Port of Orillia Marina in Orillia, ON to Big Chute Marina in Coldwater, ON
Day #392: From last evening Mike beat me at cribbage (a skunk!). Mike and I were up at 5:45 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and blueberry butter tart. At 6:15 A.M. it was time for the two of us to prepare for departure. John and Mike discussed that there is a railroad swing bridge that will need to open but it doesn't start opening until 9:00 A.M. so departure delayed until 7:30 A.M. At 7:30 A.M. both "Parrot Bay" and "Alysana" head out of Port Orillia Marina but going slow as to not get to the swing bridge to early. Both boats arrive at 8:50 A.M. Mike waits until 9:05 A.M. then he blows the horn three times to alert the bridge tender that we need a lift as the tender does not answer the VHF or phone. There is no activity so at 9:10 A.M. I tell Mike to blow the horn again. The attendant comes out of the office waving his hands screaming "if you blow that horn one more time you are going to sit there all day". John radios Mike stating that he believes that he is hearing a train. Sure enough about five minutes later a freight train crosses the bridge. After the train passes the bridge attendant slowly starts to walk across the bridge releasing both safeties then walks up to the house unlocking the door then he starts the generator finally the bridge starts to swing. By this time "The Lower Place" who left one hour after "Parrot Bay" and "Alysana" catches up at 9:40 A.M. passing through the railroad bridge as the other two boats are transiting. At 10:15 A.M. all three boats are clear of TSW Lock 42 (Couchiching) (#102 lock for the trip). At 12:30 P.M. all three boats are clear of TSW Lock 43 (Swift Rapids) (#103 lock for the trip). At 1:30 P.M. "Parrot Bay" along with "Alysana" are both secure at Big Chute Marina after traveling 35 miles (4,889.4 miles for the trip). From the marina John, Gina, Mike and I can see "The Lower Place" as they entered the Big Chute doing their locking. At 2:00 P.M. John, Gina, Mike and I walked over to the Big Chute to see it up close. After watching two cycles the four of us headed back to the marina. John and Gina invited Mike and I to have happy hour on their flying bridge so that they could watch the Big Chute. Robin and Charlie joined the group for happy hour. The six of us decided to have dinner at the Big Chute Restaurant which is located at the marina. The group had a great dinner and lots of laughing. "As You Wish" John and Martha joined the group late so the six of us stayed while they ate dinner. After dinner some of the group stopped off to have ice cream. After it was time for the group to head back to their boats. On "Parrot Bay" it was time for blogging and reading. The plan for Wednesday is to do the final two locks on the Trent-Severn heading to Queen's Cove Marina in Georgian Bay.
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Beautiful morning on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
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CNR Railroad Bridge where "Parrot Bay" was told if we blew our horn one more time they would be sitting there the rest of the day.
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Robin from "The Lower Place" in TSW Lock 42.
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View for "Parrot Bay" as they exited TSW Lock 42 (Cochinching).
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A cabin that looked like a train car. (or a train car functioning as a cabin).
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Beautiful wooden canoe.
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See this is exactly what "Parrot Bay" did at the railroad bridge but we got scolded.
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A pontoon made to look like a tugboat.
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Mike and I have never seen a sign for a sunken island.
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I just love these cabins on islands. This one is on the rock.
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Here comes the rock pictures!!
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| TSW Lock 43 (Swift Rapids). |
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The view from the top of TSW Lock 43.
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"Alysana" exiting TSW Lock 43.
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Looks like fun!
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Just a small beautiful cabin on an island of rock.
"The Lower Place" heading into TSW Lock 44 (Big Chute).
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"The Lower Place" stern hung out the back of the lift.
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There they go!
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How cool is this!!!
NEBO trip Orillia, ON to Coldwater, ON
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One of the old lock rail cars.
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This is the road that the Big Chute takes boats over.
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The Big Chute railcar loading up a jet skier.
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The Big Chute over the road.
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Beautiful spillway rapids at the Big Chute.
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The railcar as it was heading down the hill.
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As the railcar gets close to the water the watercraft head into the water.
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Beautiful view on the side of the Big Chute. Gina from "Alysana" enjoying watching the Big Chute.
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The Big Chute heading back up the hill.
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Inside the control room.
Gina, John, myself and Mike at the Big Chute.
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| Tiger the dog of one of the owners of The Big Chute Marina being feed an ice cream cone by Charlie from "The Lower Place." |
