Last Days on the Trent Severn Waterway

Anticipation of the Big Chute

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Ok, we admit it. We are taking our time getting to lock 44, the Big Chute. Everyone has told us that it is the most unique ride on the Trent-Severn Waterway and we are delaying our gratification. We don’t want this part of the adventure to end. We have enjoyed puttering through canals, navigating rivers and crossing lakes. This final thrill of the TSW will be the icing on the cake and it is always good to save the icing for last.

So today we left Orillia, on a clear, crisp and calm day, and crossed Lake Chouchiching, stopping at the end briefly to top off fuel and get a pump-out. Our friends on Ta Ta left later, we saw them for a minute as we were leaving the fuel dock and they were pulling in, but for the most part we were traveling alone, experiencing new territory. We did meet the couples on the two Grand Banks that we got to know in Oswego and later in Trenton. They were on their way back after testing the waters in Georgian Bay. We wished we could stop and ask them how their trip had been but we just waved happily at each other as they passed by, retracing their path and heading for the Rideau Canal.

Here are a few photos from our day as we started the Severn River:



RR bridge workman walking across after making an adjustment

 

RR workman climbing tower to open the swing bridge, very impressive

This boathouse looks a little fishy

 

Unusual to see a sculler zooming by

 

Every rocky island had a cabin or house on it

 

Nice lines on this boathouse - but how do they get the boat in it?

We went through some very narrow and rocky cuts through the granite, including a section called McDonald's Cut. This is a heavily populated area in the summer season so there were lots of camps and boathouses.

Rocky ledge - more of the Canadian Shield
 

Captain’s Log: July 10, 2014

Departed: Port of Orillia 8.23 a.m.
Engine hours: 4.2 hrs.
Actual hours: 5 hrs.  5 min.
Nautical miles covered: 23.03
Locked thru # 42, Couchiching
Arrived: Top of Lock 43, Swift Rapids 1:30 p.m.
Wx: Clear, calm, nice cruising day
 
Big Chute Day

Friday, July 11

We stayed overnight on the wall at the lock at Swift Rapids, #43. At 47' this is a tall lock and it is fairly new and operated hydraulically - very quick ride down.

The doors on this lock were huge - 47 feet high

Another Mainship followed us out - looks narrow because of the high walls;
it was a smooth ride down and took only 8 minutes!

It was about 8 miles to the next lock at Big Chute and I had to snap a few boathouse pictures.

Serene reflection on the early morning water

 

Big 3 bay boat garage

Flower boxes and a cottage name sign - this one is charming

Finally we reached Lock 44 Big Chute, which is not your normal lock. It is a railway lift with a system of straps which picks up boats and transports them across land, road and eventually to the other side. It is driven by pulleys and cables. To satisfy our curiosity, we had to tie up at a dock first, get out of our boats and observe it before venturing on.

The chute rides on wide railroad tracks

Another boat comes up

 

Traffic is stopped as the chute goes over a road -
the lock workers ride the chute back and forth all day

Now it was our turn. We got back on board and went over to the wall with the blue line to indicate that we were ready to go. The lockmaster spoke to us over a loud speaker to let us know what to do.

Ta Ta waiting for the chute to lower into the water and release a boat

Going up with Ta Ta in front and Serenity behind

It's a roller coaster ride for boats!

Chute is going back in the water and getting ready to release us

It was a great ride, although a little disconcerting to have our boat hauled out of the water so quickly. The trip for the day continued for about 7 more miles through some narrows and lots of islands. We are spending the night at Starport Marina in Port Severn, just a stone's throw from the very last lock into Georgian Bay.

Captain’s Log: July 11, 2014
Departed: Upper lock wall, Swift Rapids, 9:05 a.m.
Engine hours: 3.1 hrs.
Actual hours: 3 hrs.  30 min.
Nautical miles covered: 13.68
Locked through #43 & #44 Big Chute
Arrived Starport Severn Marina 12:35 p.m.
Wx: Clear, cool - warming in afternoon, winds light and variable. Nice day.