DAY 29 SUN. JULY2, 2011
CLEAR, WARM, BREEZY L60 H85
DEP. TRENTON 09:07 Arr. FRANKFORT 12:30
D. 7.4SM./590.2
At last we begin our journey up the Trent-Severn WW. I can’t help wonder what it will be like. We’ve read about it in the guides, studied the charts, think we know what to expect (the unexpected), but there is a big difference between reading and experiencing. There’s no tipping your toes in here. The first 7 miles include locks 1 thru 6. The first thing that you realize is how small these locks are. You want me to put this big boat where???? Are you sure it will fit???? Once you get closer the perspective changes and after some moments of fear find out …… it does indeed fit. We go in first, followed by our travelling companions Maureen and Peter aboard Dudden Pilot, a 36’ MONK. We both cozy up to the wall on the starboard side, and surprise, cables (hung vertically and anchored at top and bottom). These are the prized method of “hanging on.” You simply loop a line around the cable and tie it tight to your breast cleat and you’re good to go. As the boat rises (or falls) the line slides up (or down) the cable. So, after 6 of these we call it a day, as planned, and tie up above lock #6 on the east wall. There’s a small park there with a couple of huge weeping willow trees overhanging the canal which provide shade from the hot midday sun. Lunch is next, followed by siesta time (those Mexicans have it right) then a walk to the beach. The “beach” turns out to be a small pile of sand dumped along the edge of the adjacent river, the bottom of which is a shale or some kind of flat stone that reaches depths of up to 3’ in some places (off shore about 100 yds). Did I mention the current runs about 6mph here. Just as well because the water is too cold anyway
CLEAR, WARM, BREEZY L60 H85
DEP. TRENTON 09:07 Arr. FRANKFORT 12:30
D. 7.4SM./590.2
At last we begin our journey up the Trent-Severn WW. I can’t help wonder what it will be like. We’ve read about it in the guides, studied the charts, think we know what to expect (the unexpected), but there is a big difference between reading and experiencing. There’s no tipping your toes in here. The first 7 miles include locks 1 thru 6. The first thing that you realize is how small these locks are. You want me to put this big boat where???? Are you sure it will fit???? Once you get closer the perspective changes and after some moments of fear find out …… it does indeed fit. We go in first, followed by our travelling companions Maureen and Peter aboard Dudden Pilot, a 36’ MONK. We both cozy up to the wall on the starboard side, and surprise, cables (hung vertically and anchored at top and bottom). These are the prized method of “hanging on.” You simply loop a line around the cable and tie it tight to your breast cleat and you’re good to go. As the boat rises (or falls) the line slides up (or down) the cable. So, after 6 of these we call it a day, as planned, and tie up above lock #6 on the east wall. There’s a small park there with a couple of huge weeping willow trees overhanging the canal which provide shade from the hot midday sun. Lunch is next, followed by siesta time (those Mexicans have it right) then a walk to the beach. The “beach” turns out to be a small pile of sand dumped along the edge of the adjacent river, the bottom of which is a shale or some kind of flat stone that reaches depths of up to 3’ in some places (off shore about 100 yds). Did I mention the current runs about 6mph here. Just as well because the water is too cold anyway
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| DUDDEN PILOT IN CHANNEL |
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| OPEN WATER |
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| CAREFUL, PERMANENT CHANNEL MARKER |
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| GLORY DAYS UNDER THE WEEPING WILLOW LOCK#6 |
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