July 18, 2016
Orillia, Ontario
With only 3 locks left before Georgian Bay, including the "Big Chute" marine railway, we are staying a few days at Orillia to tour a bit and regroup. We had an 9 1/2 hr. cruise on our last leg including crossing Lake Simcoe which is about 25 miles wide. We came through the "Narrows" on Saturday so it was crowded with weekenders, and it was very narrow, indeed. Next leg will be a week day.
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| Many "cottages" along the lake shore |
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| Lots of island "cottages", as they call houses up here |
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| Stay left |
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| Boathouse |
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| Needs TLC |
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| Lovesick |
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| Stopped at Buckhorn Marina right after this lock. |
Our generator had quit again in Peterborough as it had in New York, leaving us dependent on marina shore power to protect our ice cream. We had made it to Lakefield Marina to get help, but no one in that area could deal with it. Next repair yard was Buckhorn who put us in a covered berth. It was fun to sit on deck in a downpour and not get wet.
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| Buckhorn Marina neighborhood |
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| Alan awaiting splash after propeller straightening on Chica |
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| Sally |
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| Harbor at Buckhorn in rain |
The Buckhorn technician spent 2 1/2 hrs. on the boat. Found a bad connection in wiring right off. Reworked plug. Pump ran but wouldn't pump fuel. Decided to change out fuel pump. No change. Ultimately found he had wired pump to run backwards. Swapped terminals; ran fine.
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| Lake Simcoe, about 25 miles long and wide |
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| Bridge opening |
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At the Cow and the Sow.
Canadians put Poutine on their fries, sort of a cheezy gravy, weird but good.
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| Be careful what you ask for. I had asked for a full rack of ribs and carrots. They do not emphasize the vegetables. |
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Tied to the lock wall at Hastings. We are facing the wrong way as there was no room on the other side that had "hydro" as they call electricity.
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After tying up we started the generator to charge batteries. It died after a few minutes. Ice cream was again in jeopardy. After an hour of dismantling generator access wall, investigation showed Buckhorn's technician's plug repair had fallen apart. Ensuing repair solved problem.
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| Hate to have to walk through it! |
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| This cut was very tight. One needs to call a "Security" warning on these areas before entering as two boats cannot pass. |
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| Approaching to upside of the Kirkfield Lift Lock. Looks like you are going off in space. |
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| Closing the gate behind you |
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| The Kirkfield Lift Lock, second highest in the World. |
Looks like a long way down when you and your boat are suspended in a tank of water. Feels like you are going over the falls.
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| There goes someone for the ride up the other way. |
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This ditch is narrow with rocks visible just under the surface at the edges.
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| The end is in sight. |
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| A small arched bridge. |
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| Goose crossing |
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| Rock ledge on edge of canal |
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| Rocks marking bigger rocks |
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| Rocks walls. This was all cut out by hand 100 years ago, no machines. |
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| Opening the doors by hand. |
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| Manually operated lock doors |
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| How Canadians buy milk: in plastic bags which one drops into a pitcher to pour |
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Port of Orillia, Ontario
We found about 15 other Looper boats here. |
