THE END OF THE TRENT SEVERN WATERWAY

DAY 47 JULY 20, 2011
LOCK #43, #44 THE BIG CHUTE, #45.
DEP LOCK #43 SWIFT RAPIDS 08:35, ARR. BIG CHUTE 10:07, ARR LOCK #45 12:30
D. 16SM./ 839.8

Two major events today!  One is THE BIG CHUTE, the other is THE END OF THE TRENT SEVERN WW!!!

The scenery is beautiful along the entire 16 miles we travel today, but these 2 events overshadow it all.  The big chute is really an engineering marvel which I will attempt to simplify, but the pictures speak for themselves.  Basically you pull your boat onto a specially designed RR car.  Straps rise from the floor and secure the boat so it doesn’t move.  When the boats are secure, the RR car is pulled by cables out of the water, over a hill across 600’ of land, down a hill and submerged on the other side.  The security straps are retracted, your boat floats, you start your engines and off you go.  The pictures of Glory Days in the “CHUTE” are courtesy of Jean & Brian Orr, wonderful friends and world class travelers.

The second event is a real accomplishment.  We entered the TSWW at 09:27 AM on July 3, and locked thru the final lock this morning at 09:30 on July21, 18 days, 240 statute miles and 44 locks later. What an experience!  We travelled most of the way with Maureen & Peter Mezie aboard their 36’ Monk trawler Dudden Pilot and could not have had better travelling companions.  We made some mistakes, had some really good times, saw some beautiful scenery, worked hard and learned a lot.  And, as a tribute to our love and dedication to each other, are still married.  What an accomplishment! 

GLORY DAYS IN BEING CARRIED OVER THE ROAD



GLORY DAYS IN THE BIG CHUTE

PAT & JOE IN FRONT OF "LITTLE CHUTE" THE FIRST CHUTE



MAUREEN, PETER & PAT COOLING IT IN THE HEAT WAVE AT LOCK#45

DAY 48, JULY 21, 2011

DEP LOCK 45 09:00  ARR. MIDLAND ONT  11:15

 

The pictures below were taken as we left Midway Town marina for Objibway Bay.  The first is the cruise ship we had to make room fo.  The second is a mural depicting the history of midway.