The End of the Trent-Severn Waterway

We enjoyed our stay in Orillia, Ontario. We stayed there for three days getting resupplied with food, beer, rum, and other important stuff. Oh yes, did we mention that everywhere we stop there are at least two or more ice cream shops within a minute’s walk from the lock? It seems that Canadians love their ice cream, and so do we. We also had an impromptu "Looper" get together at the marina's gazebo, and we all had a great time sharing food and drink.

Our next stop was Lock 44, the Big Chute Railway Lock. All of us were anxious about getting through this lock. Believe it or not, we drive the boat onto a railway car that then takes the boat out of the water on a railroad track, up over a hill, and then puts the boat back in the water. Amazing!!

More amazing is that it was ever built. Can you imagine the staff meeting where this idea was presented? In today’s world, the person who came up with this idea would end up in a rubber room for life.

So, there we are, waiting our turn to drive the boat onto this rail car, and we can’t believe we are actually going to do this.

As it turned out though, it was surprisingly simple.

From the time we moved the boat from the staging area, onto the rail car, were moved up over the hill, and then launched back into the water, was about seven minutes. Simply amazing.

This brings to an end our three weeks plus on the Trent-Severn Waterway, and we are sorry to leave this wonderful place. Our descriptions of the places we have seen and people we have met in the Trent-Severn have not done justice to the reality of this jewel of Canada. It has been 240 miles and 44 locks that allowed us to see the majesty of this Canadian treasure, and we now have memories and friends that will stay with us from here on.

We crossed the southern part of Georgian Bay, which was just as beautiful and majestic as the great Canal we are leaving. We are headed to Penetanguishine, Ontario, to the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association summer rendezvous at Bay Moorings Marina. Stay tuned….