Lake Effect on Great Loop: Heading Home

Here we are travelling in a thick fog to reach the Bay of Quinte. Well it feels bitter sweet to be leaving the USA. We have been rushing past a lot of sights but we are anxious to get home. Almost ten months away is a long time. We are missing family and friends.

Before we get home, we have another major crossing. Lake Ontario. It feels daunting because everytime I've seen it it's choppy. We had a great crossing. The water was calm but we rode in a thick fog for several hours. It didn't start that way but after thirty minutes we couldn't see anything. Not even the other two boats with us. Glad we had a radar to follow their progress and watch for other boats. It was only when we neared shore that we saw light again. The Bay of Quinte is beautiful. It was a very scenic ride onto Trenton. Trenton is at the start of the Trent-Severn waterway.

There are 45 locks ahead if us, but first we rested in Trenton. We didn't see any restaurants that appealed to us, so we went to the nearby grocery store for supper and supplies. We left the next morning at 8.30 to make the first lock. We planned to stop in Campbellford for inexpensive fuel but the pump was closed. We continued up to Hastings at Lock 18. We tied to the wall and walked to town.

The next morning we crossed Lock 18. We stopped in Peterborough for fuel. We had 60 gallons left when we arrived. Not bad but out of our comfort zone. They gave us a free icecream cone. Nice treat.

We continued to Lock 26 in Lakefield. We arrived in time to cross this last lock for the day. We tied to the wall again and walked to town for supper at the Paddle and Canoe. It was raining most of the day. I changed clothes three times because I was so wet. Glad I brought a couple of pairs of sneakers and I dug out my heavy duty raingear and rubber boots.

Because we crossed the lock the previous day, we were able to leave early to catch lock 27 as they opened at 10 am. It wasn't raining as hard but the wind was stronger. We had some nice waves on Lake Sturgeon.

Because of the short weekday hours, we didn't go as far as last two days. We stopped at Lock Fennelon Falls. We didn't make it to the top but we are ready for the ten am opening. We walked the short walk to town for supper at the Cow Sow and a small dessert at the Small Pie Shoppe. What a good day to end the day.

The following day we travelled alone thru all the locks. We stopped at the mouth of Lake Simcoe. It is the second time that we reached this point and we waited for fair weather for crossing. Strange that we are close to the end of our Loop and Lake Simcoe is the only one that has a warning sign on the Navionic Map. So if the winds are up, we stop. The next morning it was very calm. We crossed the Lake and continued to the next Lock. We stopped at Lock 42 to visit with family. We spent a lovely day visiting Wasago and Gravenhurst. This is the heart of cottage country. In the morning, we were greeted by a flock of geese. There were the two parents and the nine goslings.

This 47 feet lock is on an island and the staff go to work by boat. What a fun summer job!

The next morning we intended to complete the last four Locks. One of the highlight of the Trent is the beautiful and exciting Big Chute. It is the only lock like this in the world. It's a railway line that brings your boat over the road and into the water.

Once we crossed that lock one motor was overheating. We did some troubleshooting and then limped into the next marina on one engine. It wasn't easy but the dock hands met us and complimented us on a job well done. The rest of the afternoon was spent me in the laundry room and Yvon in the engine room. While I was washing our wet clothes. He was able to fix the boat so we are able to resume out journey in the morning. Well in the morning, we will complete the last lock on the Trent-Severn and our last this year. Next post will be the last one. Can't believe how fast it all went. Here is our journey so far.