the Chute Bonnie directs SONATA on toward Port Severn, our last stop before entering Georgian Bay and the North Channel.
Docked in Port Severn we rewarded ourselves with lunch at the Rawley Resort and Marina feasting on pan fried pickerel . . . a new dish to us which was well prepared and very tasty. On the 7th, Tuesday, we leave for Georgian Bay . . .
Bonnie returned from her travels, her work in Virginia Beach, and, with congradulations to Charlie on FINALLY receiving his Captain's License. There is one little difference between his and mine. Charlie's USCG license is a 100 ton license, off shore; mine is up to 50 tons on inland waters. He also meets the requirements for STCW 1995 Regulations without further endorsement. I do not know what that means . . . but it must be important. He's excited!
On our way into the Peterborough Lift Lock. Captain Bonnie is at the wheel and Captain "100 ton" is on deck to handle the lines.
After arriving at the top of the lift . . . a look back can be a little scary. Its a long way down for a 38,000 lb boat..................
Narrow little channels as we worked our way Northwest on the TrentSevern. Seven locks just to go from Peterborough to Lakefield, ten miles.
Passage through Stoney Lake (note, not muddy lake but stoney lake . . . wander off course and you bend a prop or shaft...) takes you through "Hells Gate". In Hells Gate is the St. Peters-on-the-Rock Anglican Church which occupies the entire island it sits upon and can only be reached by boat.
Following an overnight at Bobcaygeon we entered a stretch just called the "Trent Canal". It is so narrow that boats greater than 40' (that's us) are required to announce a "security-call" on Channel 16 as we make passage . . . this is so little guys . . . if they have a radio and have it turned on . . . will know we are coming. In this channel we are the "aircraft-carrier-of-the-north" and all little fellows must get out of our way.
Up to the Kirkfield Lock we have been elevated some 600' . . . now it is time to go down. We wait for the boats to leave the lift lock, similar to Peterborough, so we may enter and NOT go over the edge . . . and start down.
Bonnie inched SONATA to the edge of the lift lock for the ride down. We were thankful for "reverse" and "stop" on the engines.
This picture is an example of some of the fine "cottages" along the Trent-Severn Waterway.
On our way to Lake Simcoe we entered the "pasture-land" and spent an overnight on a lock wall at Lock 40, Thorah. Just at the bow of the boat (the picture taken did not do justice and is not included) was a swallow's nest. Mom went from the nest to the water and back each time collecting bugs to feed her three young. She would sit atop our burgee and look at us sitting on the bow of the boat to see if it was OK to reveal the location of her nest, her young. What a great, quite, peaceful evening!
Departing the Trent Canal we entered Lake Simcoe. Winds were forecasted out of the SouthWest at 20-25 . . . correct. We had the wind and waves on our stern and surfed all the way to Orillia were we stopped for lunch. After lunch we pressed on to the "Big Chute."
We tied up at the "Blue Line" (tying up on the blue line means you want to proceed through the next lock when it opens) we had the Big Chute looming in front of us for the evening. Even with the challenges facing her the next day Bonnie slept well.....
The Big Chute, the cradle, is run on two tracks so that it goes into the water but remains fairly level. Straps then raise under the boat, much like a regular travel-lift in the boat yards, and once raised the entire structure moves by way of cable power from one waterway to the other.
As the Chute is driven into the water Bonnie carefully maneuvers SONATA into position to enter the Chute for the ride over the highway and down into the water on the other side.
Having cleared the road (highway) we start the trip down and release from the Big Chute.
Having skillfully maneuvered into the Chute and now out of the Chute Bonnie directs SONATA on toward Port Severn, our last stop before entering Georgian Bay and the North Channel.
Docked in Port Severn we rewarded ourselves with lunch at the Rawley Resort and Marina feasting on pan fried pickerel . . . a new dish to us which was well prepared and very tasty. On the 7th, Tuesday, we leave for Georgian Bay . . .
Charlie and Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteWe have been following your blog but have been too lazy to comment.
When I saw you might stop unless we comment, I decided it was time.
Your adventure sure seems to be that. And I like your very slow pace. We have been as far as Bobcajon, and I'm anxious to hear more about the Georgian Bay.
Good luck,
Alan