Trent Severn Days 9-11

The "Kawartha Lakes" region of the Trent Severn Waterway has a shoreline that reminds us of a large northern Minnesota lake. Although a "luxury" cottage that pops up occasionally, most of the cottages are modest in size, but many have really cool boat garages like these two.


The town of Fenelon Falls is at the center of the action. This is the falls ...

... and our tie up along the lower lock wall right around the corner from the falls. The two cruisers on the other side of the wall from us were families who were having their summer vacation on their boats.

The garden on the other side of the lock approach had "Fenelon Falls" spelled out in a topiary of shrubs.

On the other side of the Fenelon Falls lock were these neat boat houses. Many of them were for rent as part of a resort.

Between the lakes are some very narrow canals. We met a 53' cruiser on this one, but we managed to sneak on by.

We were glad we didn't meet this Canada Waterway Cruise Boat in a narrow section. They were docked for the night, with their 40 passengers aboard down the wall from us above the Kirkfield Lock. We've really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere at the lock walls.

We had passed through Balsam Lake, the highest point on the Trent Severn. At 840 feet we had read it's the highest elevation that you can drive your boat to (without carrying it) in the world. The remaining locks would take us down to Georgian Bay (part of Lake Huron) and the first "down" lock is a hydraulic "pan" lock ... except this time we are entering the lock on the top ...

... 5 stories above the river below. We drove in, tied off, and enjoyed the view.

This is the "hole in the wall" bridge" that was built in 1905.

Yesterday we had another run of five locks in about six miles. Like the previous few days, it was over 90 degrees out and sunny, so we didn't go too far before we decided to find a shady lock wall and swim. The water is 80 degrees, very nice. We ran the AC with the genny for a while and were able to sleep after we turned it off. Today we crossed Lake Simcoe, 20 miles long and 10 miles wide, it's the biggest lake on the Trent Severn Waterway. Here's the view as we approached the opening to the lake.

Lake Simcoe has a reputation for being quite nasty in a storm, but she was as calm as could be today. We had a gnat attack, however, that made an otherwise lovely cruise almost unbearable. They were swarming the entire boat and landing all over us. By the time we left the lake and came into the "narrows", there were piles of dead ones covering the whole boat. Check out the gnat bodies on the captain's feet.

The crews of both Shingebiss and Eschaton were ready for a marina stop. We needed some WiFi time and a night of AC, so we had plans to stay at the Port of Orillia Marina. Amazingly, the gnat attack stopped as quickly as it had come. We've cleaned the piles of dead gnat bodies off the boat and are enjoying all the amenities that come with a marina stay. When we come into a marina everyone tells us where the shopping and restaurants are, but we are usually more interested where the grocery stores and laundromats are located. So we're stocking up again and preparing for another stretch. Just 60 miles left of the TS and then Georgian Bay.