Boaterhoming in Canada
On our way to Orillia, Ontario, Canada. One night we'll be boaterhoming in Canada before we reach Lefroy Harbour.
Canada’s Renowned Inland Passageway – We Are Starting Our Trip this Year in Orillia, Ontario.
Launching at Lefroy Harbour – Ontario, Canada
Before the Rendezvous, we launched the boat at Lefroy Harbour — Ontario, Canada. Great Spot, close to Orillia, where the rendezvous took place. [wpgmza id="25"]
Locking Through – Trent Severn Waterway – Ontario, Canada
Trent Severn Waterway – Canada’s Renowned Inland Passageway – Jim and I cruised the Trent Severn Waterway once before, it was on our first Great Loop trip, in 2005/06. That time we did the whole waterway, this time we will only do the stretch from Lake Simcoe, south to Trenton. No Big Chute for us this time. It will be interesting to do this waterway from north to south. Last time, we were traveling home to complete our “Loop” in Charlevoix, Michigan, so we went from Trenton to Severn, ending up in Georgian Bay. Our end-of-summer trip plans start with the Trent Severn Waterway…
Locking Up and Down to Fenelon Falls – Trent Severn Waterway – Ontario, Canada
It was a cloudy, windy day on our cruise to Fenelon Falls – The overcast day was unfortunate since we were to transit Kirkfield Lift Lock 36 on that day before we docked at Fenelon Falls. Located in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, the hydraulic lift lock would be the highlight of our day on the water. I wanted to get a few good photos of the trip. We remember it as being a very scenic ride up in the “tub” when we came through the Trent Severn during our Great Loop trip in 2006. The channel leading to the lock is…
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…
Lakefield Lock Wall Was a Dreamy Stop – Trent Severn Waterway – Ontario, Canada
Lakefield Lock 26 was one of the most picturesque stops on the Trent Severn Waterway The historic little town of Lakefield resides in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario. After transiting five locks, Lakefield was our planned stop for the day. The approach to the lock was a long, narrow, twisty, rock and tree-lined canal. We were the only boat there when we arrived, later joined by a young couple on a speedboat who camped, in a tent on land, by their boat. We tied up on the lock wall before the lock (the upside of the lock). Although, at first…
Riding the Bucket at Peterborough Lift Lock – Ontario, Canada
Powered by Gravity – Lock 21 Features the Unique Peterborough Lift Lock! The day started off like most other days on this journey, however, on this day we were excited to be locking through the Peterborough Lift Lock. Built in the early 1900s, the Peterborough Lift Lock is quite a treat for boaters transiting the Trent Severn Waterway. Peterborough lift lock is on the Otonabee River section of the waterway. It is a Canadian National Historic Site, fashioned after smaller lift locks in Europe. Considered to be a marvel of modern engineering, because gravity powers it, the Peterborough Lift Lock is the…
Peaceful, Friendly Stop in Frankford, Ontario – Trent Severn Waterway
We Looked Forward to our Stops in Campbellford and Frankford – Cruising to Campbellford today, followed by Frankford, Ontario tomorrow. At this point on our Trent Severn journey, we were only three travel days, 18 locks, and 50 miles away from Trenton, Ontario, and the end of this amazing Canadian waterway. We departed Hastings for a leisurely 19-mile cruise to Campbellford for a quick overnight stay. After negotiating several locks we arrived at the roomy dock wall at Old Mill Park where we knew, from our earlier visit, we’d have electricity and be able to fill up our water tanks…
Gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway – Trenton, Ontario
Last Day on the Trent-Severn Waterway for the Crew of Kismet! Frankford was a fun stop and we're glad we spent the night there, but now that the Trent-Severn Waterway is behind us, we are antsy to move on – time to explore places we've not been before. It seems most of our cruises include revisiting a few past favorites along with exploring new territory. This 2018 end-of-summer cruise is no different. We redid the TSW north to south this time, backward from when we did our first Great Loop trip in 2006. Looking back, starting with the Ranger Tugs and…
Crossing Over the Saint Lawrence River to Visit Clayton, New York
Clayton, New York is Home to the Antique Boat Museum Clayton, New York, and the Thousand Islands area, on the Saint Lawerence River between New York State and Ontario Canada, are places we’ve always wanted to visit. We knew we'd have to cross the border again to dock on the U.S. side of the river. We would have to cross back again to Canada to resume our trip to Montreal. The border crossing felt seamless as we used the new mobile app from the Department of Homeland Security, called CBP Roam, to check into Clayton. One highlight of visiting this small town…
