Big Chute to Midland (Georgian Bay)

Day 26 (7/12/2015)

Travel Time: ~   5 hours

NM today: 17

NM total: 642

Locks today: 1 plus Big Chute Rail

Locks total: 69

We started our day just before 9:00 getting lined up to board the Big Chute rail to transport us over land to continue our trip on the Trent-Severn Canal.  The adrenaline was flowing as we drove the boat onto the rail carrier and they pulled us up in a sling to carry us along to the other side.  Clark had marked the 4 spots on the boat where the sling is supposed to rest on our boat, but I am convinced that there was no need as the Canada Parks team on the job are certainly experts at their jobs.  They placed two small boats side-by-side in front and then brought us in the rear.  We noticed while we watched the day before that they put larger boats in the back and then let their props hang over the end of the rail car if they are particularly large in length.  

Loaded on the rail car and ready to go

Magnificent view from the fly bridge of the boat

To pay for our stay the night before at the park, one of the staff on the Big Chute passed us a tin cup at the end of a pole to put our money in.  He said the cup was as old as Big chute itself and looking at the cup, I'd say I believe him.  He was a chatty one and said that he had just learned that Massachusetts fought for independence from Britain in 1776 by watching a movie about Paul Revere.  I know almost nothing about Canadian history, so I can't point any fingers at folks who don't know U.S. history, but I was pretty surprised that our independence was such a revelation to him.  He wasn't a young guy either.

After Big Chute we wove our way through the waterway to our last lock on the Trent-Severn Canal where we stopped briefly to check with the lock attendant regarding water levels and wave heights in Georgian Bay.  Wouldn't you know that we pulled up to the lock wall directly behind a Mainship 390.  I ran up to the washroom and hurried back to the boat to catch the lock opening only to find Clark giving the Captain of the other Mainship a boat tour.  Obviously we missed the lock opening and ended up waiting for the lock to cycle through to get the next opportunity.  Seems like every day I make the bed and wonder why I bother being neat about it, and then I am reminded why when Clark gives yet another tour, and I am happy that the place looks as neat as possible.

We did not stop at Port Severn as we had been filled in by the crew of Coventina that we should continue past there to Midland for more interesting sights and the cheapest fuel on Georgian Bay (GB).  As we entered Georgian Bay we were immediately as confused as the waterway guides said we would be regarding keeping the red markers on right or is that the left?  Channels come together and appear to criss-cross with reds and greens all over the place.  The channel weaves between rocks and islands at one point and following the right markers and keeping them on the right side of the boat is critical. It's funny how fast five hours on the water passes when there is so much going on - locks, big chute rail, or just finding the channel are "entertaining" enough to make the time fly.

Markers are critical on GB - the rocks are unforgiving!

We found our way to Midland on Georgian Bay over mostly calm waters.  First we visited a local marina for fueling and pump out.  We took on 189 gallons of fuel (715 liters).  Even though it was the least expensive we had seen, the bill still came out at $835 - talk about blowing your budget out of the water.  We knew ahead of time that fuel would be one of our big hitters for costs with the other being marina fees.  The good news is that the last time we filled  was two weeks ago in Brewerton, NY, so we have been all this time in Canada and this is our first visit to their fuel docks.   

Clark found it interesting that Canadian law prohibits anyone to be on the boat during fueling except the person doing the fueling and that person is marina personnel only.  In NJ we pump the fuel ourselves and both of us remain on the boat.  However, he found it even more interesting that folks are allowed to swim in the marina here - something strictly prohibited in the states (or at least in NJ).  The chance of electrical shock / electrocution is higher in fresh water than salt water, so the fact that swimming is allowed in the fresh waters of the marina here is somewhat baffling.  I didn't know about the electrocution bit, but my thinking was that it is unsafe to swim when boats are coming and going from slips.  Regardless of the reason, I have no plans to dive in by our boat while at the marina.

From the fueling stop we moved over to the town dock where we plan to stay for two nights.  It was definitely less expensive than staying at the marina where we fueled.  We have a few provisioning, fixing, preparing-type jobs to do before we head off into the more remote waters of the Georgian Bay.  We won't have lock walls on this leg of our trip, and marinas will be further apart.  Electric, water and pump out will be more scarce.  We will be anchoring out a lot, which we have not yet done on this trip, as there are many beautiful anchorages in these waters.  Blog posts will be much less frequent as WiFi will be very difficult to find.

After getting the boat settled into its new home for two nights, we walked uptown to see what the town had to offer.  The cruising guides told us to look for murals in town.  We found a large number which were done originally in 1996 - 1998 time frame.  Some are notated that they were restored around 2008.  They are all amazingly beautiful and detailed!!!  Below are some that I particularly liked, but there are many more to be seen.

Mural seen from the harbor welcoming visitors to Midland

Multi-panel mural of train at the station

Mural of woman working old-fashioned sewing machine

My personal favorite mural of woman and child entering a business establishment to do shopping

Mural of a mural - recognize the picture in the upper left corner?

While Clark is checking items off his to do list, I'm planning to relax a bit when I'm not doing laundry.  Machines are available right here at the town dock so it is silly not to take advantage.  It's two Loonies per wash and two per dry where a Loonie is a $1 coin.  I hope I have enough Loonies save up, or I'll have to go get change for the machines.

NOTICE: Blog posts will be much less frequent for the next few weeks as WiFi will be very difficult to find.