Lock 40 on the Trent Severn

On Thursday we motored from Fenelon Falls through six locks.  We traveled with Dan and Angie on Seahorse.  They have the same type of boat we do, so that’s fun.  There were five boats in our locks:  Seahorse, Aunt Aggie, and three Canadian boats.  We chatted in the locks and exchanged stories. We tied up in the afternoon on the lower side of lock 40. 

Dan and Angie behind us in a lock on Seahorse, a 35' Mainship Trawler.

There were a few exciting moments in the trip.  Our second lock was the Kirkfield Lift Lock.  Although this lock is only 49 feet, and it is a pan lock similar to the Peterborough Lock, the pan we entered was the higher one.  So we looked out over the world and had an unobstructed view of our five story descent. Scary for we folks who don’t like heights.  Kirkfield was our highest point on the Trent Severn Waterway.  From now on we lock down.  

We are at the top of Kirkland Lift Lock, looking out over the waterway.

The good news about locking down is that the Parks Canada folks help us with our lines.  We did not get help when we came down on the Erie Canal, and it was hard to wrap lines around the cables.  Also going down is smoother and faster than ascending.  

This is the real Trent Canal.  

Good news/bad news about the clear water:  We could see a rock shelf extending for 2 - 3 feet 

on the side of the channel.

We went through two canal sections today.  They were narrow and shallow.  Shades of New Jersey, but without the wind.  The canal was a conifer tunnel lined with rock.  We are now on the Canadian shield.  If we hit bottom, we will hurt a prop.  We stayed in the center and did ok. 

Hole in the Wall Bridge

We spent a beautiful night on the wall between Locks 40 and 41.  Only Seahorse and Aunt Aggie were there.  When the lock closes at 5:30, you know no one else can come through, so it is safe and quiet.  

The moon is rising.