Still on the Trent-Severn Waterway

As of 5 July, we are still on the Trent Severn at Lock 31. We have 12 more locks to go on the Trent Severn Canal! When completed, we will have traversed 44 locks on this canal.

The first two weeks of July are the traditional months of vacation in Canada. Boats of all kinds, to include dozens of rented houseboats, are very popular. Along the lock walls, boaters can put up tents, tables, and other camping paraphenalia and stay for the allotted number of days allowed on the lock wall. You can have the best of both worlds, camping and boating on your vacation.

This area has long been a vacation spot for Canadians, and families rent these houseboats for weekends and summer vacations, tying to lock walls and enjoying the small towns that surround the locks along the Trent-Severn waterway. There is a limit on the number of nights you can stay on a lock wall, usually two nights, so they move almost daily going to a different lock and town. We are doing the same thing as we continue on the Trent-Severn, so we have had the pleasure of locking through with these houseboats, which has made the experience even more interesting. Why? Well, most of these houseboats are single engine, low power boats, driven by inexperienced boaters, who often have no sense of where their boat is in relation to things around them, such as other boats. It’s similar to watching bumper cars with small house boats. Very entertaining unless they are near our boat.

We have found that the small towns that we have visited along the canals are very neat, clean, and friendly. The towns are well landscaped and have beautiful flowers everywhere.

One of the best parts of this trip has been seeing a new place every few days and meeting new people. While tied to lock wall located in the towns, the locals are fascinated by the larger boats in their part of the country and are curious to find out about our adventure. We have truly enjoyed the Canadian people and their hospitality.

We will most likely leave Lock 32 on Sunday (July 8) and head to Fenelon Falls. Stay tuned…