Left Fenelon Falls after a cup of coffee at the local espresso bar. We decided to make a quick get away before the houseboaters revved up their engines. We went through Cameron Lake, then Balsam Lake, which was a high point of our trip, literally. This lake is the highest point on the Trent Severn Waterway, as the water starts draining the opposite direction. Instead of going upstream, we are now going downstream.
 |
| Kirkfield lift lock - Going Down! |
 |
| On the wall at Fenelon Falls (IMPROV in back) |
Not only does the direction of the current change here, but also the navigation markers change. Going upstream, the red markers are to starboard and the green markers are to port. As soon as the current changes direction and is carrying one downstream, the colors switch - green is to starboard and red is to port, unless, of course, you are heading into a marina, at which time the colors switch back again!
Another part of today’s cruise was the section of the Trent Canal known as “the ditch.” This is a 6 mile long, 6 foot deep man-made canal which is not very wide. Most of it is not wide enough for two boats to pass comfortably, especially a boat as wide as our catamaran.
 |
| "The Ditch" |
 |
| "Hole-in-the-Wall" bridge, ca. 1905 |
We had thought we would stop for the night at Lock #40, which had a nice, quiet area to tie up, but we reached it around 2:30, so we decided to push on and cross Lake Simcoe - the largest lake on the waterway - since the weather was so nice today. Tomorrow’s forecast includes chances of thunderstorms, and this lake has a nasty reputation for getting ugly when the weather turns bad. We made the 15 mile crossing without any issues and are staying at the Port of Orillia dock.
 |
| Downtown Orellia |
Orillia is one of the larger towns around here, and has a nice main street very close to the marina. We got in around 4:30 or so, I cleaned up the boat for a while, we had dinner, then walked into town to explore. We found a bakery and coffee shop which, I think, will be revisited tomorrow morning…
Notes from Elaine
What is with these bugs?!
I admit, I am not fond of insects. In Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, they were almost a deal breaker. Three of the windows (and door) of the boat have screens, and they do an adequate job (okay, some screens are not flush) of keeping larger insects out but my nemesis are the no-see-ums - they are so small they fly right through the screen. And bite. And itch. And in South Carolina, we entered the boat one evening and hundreds (yes hundreds) of mosquito-looking insects swarmed into the boat. Luckily, they didn't bite. But we spent the evening swatting them; they left green bug juice all over the white walls and ceiling. Pretty. The next morning we vacuumed and scrubbed for an hour getting everything white again.
So north of the Chesapeake, the no-see-ums disappeared, but the mosquitos were rampant. And now here in Canada, I am getting bitten by some black flies that pack a mighty sting. Then welts, followed by intense itching. I slather up daily with sticky insect repellant - I cannot imagine all that DEET is good for my skin - but I am so miserable from all the itching (and bruising from scratching) that I will do almost anything to keep them at bay.
We thought we were being so clever when we bought some very inexpensive solar light stakes - we mounted them around the boat, and they do a wonderful job collecting solar energy all day and emitting light at night. But they also attract bugs like crazy and in the morning, we wake up and the deck is speckled with thousands of dead insects lying in the morning dew. Plus we have the solar stakes just sitting in pipes, and when we are actively mooring or tying up lines, they catch and fall overboard. We have 3 out of 6 left.
I realize that insects probably play a role in the scheme of life - perhaps I just need to get a pet bat (and don't get me started on those)...
Notes from Elaine
What is with these bugs?!
I admit, I am not fond of insects. In Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, they were almost a deal breaker. Three of the windows (and door) of the boat have screens, and they do an adequate job (okay, some screens are not flush) of keeping larger insects out but my nemesis are the no-see-ums - they are so small they fly right through the screen. And bite. And itch. And in South Carolina, we entered the boat one evening and hundreds (yes hundreds) of mosquito-looking insects swarmed into the boat. Luckily, they didn't bite. But we spent the evening swatting them; they left green bug juice all over the white walls and ceiling. Pretty. The next morning we vacuumed and scrubbed for an hour getting everything white again.
So north of the Chesapeake, the no-see-ums disappeared, but the mosquitos were rampant. And now here in Canada, I am getting bitten by some black flies that pack a mighty sting. Then welts, followed by intense itching. I slather up daily with sticky insect repellant - I cannot imagine all that DEET is good for my skin - but I am so miserable from all the itching (and bruising from scratching) that I will do almost anything to keep them at bay.
We thought we were being so clever when we bought some very inexpensive solar light stakes - we mounted them around the boat, and they do a wonderful job collecting solar energy all day and emitting light at night. But they also attract bugs like crazy and in the morning, we wake up and the deck is speckled with thousands of dead insects lying in the morning dew. Plus we have the solar stakes just sitting in pipes, and when we are actively mooring or tying up lines, they catch and fall overboard. We have 3 out of 6 left.
I realize that insects probably play a role in the scheme of life - perhaps I just need to get a pet bat (and don't get me started on those)...
No comments:
Post a Comment