We're sailing down, the Summer Wind !

I'm sailing down the summer wind,

I got whiskers on my chin,

And I like the mood I'm in,

As I while away the time of day,

In the lee of Christian Island.

Tall and strong she dips and reels,

I call her Silver Heels,

And she tells me how she feels,

She's a good old boat and she'll stay afloat,

Through the toughest gales and keep smiling,

But for one more day she would like to stay,

In the lee of Christian Island.

Christian Island - My favorite Gordon Lightfoot song that reminds me of our times on Georgian Bay, and especially at Hope Island where the Summer Winds remind us peace and tranquility while at anchor. During this trip I hardly have shaved so the whiskers on my chin are now longer. It was also a favorite of our friend Joe, who taught us how to anchor and explained the lyrics to the songs Gordon Lightfoot wrote and how they echo in our minds as you boat in the waters of the Bay. May you RIP Joe!

But for now a little about Gordon - He was born in 1938 in Orillia, not far from where we docked our boat tonight. Gordon Lightfoot was a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. Credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s, he has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter, having several gold and multi-platinum albums and songs covered by some of the world's most renowned musical artists. Lightfoot's biographer Nicholas Jennings said, "His name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness. Today it is the trains that we had to deal with.

It feels good to know that Gordon Lightfoot came up with some of his words, from the lands and the waters we just travelled and as he boated in these waters as well.

History is always an interesting item when it relates to what we are doing.

Back to our journey today - this was to be our agenda today:

1. Leave Orillia at 9 am and arrive at the CPR Railway Swing Bridge by 10 am.

2. Pass by CPR Railway Bridge by 10:30 am

3. Pass by Lock # 42 by 11 am

4. Arrive at Swift Rapids Lock # 43 by 12:30 pm

5. Pass through Lock # 43 and boat to Big Chute by 2 pm

6. Boat to Port Severn and pass through final Lock # 45 by 3 pm

7. Arrive at Wye Heritage by 4:30 pm

That was the plan, until the Mighty Railroad that Gordon Lightfoot sang about, blocked our plans and forced us to stay on the boat for one more night.

At 10:15 we arrived at the swing bridge only to see an illuminated sign say that the bridge might swing at approx. 11:00 am. We waited and waited for 1 1/2 hour. Then another posting saying it would swing at approx, 11:15 am. Finally at 11:45 the bridge opened. We saw two trains pass by and we knew why we could not go further until the trains cleared the area. Later a lock operator told us that if the rail line was delayed by even 5 minutes it would effect the overall timing of trains deliveries by 5 days. That's why the rail bridge just can't swing at any old time.

After clearing the Railroad Swing Bridge, we went through Lock # 42 and then passed the home of Chester and Sandy. The have lived in this home for over 25 years and Sandy does a good job of keeping the property looking so darned nice. Chester just makes sure it works mechanically.

Sandy and Chester home with Sandy in the Driveway waving hello

We left Lock #42 and headed to the Swift Rapids lock which is the biggest single lift lock on the entire Trent Canal System. It drops (or lifts you) 47 feet in 6 minutes. This lock holds 1.5 million gallons of water and dumps it each time a vessel passes through. It is situated beside a large waterfall that generates electricity. Parks Canada Shuts off the waterfall when the lock is busy however, when the lock is slow, they use much more water than what is used by the lock for one lift up.

As we passed through the river towards Big Chute we found a few interesting things that needed to be photographed.

Big Chute is always a fun ride, but this time we went down the incline. However, the Captain had some trouble loading the boat onto the carriage as the winds blew the bow off course and we had to back up and try again. Second time was a success.

Another boat coming up the Chute before we loaded.

Going Down the Big Chute

Today I finally saw a Blue heron and was ready with my camera to get him in flight. This may not be the most perfect video BUT I have failed to get even one video of them flying so this is my YAHOO moment - I got em !

The winds were high when we landed in Port Severn so we docked on the wall by the locks with bow facing the winds. Our home made meals were pretty much gone, so we went to the Grill Restaurant for dinner. The service was excellent and the meal very good. Our tummies were satisfied. On the wall above the windows in the restaurant were Artsy designed and painted, fishing lures. There was not one person in the restaurant that could tell us about the lures so we did a Google search only to find out that they are all a part of an art design and collection. Our search also stated that they could be worth up to $110 each and we counted over 50 above the windows.

Our last night on the boat- we shot the breeze, drank some whiskey and as an old sailor would say, "we told each other lies" (well we really didn't).

It was a bit disappointing that we missed getting through the last lock by 30 minutes and had Parks Canada not shortened the hours of work this week, we would have made it all the way. Oh well. Another might of hanging out on the boat. Tomorrow morning at 9 am we hope to pass through the last lock and reach the marina by 10:30 am - thus, it will bring our 2024 NYC journey to an end, but never fear, there may be a summary post that could be entertaining.

Oh yeah - Chester was really excited to see that Bruce could lay out the ropes in a fashionable manner. Good Job Bruce - Nice dance Chester. What a crew !

Here is our Nebo Log for the day .......... we travelled 68 km in 6.51 hours at an average speed of 13 km/hr.