The Big Shoot
And that's using polite language....
Two more locks to go and we will leave the Trent Severn Waterway! What a spectacular paradise for Canadians (and us!) to explore. The area is full of clear water, rock formations and little forested islands sprinkled about. It has been lovely.
This is still part of “cottage country”, so there are a good number of houses on the islands and along the shorelines. Most are not inhabited in the winter, when everything freezes over here. But in the summer…. Everyone that can moves to their summer cottages! Small and large, humble and grandiose. Lots of eye candy!
After spending two weeks in this area, working our way through the waters of the Kawartha region and across Lake Simcoe, we made it to the penultimate lock, the Big Chute!
This is a highlight of most Loopers’ trips. To learn more about this “lock”, click here: The Big Chute.
Friday morning at 9 am the Lock Master came over to talk to the crew of the boats waiting on the “blue line”, which is where boats intending to ride on the historic marine railway wait their turn.
Bad news. The railway had some hydraulic problems that caused a shutdown at 4pm the day before. Engineers had been called in to diagnose the problem. Most likely no locking through on Friday. The population of boats hoping to go through the Big Chute grew as the day went on. There were 10 or so captive boats by the end of the day.
So we stayed the night on the blue line. Free, but the delay was frustrating, and no power or water. Shoot!
On the other hand, one of our neighbors on the blue line hosted a movie night on the bow of their boat! Ten of us watched Stardust with a starry sky overhead. The evening was delightful!
Saturday morning, more news, but most of it not good. A critical part (hydraulic pump for those that are interested) had been ordered, but we all know about supply chain issues these days. No word on when the part would arrive, and most likely two days of total shutdown to do the repair. Cranes would be required to lift the bad part out and put the good part in. Quite a big deal.
On the other hand, if the lock repair team could fix one of the hydraulic leaks before the replacement pump arrived, there was the possibility to use the railway to transport some types of boats on a limited basis. No updates expected until Monday.
So there we were, camping out on the blue line, wondering when we would be able to make it through to the Georgian Bay, and if we would make our flight to Georgia for a very special wedding. Big Shoot!
But all was not lost.
Saturday at noonish, the Ranger Tug dealer in Barrie Ontario called with the contact information for their boat transporter. Thirty minutes later, Mike was at the blue line taking a look at our boat. We struck a deal and buttoned up the boat for transport that same day!
By 3pm Inconceivable was loaded onto his trailer.
After a 15 minute drive in the truck with Mike, she was in the water again! Woooo Hoooo!!
We were disappointed to have missed the railroad ride, but very relieved to be rid of the stress of wondering when we would move.
We made it through the last lock of the Trent Severn Waterway.
And into the Georgian Bay. Whew! And wow! So gorgeous.
To see our current voyage path with Gary’s photos, click on this: G&P Voyage Map
oh!!! you need to find some more poems about the lakes!! I was in Hawaii and was inspired to find a poem about the ocean. The Ocean tells me of it's woes, of winds and waves and violent throes, of all the tides it has to bear, the weight of life it holds in care. And I that dipped upon the land, evaporating on the sand, must swallow all, when I but see breadth. depth. immortality. s. Clark
ahhhh dang that would have been so fun to ride the railroad over! Very cool. LIke you comment on the map about lake michigan.. "Be out of Lake Michigan by end of Sept or die!!" wow sounds like REAL sailing adventure!! Hey did you get Gordon's autograph?? And do you have the Edmond fitzgearld memorized yet? Should should sing it when you are on what ever lake it's about....oh ya gitchygoomy..... I remember in 6th grade we read a peom about gitchygoomy and I had no idea what we were reading but one day I listened to more than half the words of the Edmund Fitzgerald and POOF! there it was... gitchygoomy!! I can remember some of it... By the shores of gitchygoomy by the shining big sea water, lived the daughter of Nicomus, daughter of the moon Nicomus.....uhhhh thats' it. someone will have to find the rest.. and then post it.