After completing the Kirkland lift lock we continued on the Trent Severn Waterway and stayed overnight on a lock wall just before Lake Simcoe. Lake Simcoe is where Mike and Vicky purchased their boat in 2001. We wanted to wait until morning to cross this large lake hoping for smooth water. That worked well and we had a very enjoyable ride across the lake. We passed through Orillia and Lake Couchiching before arriving at the at the Big Chute Marine Railway. This was another adventure that I was looking forward to since 2001.
The railway is actually a mobile platform on rails that loads boats on one side of a hill, transports them across the hill and drops them back into the water on the other side. We had planned to stay on the top side overnight but the docks were all full when we arrived. Luckily there was room at the bottom and we transited the railway before docking for the night. It wasn't as we planned but worked out just as well.
While there neighbors from our condo in Florida, who are Canadians that live in Toronto, picked us up and took us to dinner at a nearby five star resort. We enjoyed the evening with them and had a wonderful meal.
In the morning we watched several looper friends transit the railway before we continued our journey to Georgian Bay. It was really fun watching the process of transiting the boats across the land. The attendants are so knowledgeable and professional and careful with our boats. It is quite the process as the pictures below will show.
I am fascinated, at the engineering from so long ago, that still works so well today. The attendant placed our boat so the rear of the platform was at the rear sling marks on our boat. This allows the running gear to hang off the end of the platform where it won't be damaged. Then they tighten the straps. The straps don't support the boat like a travel lift does, they just keep the boat from tipping. The weight of the boat is supported by the floor of the platform. The front of the car is on one set of rails and the rear is on another set of rails. By building the inside rails and outside rails at different elevations they keep the car level. I find this so interesting.
While riding back to our boat in our friends' car, I noticed a boat channel after a lock that I thought was extremely narrow and twisty. I was so glad we didn't have to transit that. I was so wrong! After passing the resort where we had dinner with our condo neighbors, we entered the last lock on the Trent Severn. When the doors of the last lock opened there was that narrow twisty channel staring right at us. It was so narrow and tight that steering with the rudders wasn't adequate and I needed to work with the gear shifts also. We made it safely and were headed to Midland, Ontario.
There are two choices to get to Midland and we followed the advice to avoid the Potato Channel. That was a good choice as the other channel was quite intricate and it would have been very easy to run aground onto the rocks. We made it successfully through and into Midland.
This is our buddy boat, Average Looper transiting the Big Chute Marine Railway.
Our boats are too large to travel together on the rail car.
Now it is our turn.
We are approaching the rail car to be loaded.
Every boat has to be positioned just right to prevent damage.
This is a great view. We have crossed the road and are beginning to start going down the hill.
We are actually quite high in the air and it is a photo opportunity for everyone.
These people are other "Loopers".
Looking back as we begin going down the hill.
John from Endeavor is in the white hat and gave us some of the pictures above..
We are almost down the hill.
Exciting!
This is the spillway next to the railway for excess water to flow down.
The car is empty, going to pick up Twelve Stones.
Twelve Stones is entering the car to be loaded.
Now loaded, they are beginning the trip.
Jan and Jane are watching the process while the car crosses the road.
This is a great way to check your props and rudders.
Twelve Stones' are looking good.
Almost down for Twelve Stones.
They produce some serious "hydro" here.
There was a little fog the next morning.
Jane and Jan walking back to our boats, ready for our departure.
I was too busy steering to take any pictures of the tight channel after the last lock.
They would have been good though.
The next blog will be Midland, Ontario.
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