ssloop: Orillia-Britt

Wednesday morning we left Orillia and headed across Lake Couchiching and entered the Severn River. Shortly after we approached a railway swing bridge where the bridge master walked out on the bridge to tell us that due to a car accident causing a power outage the lock 1/2 mile downstream would not be operational until possibly 6pm. So we turned the boat around and went back 9 miles to Chiefs Island where we anchored, swam and ran around with the dinghy. About 2:30pm a fellow looper contacted us on the radio to left us know that the lock had opened. We decided we would not continue on through the lock, but did move back to the bridge wall in the evening. Our miles for the day were 29 miles, but only gained 11 miles.

Thursday we enjoyed awesome scenery as we traveled. We cruised through rock lined canals that opened up to small lakes. The homes along the way varied from small cottages to large luxury homes. The one thing they all had in common where great views and fire pits. The first mate commented that everyone in Ft Lauderdale has a swimming pool and everyone along the Trent-Severn has fire pits! We traveled a total of 29 miles and through 3 locks. Our 3rd lock of the day was the Big Chute Marine Railway Lock. At the Big Chute boats are floated onto the partially submerged railway carriage and are cradled by a variety of slings. Lock operators then position the slings to secure the boat. Once secure, the rail car travels on tracks up out of the water, across a road and down a 58 foot embankment to the water below. What an experience! Once released from the rail car we traveled a few miles and dropped the hook at a quiet spot in Gloucester Pool. We were serenaded by the loons well into the evening.

Friday morning we awoke to a couple of loons swimming nearby along with their baby. We pulled the anchor and cruised 20 miles and through our last lock of the Trent-Severn Canal which is also our last lock of the trip! Our locking trophy for the trip will read 107 locks completed by the Pura Vida and crew! PTL! We have now left the Trent-Severn Waterway and have entered the Georgian Bay. Our destination for the evening was the Historic Port of Penetanguishene. The Harbor Master here is Jeff Heron. We met Jeff and Susan in Florida this winter while they were looping also. They have returned to Canada to work for the summer and will return to their boat down south to continue the loop next winter. They invited us over for a yummy dinner at their summer home which is also a boat. Jeff commutes daily via dinghy across the bay to work. What a hoot!

Saturday after walking into town to get breakfast and some supplies we said goodbye to Jeff and cruised 18 miles to a large cove at Beckwith Island. This is a well protected, clear water, beach lined cove that is very popular with the locals, especially on the weekends. We spent the afternoon anchored there with about 200 boats, roughly 80 of which spent the night.

We left early Sunday morning and traveled 40 miles for the day. The first 20 miles where across open waters of the Georgian Bay. The waters were a bit rough but as Brett from our home marina says "That's why we have big boats." We entered the small boat channel just south of Frying Pan Island. We are now in an area referred to as the 30,000 Islands. These islands create the world's largest fresh water archipelago. The scenery as we continued to Parry Sound was fantastic - clear waters along rock/granite shores. We spent the evening at the Big Sound Marina in Parry Sound.

Monday, another beautiful day! They just keep coming! We cruised 33 miles along many more spectacular rocky islands. By mid afternoon we dropped the hook in a small private cove tucked behind Stair Island. We went for a great dinghy ride up Hemlock Channel. The channel is cut between huge rocks and gives a feeling of cruising through a gorge. Between the views from the anchorage and the dinghy ride, this spot rates among our top 5 anchorages for the trip.

Rain was predicted by midday Tuesday so we left early morning to get a jump on the weather. We traveled 33 miles to St. Amant's Marina in Britt. The rain never hit, but it sure did get windy in the afternoon. We were glad we were in a marina rather than swinging around on anchor.

Traveling the Trent-Severn.