Locks, Dams and a Dentist on the Trent-Severn Waterway

After a great stay at the very modern and large Trent Port Marina, we started our trip up the Trent-Severn Waterway. We expected it to be similar to the Rideau, but it really wasn't. The Trent-Severn moves through a variety of geographic regions and you encounter many different landscapes. There were narrow passages through swampy lakes surrounded by tree stumps, the open waters of Lake Simcoe, buoyed channels around huge boulders (some above, some below the surface requiring sharp turns with the boat) and narrow rocky cuts with overgrown vegetation. There were also the not-for-the-faint-of-heart lift locks and marine railway. We spent quiet nights at remote lock stations, but also ended up inadvertently in the middle of Pirate Days in Orillia.

Just as we left Trenton Ruth lost a filling while eating a granola bar. And so began the search for a dentist who would take Ruth on short notice. The weekend was coming up and we had no luck as we passed a couple of the larger towns. Finally, we were successful in Peterborough where the local dentists have a dentist-on-call system. We did a bit of sightseeing by taking public transit to the dentist office on the edge of town. Ruth had her tooth expertly fixed by a dentist who is a sailor himself (thanks, Dr. Vander Velden!).

We were worried about the stony section starting north of Peterborough as we met a boat who had their trip cut short by running up on a rock. We have a lot of experience with shallow waters, but it has always been sand or mud bottoms which are fairly forgiving if you make a mistake, but contending with underwater boulders was another thing altogether. It turned out that it was no problem as the channels were well buoyed, but you needed to pay attention. This was our first introduction to this bouldered type of landscape that we knew would be the norm in Georgian Bay.

We went through the last lock of the Trent-Severn  - the 43rd - at Port Severn on September 2nd, and started into the fabled Georgian Bay...

Sydney lock and dam

Healey Falls locks

Geru at Ashburnham lock in Peterborough 

Peterborough Lift Lock

The Trent Canal

Lake Simcoe

Kirkfield Lift Lock - our first Trent lock going down!

Big Chute Marine Railway

Little Chute