2nd Multi-Day Trip - Trent Canal - Simcoe to Fenelon Falls (long and lot's of pics)

Willhound

Lot's of pics, so if slow loading or on mobile data feel free to skip.
Admiral and I recently completed our 2nd ever multi-day trip on our 270. Across Lake Simcoe to the Trent Canal to Fenelon Falls. 7 locks and three days. One day up and two days back. Only hiccup was the electric flush valve on the head crapped out the second morning (pun intended) which left us without on-board facilities for the 2nd half of the trip. 

Leaving our home marina. Beautiful morning, warm with light wind.


Approaching Fox and Snake Islands, Lake Simcoe.

Approaching the entrance to the Trent Canal at Talbot/Gamebridge. Just over an hour from marina at planing speed of 24mph.


Yes, that's a golf course right beside the canal.


These two pics show just how narrow the canal can be, and how close to shore you have to pilot in order to get past on-coming traffic. Most of the first day was at no wake speeds for obvious reasons.

One of the 7 locks on the way. Most are manually operated with 100 year old machinery and human power. All of the Parks Canada lock staff we interacted with were just awesome. Friendly, helpful, professional and hard working. Hat's off to them all.


Our mooring spot for the night in Fenelon Falls. We were too late to get one of the many spots with power and water, but on the other hand, the mooring didn't cost us anything. The following pics show some of the "tourist" spots we hit that afternoon/evening.


On The Locks pub and restaurant. Decent place, had a great breakfast in the morning.


The Cow and Sow Pub. Great local atmosphere.



Myurphy's on the Docks Pub. Great patio and had a really good dinner.



Fenelon Falls namesake.


Beautiful Sunset over the old railway swing bridge.




We moored the second night just below the famous Kirkfield Lift Lock. Picture a giant steel tub full of water that raises and lowers side to side using water/hydraulic power.


Some of the old waste piles from constructing the canal/lock.


Kirkfield Lift Lock.


Another very tricky transit through a narrow bridge with lot's of current. Vessels over 40 feet are required to provide location updates to other traffic via VHF.


One of two swing bridges along the way. Road and rail traffic takes precedence, so sometimes have to wait a few minutes to open.

The final entrance back into Lake Simcoe. Note the warning on the sign. Sure. I'll play on Simcoe any day and feel more comfortable than some of the narrow sections of the canal!

Dream_Inn

Great pictures!  Looks like it was a really great trip!  The lift lock looks really cool!

Stodge

So when are you going to Mackinac Island and up to Lake Superior? 

Glad to see you getting out and about, or Ooot and abooot as you'd say up there.

randy56

Your looking good in that blue shirt captain Willhound.

Willhound

Thanks @randy56 (I think.. .) 
Only the finest from Bealls department store from our annual trip to Florida.

Gregg

Awesome pics looks like you had fun.

raybo3

Great pic's thanks for sharing them

reneechris14

Look like it was a lot of fun.

tk1973

Great pics Will. 

LaRea

With a home marina like that, why go anywhere for vacation.  But thanks for sharing the pix.

Willhound

The pic of the outlet from the marina makes it look pretty. The dock area is pretty beat up though and quite weedy thus time of year. Buy it suits my purpose. Certainly no yacht club.

Dude_Himself

**** that looks like a great time. I'm getting tired of hot weather, strong tides, coastal winds, and salt all the time. Wish we had some great bodies to navigate around here!

Dream_Inn

Dude_Himself said:

**** that looks like a great time. I'm getting tired of hot weather, strong tides, coastal winds, and salt all the time. Wish we had some great bodies to navigate around here!

You need to head north and hit the Chesapeake for a week or two!

Dude_Himself

@Dream_Inn used to live Potomac-adjacent. The Chesapeake by Annapolis was nothing but sea lice this time of year.

Dream_Inn

Dude_Himself said:

@Dream_Inn used to live Potomac-adjacent. The Chesapeake by Annapolis was nothing but sea lice this time of year.

You just didn't go up in the creeks or a tad more north then.  I'm on the South river, which is next river south of Annapolis.  If you go up any of the creeks or up the river, no nettles around at all.  If you really want it nice, just go up about an hour (still pond - where we just finished Rinkervous) and it is sandy bottom, fresh clean water and beautiful.  We watched a couple pairs of Eagles, lots of blue herons, & in the past even seen deer on the beach. 

But it is a bit away from your area for sure, especially the northern part of the bay.  It's funny how we all want to go further to see what else is out there.  I've thought about taking the trip thru the swamp to see what's in your neck of the woods.   Furthest south we get is VA Beach.