Here we are, at the top of the Big Chute railway car on the Trent-Severn Waterway. Linda is sititng on the bow and Charlie is in the upper helm. This was a huge THRILL
July 3, 2009 Trent Severn Waterway
Lock 44-Big Chute marine railway lock. Lifts Boats 57 feet high OVER LAND.
We wait for our turn and watch (above) the boat in front of us go.
Freedom's Turn handled the three most magnificent locks on the Trent-Severn waterway very well. We were proud of her and excited for us to experience the Big Chute which is a marine railroad car, the Kirkfield Lift Lock, and the Peterborough Lift Lock.
The Big Chute ride! Here we go! Charlie is up in the upper helm and Linda is sitting on the bow! In a matter of minutes we crossed over land and were down in another body of water. The big photo on top of the blog is where we were at the high point looking down!
Here is the end part where the boat that was behind us is coming off the ramp we just got off of. Freedom's Turn is at a dock over to the side (out of view here) for her overnight stay.
Boats entering the submerged railway car from the same location we entered. Even jet skies can get on!
Below, the jet ski entourage is lifted up and then will go over to the bottom.
Time to get our daily exercise. We walked away from the Big Chute to go exploring. Charlie wanted his ice cream and lo and behold we found a sign leading us to an ice cream place at a near- by marina. We feel like little kids again, going on our walk to the candy store to find us a treat. I am about the same weight I think not eating ice cream much but Charlie has lost weight, he is sure of it. How does he do it?
This is where we stayed the night of the Big Chute Lock. It is just below the lock on one of their official walls. The tracks you see are left over from an older, much smaller marine railway car.
Oh, what an amazing thing to do on that day!
June 28, 2009 - Trent Severn Waterway
Lock 36 - Kirkfield Lock Drops boats down 49 feet
This lock is the second highest hydraulic lock in the world, dropping boats down (if going west like we were) at the point where the Trent -Severn Waterway begins losing elevation. We went in one of two pans filled with water first then Adagio came along next to us. We were in the front and could look all around us and it was THRILLING. Adagio gets our picture below!
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Living on the edge, so to speak.
Ready to go down!
June 26, 2009 -Trent-Severn Waterway
We are going up and feel like holding on good, which we do.
Charlie's position on the boat in locks is always handling the stern line and I am at the bow line. Here he can't believe the view as he gulps in some fresh air and hopes all goes well. The ride is amazingly fast and smooth. It takes about three minutes!
July 1, 2009 Orillia, Ontario. Canada Day!
July 3, 2009 Trent Severn Waterway
Lock 44-Big Chute marine railway lock. Lifts Boats 57 feet high OVER LAND.
We wait for our turn and watch (above) the boat in front of us go.
Freedom's Turn handled the three most magnificent locks on the Trent-Severn waterway very well. We were proud of her and excited for us to experience the Big Chute which is a marine railroad car, the Kirkfield Lift Lock, and the Peterborough Lift Lock.
The Big Chute ride! Here we go! Charlie is up in the upper helm and Linda is sitting on the bow! In a matter of minutes we crossed over land and were down in another body of water. The big photo on top of the blog is where we were at the high point looking down!
Here is the end part where the boat that was behind us is coming off the ramp we just got off of. Freedom's Turn is at a dock over to the side (out of view here) for her overnight stay.Then we walked over to the beginning to continue watching other boats start out.
Boats entering the submerged railway car from the same location we entered. Even jet skies can get on!Below, the jet ski entourage is lifted up and then will go over to the bottom.
Time to get our daily exercise. We walked away from the Big Chute to go exploring. Charlie wanted his ice cream and lo and behold we found a sign leading us to an ice cream place at a near- by marina. We feel like little kids again, going on our walk to the candy store to find us a treat. I am about the same weight I think not eating ice cream much but Charlie has lost weight, he is sure of it. How does he do it?
This is where we stayed the night of the Big Chute Lock. It is just below the lock on one of their official walls. The tracks you see are left over from an older, much smaller marine railway car.
Oh, what an amazing thing to do on that day!
