Oswego, NY to Orillia, Ont.
Trent-Severn Waterway
July 23 - July 30
Tom Hall, Dee Chamberlin, Nora

7/23    A clear day with wind from the NW at 5-10 early, increasing to 10-15 in the afternoon. A 2-3 foot beam swell developed crossing Lake Ontario which made it a bit rolly, but otherwise pleasant.  Anchored for lunch at False Duck Island (the real thing being too far distant).  This was actually our first Canadian landfall so we called customs and were told to proceed to Picton to clear, which we did but wound up clearing by phone ($48 duty on 6 bottles of wine - what happened to NAFTA?)  Anchored for the night at a nice spot 6 NM north of Picton on Mohawk Bay.

7/24    A two hour trip to Trent, then we did the first 12 locks to Campbellsford - a long 12 hour day.  Locks are better than the Erie, dual cables on all locks.  Biggest problem was side surge generated by filling the chamber which sometimes crushed SeaBird against the wall, despite our efforts to push off.  Up locks would be tough for two people. Weather was good, 75-78 degree days and 50's at night.  Locks to not have radios.  Zebra Mussels were abundant on several of the first sequence of locks.  Tied up at Old Mills in Campbellsford for the night, very friendly.  Walked to Cappers Restaurant which was excellent (but no "wine" list).

7/25    Locks 13-19 were on today's agenda - all "ups". Nice weather, flat country - a few black flies.  We managed to get out prior to the "group" we had been locking with, but they caught up and passed us mid-day. No towns.  Overnighted in Peterborough.  A larger town, as towns go along the canal.  Nice harbor with fountain in the middle and ample supply of ducks.  Walked a mile and half to a restaurant who's name escapes me.  It got mixed reviews but has potential.

7/26    The highlight of the day was the Peterborough Lift Lock.  This lock work like a scale, you drive into a basis filled with water that is then closed.  The boats locking down do the same only they put an extra foot of water in the higher basin, which creates the leverage to raise the lower boats as the upper basis descends. It goes quite fast and is an interesting experience. Slow going today, speed restrictions and waits at locks.  The lockmasters really pack the boats in to the locks which makes for some challenging boat handling.  In order to get the bow close enough to the wall for some of our shorter crewmembers to secure a line, it requires that the boat be angled in, which is not possible if there is another boat beside you.  We experimented with a couple of locking techniques and settled on a center/stern tie which seem to work best. (This in preparation for when the Tuna and I were alone on the boat).  We anchored for the night in Clear Lake, just past Young's Point.

7/27    Heavy fog early.  Crossed Clear Lake and Stony Lake (very picturesque).  Some shallow water 5 1/2 - 6 feet in channel.  Also crossed Buckhorn Lake and Pigeon Lake.  Bobcaygeon Lock is the oldest at 167 years and one of the busiest locks on the waterway, with lots of spectators.  Couldn't get into      Marina at Bobcaygeon, stayed at Center Point Landing.  Friendly people, but limited dockage and power was unreliable.  Dinner at Eagens Ridge Rest was good.

7/28    A walk downtown for breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast for $3.99 Canadian ($2.80 US).  Nice small town with park at the lock, lots of small shops.  Crossed several lakes today, Balsam, Mitchell, Sturgeon and Canal.  Mitchell and Canal were shallow weedy and stumpy. Anchoring in the lakes a challenge as the anchor would not hold due to weeds.  Lunch at the Rosedale Lock, which was the last of the "up" locks.  The Kirkfield Lock was the first of the down locks.  Similar to the Peterborough Lock but out in the country.  Balsam Lake was the highest point on the waterway and represent a lift of 600 feet from Lake Ontario.

7/29    Only 5 locks today, making a total of 40 for the leg. All the locks were down, dropping us to Lake Simcoe, which we crossed to Orillia after stopping for fuel (1000 liters) and pump out at Hot Knots Marina.  Thunderstorms hit in late afternoon after we were berthed in Orillia.  Dinner at Ossanijpi Express (a train) was good.

7/30    Tom & Dee departed for airport in Toronto and Adm. B and the Fish continued the journey.