We May Never Leave Bobcaygeon – Trent Severn Waterway – Ontario, Canada

Stopping in Bobcaygeon was a Highlight of our
Trent Severn Waterway Cruise! –

Jim and I have been talking about Bobcaygeon for some time now, especially when we made plans to cruise the Trent Severn Waterway again. We missed stopping in Bobcaygeon last time, on our first “Loop” trip in 2006. So, for us, it was always the place on the Trent Severn that we regretted not stopping at. In 2006, after we locked through to the upper side, there weren’t any spots available, either below or above. So we pushed on through. It was mid-June, and the height of the boating season in Canada was in full swing. It’s no wonder we couldn’t get a spot on the wall that time of year.

Just another reason August and September are good months to do the Trent Severn and Rideau. We have not felt the rush of small boats jockeying in the locks with us during the day. We’ve always found a spot on the lock or town walls to tie Kismet up to at the end of the cruising day. The most boats we ever locked with, on the Trent Severn, were two or three, but, we mostly locked all by ourselves.

Bobcaygeon did not disappoint!

One of the more scenic, friendly, towns on the waterway, Bobcaygeon is a people’s place, everyone is out and about on a nice day. Situated between two picturesque Kawartha Lakes, Pigeon and Sturgeon, there is water surrounding the town. Cottage life and boating rule the day in Bobcaygeon. The lock itself is entertaining enough. it is central to the town’s vibrant community. While taking a break from shopping or your daily walk, you can wander over to the lock to watch the boats lock up and down.

The downtown area is a short block away from the lock. Lots of shopping, restaurants, and pubs for boaters to occupy their time. We even found good butter tarts at a small local bakery (Still not as good as Wilkey’s in Orillia, but still good). We found a great spot on the wall, across the channel from the community park. A walking path brought people right by our boat with a picnic table to rest at while stopping to welcome us to their small town. They want to know all about the boat where we’ve been and where we’re going. I love it when people stop to make a connection. It’s the yummy cherry that tops off our cruising adventures. We try to do the same!

Shopping Day for Lisa, Boat Chores for Jim

Yes, I know, it seems unfair that I spent an afternoon shopping at the boutiques and picking up a few veggies while Jim caught up on boat chores. Trust me, this was a win, win for both of us. Time alone, doing separate activities every once in a while can do wonders to improve the “atmospheric pressure” on the boat if you know what I mean.

In March, last year, we met a couple who are friends of a friend—they all winter in Key West. They mentioned they owned several stores in Bobcaygeon, Bigley Shoes & Clothing. Well, I think they have cornered the market in that little town. Shoe, dress, and beachwear shops and a kitchen store, I found them all on my shopping day, they make up most of the store’s downtown shopping area.

We were in Bobcaygeon on the last summer weekend of the season. To celebrate everyone came down to the park and locked area with their chairs Saturday night for the music playing in the park. A couple of bands performed with a wide variety of music, starting with a sing-along, more kid related, but later we enjoyed a fantastic rock-and-roll band. We hear this is a regular occurrence on the summer weekends in many of the small towns on the Trent Severn Waterway.

Can you spot Kismet on the wall before the lock in Bobcaygeon? (On the right, third visible boat up.)

Look who we found on the downside of the lock, in Bobcaygeon! Kate and Neil, on Riverdance, were just at the rendezvous with us in Orillia. This was the last time we saw them, they were on their way home, to Kingston, ON.