June 28, 2009 - Trent Severn WaterwayLock 36 - Kirkfield Lock Drops boats down 49 feet
This lock is the second highest hydraulic lock in the world, dropping boats down (if going west like we were) at the point where the Trent -Severn Waterway begins losing elevation. We went in one of two pans filled with water first then Adagio came along next to us. We were in the front and could look all around us and it was THRILLING. Adagio gets our picture below!
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Living on the edge, so to speak.
Ready to go down!
June 26, 2009 -Trent-Severn WaterwayLock 21 - Peterborough Lift Lock Lifts boats 65 feet!
Adagio is entering the lock with Freedom's Turn going to enter right behind them in the same pan. (The word Adagio is a musical term meaning "slowly and with feeling)
Adagio is entering the lock with Freedom's Turn going to enter right behind them in the same pan. (The word Adagio is a musical term meaning "slowly and with feeling)
We prepare for the lift by handing our lines to the locktenders who help us tie up. We have turned off our engines. (we do in all locks)
The Peterborough Lock is actually a national historic site of Canada. It is the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world. The lock was completed in 1904 and was considered an engineering marvel at that time. The lock is hydraulic which basically means it works with valves letting water in and out of the pans and relies on gravity as well to help move it up and down . It has two pans that hold boats; each pans weighs 1300 tons when filled. When one pan is lowered, boats are loaded into the submerged pan. Then the higher pan has one foot of water added to it (which weighs 130 tons!) which then helps the higher pan come down. Boats exit and enter the upper and lower pans and the process repeats itself.
We are going up and feel like holding on good, which we do.
Charlie's position on the boat in locks is always handling the stern line and I am at the bow line. Here he can't believe the view as he gulps in some fresh air and hopes all goes well. The ride is amazingly fast and smooth. It takes about three minutes! 
July 1, 2009 Orillia, Ontario. Canada Day!Freedom' Turn and Adagio stayed in Orillia for a delightful three day stay. Port of Orillia Marina was super and in a great location next to the park where most of the Canada Day festivities took place. Above is a downtown scene showing the Mariposa Market which is like no other shop we have ever seen. Gifts galore and a bakery extraordinaire!
Opening ceremonies in the park. Canada became an independent country in 1867.
Opening ceremonies in the park. Canada became an independent country in 1867.We previously mentioned Canada Day festivities in the blog before this one, just didn't have any pictures ready.
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These boat decorations reflect the mood of the marina during our stay in Orillia. It was great fun to be a part of it all. We have noted that the Canadians we have met have an abundance of pride for their country.
The Canada Day fireworks were some of the best we have ever seen and the rain stayed away until the net day. We do it up in style on the bow of Adagio with Dave and Pam as hosts complete with chocolate layer cookies and yes, some ice cream.
Earlier that day, we watched live military enactments along the water's edge. Very well done. Here is a battle taking place in 1759, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. It depicts the French on shore and on their ship (in the foreground) you see here defending their Quebec by attacking the British ship in the far distance. The British won and allowed the French to keep their language and their customs even though the British were in control of the territory.
We certainly enjoyed our stay in Orillia. Freedom's Turn left Adagio behind and headed toward the Big Chute and then to lock 45 at Port Severn; marked on our charts as the end of the Trent-Severn Waterway. We stayed at Port Severn Boat Haven Marina for July 4 and had our own little celebration on board and out to dinner for fish and chips in an old schoolhouse turned into a restaurant.
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These boat decorations reflect the mood of the marina during our stay in Orillia. It was great fun to be a part of it all. We have noted that the Canadians we have met have an abundance of pride for their country.
The Canada Day fireworks were some of the best we have ever seen and the rain stayed away until the net day. We do it up in style on the bow of Adagio with Dave and Pam as hosts complete with chocolate layer cookies and yes, some ice cream.
Earlier that day, we watched live military enactments along the water's edge. Very well done. Here is a battle taking place in 1759, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. It depicts the French on shore and on their ship (in the foreground) you see here defending their Quebec by attacking the British ship in the far distance. The British won and allowed the French to keep their language and their customs even though the British were in control of the territory.We certainly enjoyed our stay in Orillia. Freedom's Turn left Adagio behind and headed toward the Big Chute and then to lock 45 at Port Severn; marked on our charts as the end of the Trent-Severn Waterway. We stayed at Port Severn Boat Haven Marina for July 4 and had our own little celebration on board and out to dinner for fish and chips in an old schoolhouse turned into a restaurant.
