After a short day yesterday we decided to make the long 37NM run to Orillia which would consist of six locks including the Kirkfield Lift Lock #36. The weather was better than yesterday but still had some high winds with chances of rain.
We departed early about 0630 along with beachside for a chance to be the first through the Kirkfield Lock in order to make Orillia by dinner time. We arrived at the Lock by 0830 after passing through Balsam Lake the tight channels of Mitchell Lake and the long canal leading up to the lock. We were first in line to go down but there was a boat on the way up and there was mechanical work on the north lock so only the south lock was operable. They were having electrical issues so they were using a small pump to raise and lower the lock. The Kirkfield Lock is the same design as the Peterborough Lock with a bathtub basin you moved your boat into and drop or raise 49 feet depending on your direction of travel. We didn’t enter the lock until 1030 and it took 40 minutes to lower the lock.
After the drop we were on our way with five more locks to go passing through Canal Lake through the Hole in the Wall Bridge the through long canal leading to Lake Simcoe where we hit high winds out of the north east that made the crossing rocky. Along the way we were following or should I say stuck behind a slow running boat where the captain decided that when he entered each lock he would get off his boat walk the line through the lock and secure it. On one of the locks as we were entering as the 4th boat I heard Tom from Beachside report over the radio ” Man Down”. Apparently the genius captain on the small boat did not successfully make it from his boat onto the wall and ended up falling backwards into the lock. He was able to swim over to the ladder and get back on his boat without injury. In another lock the other small boat traveling with us had a small mishap where the captain’s firstmate girlfriend was holding onto the wall ladder and the captain pulled forward leaving her hanging on the wall until he could maneuver back to get her. Just another day on the loop.
We made it to the opening between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching by late afternoon and were able to stop for fuel and a pump-out before making the final push to the Port of Orillia.
Orillia is located on the shores of two connected lakes: Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. Both lakes are part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Travel north on Lake Couchiching, then through three locks and the only marine railway (Big Chute Marine Railway) still in use in North America leads to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. Travel south-east across Lake Simcoe, through many locks (including two of the highest hydraulic lift locks in the world, Peterborough Lift Lock and Kirkfield Lift Lock) eventually leads to Lake Ontario. From either of these Great Lakes one can connect to the St. Lawrence and thence to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Port of Orillia Marina at the eastern side of Orillia is protected by two land barriers. The facility was clean and well run with a small lounge area in the main building. There were over 20 loopers in the marina so we were able to meet up with old friends and meet new ones. Our 1st night we met up with 10 loopers at the Studabakers Restaurant just outside the marina. It was a great break from a long day.
On day two in Orillia we were able to restock the boat from the local supermarket and took a nice walk through town and visited the Mariposa Market and Apple Annies which is known for the Big Texas Donuts and mammoth chunky apple fritters. Every town we visit has a motif that decorates the city. Orillia had crazy colorful bike racks and multi colored guitars. It is the Birthplace of Gordon Lightfoot so there were murals honoring him and several music stores. Later that afternoon we had a big docktail event at the marina office lounge with everyone bringing snacks and cocktails.
It was another great stop on the loop but as usual all good things must come to an end as we plan for tomorrow’s run on the Trent River.
