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Report on First Multi-Day Trip (Long and Many Pics)
Willhound
Member Posts: 4,187 ✭✭✭✭✭
As promised, here is my report and pics from our first multi-day trip. I had hoped to figure out a way to post a link to the shots, but not that tech savvy. So sorry if it eats data. We traveled from the bottom (south) end of Lake Simcoe, north to Orillia, across Lake Couchiching and through the Severn River/Canal Lock system to Georgian Bay visiting Beausoleil Island and the town/port of Midland and return. We are very happy to have made the trip, we made it safely and our FV270 ran flawlessly. I have to say though, that by the end of the trip I was happy it was done. Not having locked through before, running unknown areas, the huge amount of boat traffic particularly on the return trip and the incredible heat all took a toll. The temperature on all 4 days hit peaks of between 80 to 90 F. A lot of the route is very tight and you have to be on your toes at all times. By the end of the trip I was bagged. A few late nights didn't help of course as you'll see in the budget breakdown.
The Admiral and I are still on speaking terms and not divorced. 4 days on a boat together can sometimes test the best of friends but overall we had a great time.
According to Navionics we travelled about 240 statute miles. We ran the boat for 16.3 Hours. Overall cost of the trip was about $1200 CDN or $960 USD. We Averaged 22L or 5.8USG per hour burning 356.5 L or 94 USG for a cost of $386 CDN or $310 US. $160 for Slip Fees, $600 Food/Drinks and $62 for a set of charts. The food and drinks amount was a little skewed by a fancy dinner with several bottles of wine one evening. And we do enjoy a good pub after the boat is berthed for the day.
Finally, here are the pics:
Morning of departure. A beautiful, if dew laden, morning. Lake was like glass.
Simcoe really is a good size. Lot's of points where you can barely see the other side.
Coming into Orillia at the Narrows.
After crossing Lake Couchiching we come to the Severn river and a few bridges including this railway swing bridge. On approach you sound 3 horns and the operator swings it open, assuming no train is coming. The others are a highway bridge and a fixed rail bridge.
Our first lock, Lock42/Couchiching. We ended up behind a tour boat that runs out of Orillia, the Island Princess.
Finally past the tour boat and crossing Sparrow Lake.
After Sparrow Lake, a narrow, blasted canal called MacDonald's Cut
The second lock at Swift Rapids. Highest regular lock of the system at 47 feet.
Severn Falls. A great little restaurant and the docks are transient. Owned by the township and operated by the Emporium, a combination country store, liquor outlet.
Another rail bridge, and a very narrow channel. You really have to pay attention to the bouys on this run.
The upstream approach to the cradle for the Big Chute Marine Railway. The cradle comes down into the water, you drive in, they hoist your boat onto slings that keep it in place and away you go!
Just after this once in a lifetime experience, I hear a "Securite" call on the radio warning about a 65 foot vessel entering an area called "Little Chute". Hmm..that's nice I thought. Of course, not knowing exactly where that is....coming into this VERY narrow channel, I round a corner and come face to face with this huge tour boat lumbering towards us. The channel is too narrow to turn around, so I slap into reverse and do a very fancy backwards retreat until I get to a wider spot and can turn and run. The tour boat couldn't slow down or else he drifts into the rocks on either side. That one had me shaky for a while. I have this spot very well marked on the GPS and charts now. The pic below is taken on the way back so I'd be going the same direction the tour boat was. And as fate would have it, we met it again but outside the channel this time.
The Admiral and I are still on speaking terms and not divorced. 4 days on a boat together can sometimes test the best of friends but overall we had a great time.
According to Navionics we travelled about 240 statute miles. We ran the boat for 16.3 Hours. Overall cost of the trip was about $1200 CDN or $960 USD. We Averaged 22L or 5.8USG per hour burning 356.5 L or 94 USG for a cost of $386 CDN or $310 US. $160 for Slip Fees, $600 Food/Drinks and $62 for a set of charts. The food and drinks amount was a little skewed by a fancy dinner with several bottles of wine one evening. And we do enjoy a good pub after the boat is berthed for the day.