Thirteen days after entering the Trent-Severn Waterway, we were ready to go out into the big blue water of the Georgian Bay.
July 4 - Happy Birthday, America!
Here is one of those 30,000 islands. Rugged and pristine. Close to shore, the water is deep.
By the way, whenever we see water breaking in the middle of a channel, we know there are rocks just under the water.
July 4 - Happy Birthday, America!July 5, 2009 - Day 333 Entered the Georgian Bay
Boats in a hurry can go from the southwestern part of the Georgian Bay straight to the northwestern part to Killarney, Ontario and by-pass the small craft channel, a channel going on the inside through an area known as the 30,000 Islands. We do not want to miss what our cruising books tell us; the 30.000 Islands rank in the best fresh water cruising waters in the world. our boat is capable of making the journey. We will not miss this part of our adventure!
Today, July 7, Charlie and I are in day three of our small craft journey and although it takes vigilant navigation, it has been beautiful indeed.
The most remarkable feature of the Georgian Bay are the granite rocks that line the shorelines. The rocks are the most beautiful sight and yet are our most potentially dangerous enemy as we make our way through narrow passageways at places where Charlie says we have to really "thread the needle" through some of the tight spots.
Here is one of those 30,000 islands. Rugged and pristine. Close to shore, the water is deep.By the way, whenever we see water breaking in the middle of a channel, we know there are rocks just under the water.
We went for a meal and an overnight stay at an island known as Frying Pan Island where we ate wonderful walleye fish (Canadians call it Pickerel) at a place called Henry's. It is a very well known place to eat in Canada. Small water planes even land here just to come and eat.
Here is a chart showing some of our route; the continuous islands, shoals, rocks, bays, and markers of navigation we are constantly studying as we make our way slowly through on the marked sail lines of the small craft passageway. The tan colors represent land. Our navagation books for the Georgian Bay tell us that for every land mass there are just as many rock masses below the surface!
Here is a chart showing some of our route; the continuous islands, shoals, rocks, bays, and markers of navigation we are constantly studying as we make our way slowly through on the marked sail lines of the small craft passageway. The tan colors represent land. Our navagation books for the Georgian Bay tell us that for every land mass there are just as many rock masses below the surface!Below, we approach the markers on our route. We have to go between green and red markers by keeping the green buoy on our our port (left) and the red on our starboard(right) then immediately turn sharp to port again to keep the red on our right again. We could most certainly hit some rocks if we go off the marked channel. The space is only a few feet wider than our boat. 
Coming to a clearing we enjoy resting our eyes from buoys and rocks as we sit back, take another drink of our morning coffee, and see a pretty red and white lighthouse called the Snug Harbor Lighthouse. Our coffee tastes good as our past three days have been chilly with highs only in the mid 60's.
A road map showing our position at this writingat the end of the red line in Britt, Ontario. the black line is yet to go. We are not far now from the North Channel in the northernmost part of Lake Huron; the place we have gone every summer vacation since 2003 when we bought Freedom's Turn. We will enjoy some time there revisiting our familiar stomping ground before we think Freedom's Turn will get excited.
Coming to a clearing we enjoy resting our eyes from buoys and rocks as we sit back, take another drink of our morning coffee, and see a pretty red and white lighthouse called the Snug Harbor Lighthouse. Our coffee tastes good as our past three days have been chilly with highs only in the mid 60's.
A road map showing our position at this writingat the end of the red line in Britt, Ontario. the black line is yet to go. We are not far now from the North Channel in the northernmost part of Lake Huron; the place we have gone every summer vacation since 2003 when we bought Freedom's Turn. We will enjoy some time there revisiting our familiar stomping ground before we think Freedom's Turn will get excited. You see, she is about to head home. Home to her very own slip amongst her boat buddies at the Duncan Bay Boat Club in Cheboygan, Michigan. And that, will be a a very, very special place to travel to indeed.
All is well here, hope for you too.
Linda and Charlie
