We finally finished the 240 miles and 45 locks of the Trent-Severn Waterway connecting Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay ( the northernmost part of Lake Huron) on July 24th. For the first 158 miles and 35 locks your boat is raised, while over the remaining 10 locks and 82 miles ’tis Grand and crew were lowered in each lock. We encountered many more boats (both “Loopers” and locals), waiting to lock through and trying to moor for the night at lock stations, than we had previously seen on the Rideau Canal. Because overnight mooring at lock stations is all first come-first served, at times we were forced to go longer distances than we wanted in order to find a place to tie up for the night.

Ranney Falls Lock – a 47 ft lift
Zebra mussels attached to the lock walls
The first trawler we bought (in early 2020) and sold in May ’21 before buying ’tis Grand is also “looping”. We had a beer with Devin and Dolly, the owners, in Campbellford.

But… on the plus side, we discovered Kawartha Lakes ice cream (which is delicious and served throughout the region), saw several of the most beautiful lakes we’ve ever laid eyes on, spent a few days in some lovely small towns and experienced a few VERY unique locks.

Island church on Stony Lake
Someone’s “heaven on earth” on Stony Lake
More of Stony Lake
Sunset at Fenelon Falls
’tis Grand docked on the Fenelon Falls town wall

Two of the unique locks we went through were Lift Locks. You basically drive your boat into a large “pan” of water. Adjacent to you is another pan of water that is either filled with or drained of 1 foot of water in order to either raise or lower the pan your boat is in. The Peterborough Lift Lock raised us 65 ft and we continued on our way. The Kirkfield Lift Lock lowered us 49 ft. This one was a little thrilling because when you drive into the “pan” the boat’s bow is just hanging out there since the continuing waterway (which you are slowly being lowered into) is nearly 50 ft below! In each of these locks the boat is “secured” by tying 2 lines to a skinny railing on the pan leaving one free to walk about the boat for the few minutes that the process takes.

Being raised at Peterborough Lock
Whew! From ground level to into the treetops!
The bow sprit hanging out there 50 ft up!
Our pan with 4 boats is being lowered while the adjacent, water-filled pan is rising due to slowly dumping water

The “Big Chute”, the second to last lock on the Trent Waterway, doesn’t really use water at all. It moves your boat over land (maybe about 120 yards) on a marine railway system. You drive your boat into a large, open-ended, movable carriage on a train track that dips underwater. Then straps come up to support and suspend your boat within the carriage as it moves slightly uphill, over a road and then down a fairly steep hill to the continuation of the waterway. The carriage bottom submerges, the straps drop down and you’re able to drive the boat off and continue downstream. The Chute was a hoot and we celebrated our passage through this one-of-a-kind lock by cooking up some “Bangers and Mash” with Leadbetters Irish Stout sausages, and mashed potatoes with sweet onion gravy! Sauteed snap peas were subbed in for fresh sweet peas!

A 42′ Grand Banks boat being “lifted” before ours
Overland on the rails
Starting downhill
Empty carriage going back for more boats

We passed through the Port-Severn lock (45th and last) the next day and headed to Penetenguishene, a small port at the south end of Georgian Bay. Looking forward to the end of locking and more open water for exploring and anchoring. And Zeke is starting to dream about running in the Cable Woods before too long!

Our first look at Georgian Bay

Zeke chilling while we plot some possible stops