Orillia, ON
Port of Orillia
July 10-11, 2012
We left Sunset Cove Marina and we had 5 locks to transit before going into Lake Simco which is the largest lake on the TSW. We made it through the locks before the lake fine but after the last lock there is a sharp narrow turn to port before you get into the lake. We waited for a house boat to come in and there was a small boat waiting for us in the lake. The weather was once again beautiful and the lake was calm so we set a course across for about 10 miles. At the other end of the lake it got skinny again, in fact the area is called The Narrows. After The Narrows we turned left and went across Orillia Bay and into the Port of Orillia which is a large, modern marina. We tied up and had 50 amp power which was nice because it was hot and we could run all of the air conditioners. Ginny and I went to lunch at a local pub and then just hung around the boat the rest of the day. We ate dinner on the boat and watched some TV and went to bed. The next day I got up early and walked into town and found a great store with baked goods and much more. I bought some Quiche and sticky buns for breakfast and headed back to the boat. Our friends Kathy and Garth who are Loopers on the boat "Algonquin" were coming from Toronto to visit us for the day. They arrived a little after noon with some wonderful butter tarts and we got caught up and then went to a great restaurant for lunch. Before we went to lunch they drove us to the Beer Store to return my bottles and get some more and after lunch we went to the Metro so we could get some more bottled water. After they left we had some cocktails with "Kismet" and then turned in for the night.
A swing bridge on the waterway
Entering Lake Simco after the lock
Our destination for two days
The marina is run by the city
Quite a large marina
Ginny, Kathy and Garth
Looking out from our slip into Orillia Bay
Nice docks
Big Chute, ON
Big Chute Marina
July 12, 2012
On Thursday we were headed for our last stop on the TSW which is Big Chute, ON. We left at 7:30 and only had two locks before the marina. The scenery was great along the way and the water was calm. When we arrived at the marina we pumped out and then tied up in slip 19. The marina is not very large but it is directly across from the Big Chute Railway which we would go over on Friday. We walked over to the railway and watched several boats go up and down. Basically, they put your boat on a carriage with straps under the boat to keep it steady. The boat sits on the keel while they go up and over the roadway and then down back into the water. Tonight was also going to be our last night with Beth and Dean Jones on "Kismet" (See the next post for an update) so we went to dinner at the restaurant in the marina. We were going to Honey Harbor and "Kismet" was going to Midland to get some work done on the boat. We were all sad to say goodbye since we have been traveling with them for over 1,000 miles and more than a month.
On Friday we got up and said goodbye again and then we went to the blue line to await our carriage. They could not take both of us together so "Kismet" went first and then we make the trip. It was really pretty easy but once again there was no wind so it was easy to maneuver. After the trip we took the lead and headed for our last lock on the waterway in Port Severn and then on to Honey Harbor.
Leaving the Port of Orillia
A train swing bridge which we had to wait for about 10 minutes
Nice cottages at this end of the Trent
You can't see it but the conductor on the train is waving
Planes and wooden boats are popular on the Trent
Big Chute Marina
Two boats on the carriage
The same boats unloading on the other side
Dean and Beth Jones
Our slip for the night
Kismet loaded and ready to go
Taken from the bow of our boat on the way down
Looking back up the railway
The Big Chute man, how cool is that! It was one of our highlights for sure. Nice that you got the chance to catch up with Kathy and Garth but where was Zack?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your the rest of your time in Canada.