ssloop: Bobcaygeon-Orillia

From Bobcaygeon we traveled 16 miles and through 2 locks to Fenelon Falls where we anchored out for the evening. We took our dinghy to town to get Wifi at the local library. Later we took the dinghy to a nearby marina for dinner.

Saturday we traveled a total of 31 miles and passed through 7 locks. After locking up at our first lock of the day, we entered Balsam Lake which is 840 feet above sea level. This marks the highest point in the world that a boat can reach from the sea under its own power. Wow! Our first lock down, was a 49 foot lift lock where this time we drove the Pura Vida into a pan hanging 49 feet in the air. Scary! After clearing the lock, we tied up at the lock wall, enjoyed lunch on the back of the boat while watching other boats being locked up and down. By late afternoon we entered Lake Simcoe and dropped the hook. The day was warm, the water was crystal clear so a swim was in order. Captain Snorkle noticed while inspecting the bottom of the boat that one of the shaft zincs that we had a diver install in New York City was nearly falling off. So after grabbing supplies from the tool box, he swam back under the boat and reattached it. All good!

Sunday was another beautiful day so we slowly cruised across Lake Simcoe stopping midway to enjoy another swim. Shortly after leaving Lake Simcoe we passed through The Narrows of Orillia. (a narrow stretch with heavy boat traffic and strong current) While attempting to pull into a gas dock, Captain Crunch underestimated the current and wind which led to the back of the boat slamming into the dock inches before the fender ball reached the dock. Our trophy for the day was a small crack in the fiberglass above the waterline which will need to be repaired when we get home. From there we took a slip at the Port of Orillia. In the evening we joined fellow loopers from Sunny Days and Captains Choice for dinner in Orillia.

Since entering Canada, our chart plotter has not provided us with much detail. We had been getting by with using the IPad, but decided we wanted more detail for traveling through the Georgian Bay and North Channel. So Monday morning we walked to a "nearby" Marine Supply Store to purchase a Canadian chip for the chart plotter. It wasn't as nearby as we thought. Six miles later we were back at the boat with the Garmin chip. Success! In the afternoon we took our dinghy to Chiefs Island which has a nice protected shallow cove with a sandy bottom where locals come to boat and swim.

Tuesday was a windy rainy day. With umbrellas in hand we walked into Orillia to pick up some supplies, had lunch and did some shopping. We had a quiet evening watching a DVD on the boat and staying out of the rain.

Anchored out a Fenelon Falls. Calm!