Adventure Cruising With Kids or Grandkids — Canada’s Trent Severn Waterway
Jim and I love to share our cruising experiences! Since 2005, when we headed out on our first Great Loop adventure, it was just the two of us. Our three sons who were engaged in their own adventures; college, jobs, and Marines, were too young to have kids themselves, which left us empty-nesters, and able to strike out on our own. When our first grandson, Silas, made his appearance, in 2013 (and subsequently, our granddaughter, Hadley, in 2016 and another grandson, Declan in 2021) our thoughts and energies eventually turned to how we could share our love of boating with…
Grandkid’s Cruise to Peterborough-Trent Severn Waterway-Part-1
Grandkid's Cruise To Peterborough—First Leg of a 12-day Adventure The idea for the “Grandkid's Cruise” came almost a year before we actually set out on the road trip to Ontario, Canada with the boat in tow. We wanted the cruise to be educational by visiting somewhere, by boat, which had some historical content and some boating features. The Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) immediately came to mind. The kids would learn about how early commerce transportation came to be in Canada and the historical significance of traveling a waterway with a lock system in place. PROVISIONING AND PLANNING Our oldest grandson, Silas,…
Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-2
Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn, On the Trent Severn Waterway — After leaving Peterborough, we made our way along the waterway to Buckhorn, stopping at Stoney Lake to anchor for one night. On the first two days of cruising the Trent Severn Waterway, we traversed 12 locks. That’s a lot!!! Safety First! Jim and I discussed how best to manage the kids while locking through. For safety reasons, we decided they had to sit still, inside or on the “Queen Seat,” while Jim and I handled the mechanics of catching lock wall ropes and securing the boat in the lock. While launching the…
Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-3
Bobcaygeon Is A Popular Town on the Trent Severn Waterway — Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon. One of our favorite places on the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) is the charming town of Bobcaygeon. A popular stop for Loopers, Bobcaygeon has many things boaters are looking for while cruising the TSW. We looked forward to visiting this town with the kids. The last time we were in Bobcaygeon was when we cruised from Orillia, Ontario, on the TSW to Montreal, on the Rideau Canal. After we went through the lock wall, we secured a spot on the park side of the lock. I tried…
Grandkids Cruise-Fenelon Falls—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-4
Something for Everyone! Fenelon Falls, Ontario — Grandkids Cruise-Fenelon Falls. We have another fun stop today. Fenelon Falls has it all. The lock is right downtown and there is a magnificent park available within a short walking distance of the lock where we usually try to dock. We remembered from the last time we were here that there is a museum next to the park and they have lots of activities for kids. Grabbing a spot on the lock wall in Fenelon Falls means a chance to have water and electricity access. Sometimes Wi-Fi access is available at the park.…
Grandkids Cruise-Orillia—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-5
The Stretch from Fenelon Falls to Orillia Was the Last Leg of Our Boat Trip. Grandkids Cruise-Orillia. We will pull the boat out here to drive to the Big Chute to see the boats being carried over land. If we had gone with PLAN A, the Big Chute would have been our first lock, instead of our last. On this day we had fun taking the Kirkfield Lift Lock (below). This lock is similar to the one in Peterborough. Look what we spotted today (above). We immediately stocked up on Butter Tarts, while exploring downtown and the big park by…
Grandkids Cruise-Big Chute—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-6
The Big Chute Marine Railway—One of the unique locks on the Trent Severn Waterway — Last leg of the Grandkids Cruise on the Trent Severn Waterway. Shortly after we pulled the boat out of the water and left Orillia, we arrived at the Big Chute Marine Railway, in Coldwater, Ontario. Had we stayed with our initial PLAN A, we would have started our trip in Severn, Ontario. The Big Chute would have been the first lock on our trip with that plan. However, in the summer of 2022, this lock was closed on and off all summer. The day before we would have…
