Day 1 - Wye Heritage Marina to Couchiching Lock # 42

Leaving Wye Heritage Marina at 9 am

Our day started at 7 am as we loaded the Tender (Outseein’) onto the swim platform for the first stage of our Cruise. The weather was certainly cooler than the weekend, still a comfortable 19C but we knew that once we got onto the water it would be a bit chilly.

At 9 am on Monday June 14th we left our slip at Wye Heritage for the run across Georgian Bay to Port Severn and Lock 45, hoping to be there for the 10 am opening. Our route took us through the Potato Channel, which is renowned for making many boaters upset after potentially kissing the rocks with their boat, but in our case, Captain Paul and Swabbie Kyle kept a watchful eye for all the buoys that marked our route. At 9:50 we arrived at the lock and were first to go up the Waterway that day. It was a 14’ lift and took about 15 minutes to get through. We were on our way and Cynthia completed her maiden lockage with flying colours. From that time onward, it was smooth sailing.

By 10:30 we had made our way to Big Chute, and this was one lock we were looking forward to experiencing as it is a Marine Railroad. Basically you drive your boat onto a flatbed railroa

d type car that’s on a set of tracks. They pick your boat up with a set of slings and lift it up and out of the water onto the railroad car. Then slowly the car moves out of the water and up the hill to the other side. Such a sight - it was like going up a ski lift on a big mountain.

The lift

elevation was 59 feet and took about 20 minutes. Once at the top of the hill the railroad car moved into the water, they lowered the sling and we floated away onto our next lock and down the Trent Waterway.

The water was calm, the sky overcast and we only passed three boats all day. Very quiet on the Trent mainly because it was a Monday. The Parks Canada staff at the locks said the weekend had been very busy.

Jan served up gourmet sandwiches, grapes and pickles for lunch as we continued on our way. There are many new homes and cottages being built on the waterway, most are really large. Construction in this area seems to be doing well, despite the cost of lumber and shortages of other construction items. The area is heavily populated with cottages but we noticed that the majority have not even been opened up for the season yet. We’re assuming Covid might be a factor.

The last leg of our day took us to Lock 43 at Swift Rapids, which is a 39’ lift. We continued at approximately 10 mph (9.0 knots) for the balance of the afternoon passing through Sparrow Lake and eventually ending up at Couchiching Lock 42. We didn’t pass through this lock, instead, tying up for the night on the wall. The washrooms were open for our use but not the showers yet. Hopefully Covid restrictions will be lifted on those soon, saving space in our holding tanks. We plan to enter the locks at 10 am when it re-opens. We should be the first boat up the lock.

We passed by the home of our good friends Sandy and Chester who we had arranged to drop by and visit. After tying up, we launched Out Seein’ and Captain Kyle safely took us back to their home, which is located right on the Trent. We enjoyed a fantastic meal, swapped stories, reminisced and laughed. The best part of the visit were the hugs as we left. We threw caution to the wind as we have all had at least one vax. Human touch is such a huge necessity and we were all overjoyed. Thanks to the Morrison’s for their hospitality.

At 8 pm we headed back to OUT TO SEE III as we were all feeling a bit tired. This afternoon we dodged some rain clouds, and had some issues with our generator but we finally got it running. Tomorrow we plan to make it to Sturgeon Lake and possibly spend the evening at our cottage but it will depend on how quickly we can get through the locks.

At this point in our blogs, we’ll share any signature “Hallman” style events or stories. We’re hoping it will always be a blank paragraph, but anybody who knows us, knows this will be unlikely.

1) As mentioned previously, our generator conked out after a second starting, even after having new batteries installed this year. Thankfully, after returning from our dinner out, it did start up immediately allowing us the comforts of home inside the boat once again. Solution: Don’t know yet, to be followed up later today.

2) Cynthia caught her shorts on the lounge pad dome and tore a hunk out of her skin off her arse. The Solution: Look before you sit!