Beginning the Trent-Severn

Gateway to the Trent-Severn

July 15, 2015

Wednesday morning dawns with 15-20 kt winds, but it is clear with no chance of rain.  I am a bit skeptical, but after breakfast, we leave the dock around 6:00 am.  Today we are heading towards Trenton which is the gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway.  We are taking the northern route which is more protected and shorter in distance.  Although it is a bit windy, the ride is very comfortable.  By noontime the wind dies down.  We pass through Adolphus Reach.  In Picton, we see the docks for the ferries, but no ferry boat is in sight.  Although we have been told that Bath is a great place to stop, we continue onward because we are very anxious to start the Trent-Severn.  We are traveling via the Bay of Quinte which is a 60 mile long Z-shaped bay.  We finally see the bridge with its sign proclaiming "Gateway to the Trent-Severn Waterway" and we are excited to begin this chapter of our cruise.  We will have to get back into our locking mode since this waterway has 45 locks.  Trenton is our first lock. We will be rising in the locks again.  We pass through locks 1-6 (Trenton, Sydney, Glen Miller, Batawa, Trent and Frankford).  The protocol is if you are not at a lock by 5:30, you will not be allowed through that lock until the morning.  The locks open at 9:00 and close at 6:00.  We arrive at lock 6, Frankford, at 5:45.  Randy, the lock master at this lock allows us to lock through.  He helps us dock, gets our electricity receipts for us, and even gives us a menu for a pizza restaurant that will deliver to the dock.  It is after 6:30 before he leaves for the day.  Randy definitely has gone above and beyond what is required of him and we are very appreciative. I have been exhausted all day and "take out" sounds good.  After a dinner of greek salad and pizza, we head to bed.  Today we passed through 6 locks and rose 117 vertical feet.

Ferry Dock in Picton

Trenton Lock #1

"Rosebud" shared the wall with us at Frankford Lock #6

July 16, 2015

We leave the wall by 8:00 so we can get to the Glen Ross Lock #7 for the 9:00 opening.  My main goal for today is to stop at a lock where I can find a laundromat.  It's been over two weeks since I have had an opportunity to do laundry.  Our guide book tells us that there is a laundromat in Hastings at Lock 18, but we are not sure we can get there before 5:30.  As we pass through the locks, the lock tenders are always friendly, talkative and full of suggestions.  When we are in Percy Reach Lock #8, the lock keeper suggests that we stop in Campbellford.  He assures me there is a laundromat as well as a supermarket. After leaving the lock, I check our Waterway Guide and agree that Campbellford is a good stop for us. We do not go very far today.  We pass through 6 locks for a total vertical rise of 118 ft.  The most interesting lock is Ranney Falls.  It is a flight of two, locks 11 & 12.  It is a very impressive flight lock.  This flight set is hydraulic rather than manual.  There is also a swing bridge after lock 12 that must be opened before we leave the lock.

Heading to #7  Glenn Ross Lock

Lock #7

Lots of campgrounds along the way

Inside Locks 11 & 12 Ranney Falls Flight

The town of Campbellford is only about a mile ahead.  We decide to take the west wall because the Visitor's Center is located there and the WiFi signal is strongest on this wall. Dave heads to the visitor's center and I get ready for the laundromat.  When Dave returns, he says the laundromat is nearby, but it will be difficult to walk with two bags of laundry and our laundry supplies. We decide to call a taxi.  Before that happens, I begin to chat with a woman who is passing by the boat.   She lives near lock 17 and she and her husband are preparing to begin a 2 month cruise.  She asks about our trip and what our plans are for the day.  I tell her we are about to call a taxi to bring us to do our laundry.  Her name is Anna and she insists on driving us to the laundromat.  We put the clothes into wash and Anna drives us to the World's Finest Chocolate Factory and the Empire Cheese and Butter Coop.  Both are popular attractions in Campbellford.  Then it's back to the laundromat to switch the clothes to the dryer.  Dave stays with the laundry while Anna and I go to the grocery store.  We return to the laundromat.  Dave is folding the clothes.  I help him finish up and then we head to the "No Frills" grocery store to buy water, because Anna wouldn't let me buy it at the other store because it was too expensive.  She is incredible.  It's back to the boat where she helps us unload our things.   Anna comes in to see "At Last".  She has been so kind and generous.  She will not let me pay for gas or anything.  Anna simply says "It's what boaters do."  It  has been a delight to meet her.  By the time we return to the boat, the wall has begun to fill up.  We chat with some of the newcomers.  After dinner, I work on the blog while Dave heads to bed.  Tomorrow we will travel as far as possible before 5:30 since today, we only traveled about 10 miles, but it took us 6 hours.  Oh, the joys of locking!!!!!

I am posting tonight, but am not sure when I will find another WiFi.  So stay tuned…..I promise to post again when I can.