Finally, here are the pics:
Morning of departure. A beautiful, if dew laden, morning. Lake was like glass.
Simcoe really is a good size. Lot's of points where you can barely see the other side.
Coming into Orillia at the Narrows.
After crossing Lake Couchiching we come to the Severn river and a few bridges including this railway swing bridge. On approach you sound 3 horns and the operator swings it open, assuming no train is coming. The others are a highway bridge and a fixed rail bridge.
Our first lock, Lock42/Couchiching. We ended up behind a tour boat that runs out of Orillia, the Island Princess.
Finally past the tour boat and crossing Sparrow Lake.
After Sparrow Lake, a narrow, blasted canal called MacDonald's Cut
The second lock at Swift Rapids. Highest regular lock of the system at 47 feet.
Severn Falls. A great little restaurant and the docks are transient. Owned by the township and operated by the Emporium, a combination country store, liquor outlet.
Another rail bridge, and a very narrow channel. You really have to pay attention to the bouys on this run.
The upstream approach to the cradle for the Big Chute Marine Railway. The cradle comes down into the water, you drive in, they hoist your boat onto slings that keep it in place and away you go!
Just after this once in a lifetime experience, I hear a "Securite" call on the radio warning about a 65 foot vessel entering an area called "Little Chute". Hmm..that's nice I thought. Of course, not knowing exactly where that is....coming into this VERY narrow channel, I round a corner and come face to face with this huge tour boat lumbering towards us. The channel is too narrow to turn around, so I slap into reverse and do a very fancy backwards retreat until I get to a wider spot and can turn and run. The tour boat couldn't slow down or else he drifts into the rocks on either side. That one had me shaky for a while. I have this spot very well marked on the GPS and charts now. The pic below is taken on the way back so I'd be going the same direction the tour boat was. And as fate would have it, we met it again but outside the channel this time.
"Knot Quite Shore" - 2000 FV270 (Sold)
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
Comments
The next morning after getting through the last lock we passed through another narrow channel called the Potato Island Pass. Over in the distance is Waubeshene Bay.
We headed over to Beausoleil Island and spent most of the afternoon swimming, BBQing and chatting with fellow boaters before heading into the town/Port of Midland for the evening. There is a great pub and eatery right in the parking lot of the town harbour.
The bright lights in the background are the pub.
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
When we got docked there wasn't enough beer in all the watering holes to kill the thirst.
First few pics are leaving Midland with the port elevators, a commercial vessel and others.
When we headed up to the downtown for breakfast in Midland, we spotted this random wheelchair in the middle of the sidewalk,,,no one around. When we came back an hour later, it was still there...things that make you go Hmmmm??!!
Approaching Lock 45, the first lock back in the morning.
Approaching Big Chute Marine Railway from the upper side and other trip over the "hump"
The "Waubic" a famous place to stop for a meal and also has some overnight docking facilities.
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
Back through MacDonald's Cut and then into the last lock of the day, Lock 42 at Couchiching. It was getting close to cut off time for the last lock through so they carefully arranged us all so that all 13 craft that were waiting could get in.
Crossing Lake Couchiching on the lee side of Big Chief Island there is a spot that is a weekend party hang out. Over 200 boats rafted. The locals call it "Pee Bay".
Finally, into the Port of Orillia for our last night.
There's more pics, but most of them after this were interior shots of bars and pubs, so I'll leave it to your imagination. After the long third day, our last run down Lake Simcoe was about 2 hours to home port. Temps that day hit 100F so by the time we got the boat unpacked and canvas all back up we were drenched in sweat.
Overall a very worthwhile trip. You have to have a lot of patience and depending on the day there is a huge amount of traffic in the wake control zones. It's like a boat parade. I'm not in a hurry to do it again, but when I do I'll do it all mid-week and somehow try and break it up more, maybe take a few more days and stop in some of the places we skipped like Severn Falls.
Hope you enjoy the pics, sorry if it'll be a real pain if you access the forum on mobile like I often do.
Cheers!
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"