7/17-7/21/2012

Tuesday - Jerry was up about 4:30.  I heard him on the sun deck about 5:30.  I got up grumpy.

We took off about 7:15.  Clear Lake is wide open then narrows into this incredible area similar to Thousand Islands.  Cottages here and there.  The area is just beautiful.







Winds picked up making locking a challenge. First lock not too bad but lock 30 is only a 4 ft lift so we are out in the open and have a cross wind. Got some help from the lock tenders.

Have to stay in the channel, even though there's water everywhere, rocks are just below the surface in a large part of this section.

See the darker place just outside the marker.  Those are huge boulders just below the surface.  Actually almost in the channel.  Last year at the Looper Rendezvous, some guy said he went through 5 props in Canada.  Hard to say how he did that other than not paying attention.
 
This time of year is busy at the lock walls so hope we can find a place to tie up. 

Remember the message in a bottle?  When I realized we weren't going to lock 33, I emailed Duncan, the guy that asked us to deliver it. He said not to worry about it.  Well, at lock 32, we asked the lock master if there was someway to get it to lock 33.  He said he usually works lock 33 so will get it there for us.  We got it close. 

Coming into Fenelon Falls we passed a boat docked at someones home, Beta Omega.

 Hard to see, the Beta Omega is on the right by shore.  Anyway, he radioed us to raft to his boat if we can't find a place on the wall. 










There was a fairly long "go fast" boat on the wall with space in front of it.  Jerry calls to this guy on the wall and asked how much room is in front of that boat, he says about 55 ft.  So with this guys help, I drive the boat into place. 

We probably had a little bit more room than that but not much.  I'm getting pretty good at pulling the boat into tight spots.  I had a good teacher!

There was a houseboat and some motorboats already tied up.  This is the lower lock wall.  Jerry walked up top and found several looper boats tied up with power.  Such a deal.  Unfortunately, no space.  Later in the afternoon, another houseboat came in with a bunch of young guys.  They were drinking and playing loud music.  Not the most enjoyable situation but we stuck it out.


It was an annoying evening having to listen to the loud voices and obnoxious music. F.. this and  F.. that.  Kids on 3 boats right around them.  Not a good deal.  One of the boys asked us if they should move to the lake while they still had one sober girl who could drive.  I said yes they should go.  But they didn't.  We turned the gen and AC on to drown out the noise.  By the time we went to bed and turned off everything, they had sort of quieted down.  Only time we had to deal with anything like this so far on the trip.  So I guess we are really lucky.


 Wednesday - Decided to be first in the lock this morning.

You have to look close to see the Great Blue Heron on the rocks as we're moving into the lock.  He really blends into the rocks.
The Trent Severn Waterway is a popular place for rental houseboats.  They can be difficult to handle in the locks so we waited until these two were settled before we came in.
 
Once up we found an opening along the wall with power so grabbed it.  Plugged in and got water.

 Across the channel from us is a park.  It looks like they are doing TaiChi


Needed a day to clean.  Jerry washed down the outside, I started on the inside.

The Red Hats were in town.  They were prominent on this tour boat that passed us going into the lock.


Midday, we found wifi at the Dockside restaurant.  Just picked up email, they weren't advertising wifi so just had a Pepsi and left.  Looking everywhere we go for a wifi extender, would really be helpful in Canada.  When we're back in the states shouldn't need it with our own mifi but sure could use it now.

Back to the boat I moved on to cleaning the isinglass on the sundeck.  It was gross.  Jerry helped wiping down after I washed.  Did the corners on the bridge but didn't unroll the glass, it really needs to be done though.  Jerry was done helping by now.

Did dinner in then walked over to visit Rickshaw, loopers.  Another looper on True Texas looping in sections, in a small boat, walked over with us.  He is quite a talker so monopolized most of the conversation.  We hope to meet up with Rickshaw again soon.  Nice folks.

Sunset on the lock wall in Fenelon Falls

Got back to boat and baked cookies.  Talked to Elizabeth and Jeremy, then off to bed.


Thursday - Up about 6:15.  Jerry is anxious to go.  Fill the water tank have a little breakfast then start to get ready to go.  The guy from True Texas came by to chat.


 
Fenelon Falls was sprucing up everything around the waterfront.  They had been given funds to hold one of the many Queen's Jubilee celebrations around Ontario Canada.  It was funny, some guy was sweeping off the big rocks along side the dock.
 
 
 Looking at Fenelon Falls lock from the top towards the lower wall.
An early morning shot of the lock with no activity.  Looks like a giant swimming pool.
 
We pushed off about 7. Only 3.5 miles to the next lock. Jerry realized we would get to the lock about an hour before it opens. Dumb ass, his words.  Oh well, it's quiet and peaceful.  We heard loons as we are coming to the blue line on the wall by the lock. 
 
Another float plane
 
We experienced several of these very narrow channels.  The sign advises boaters to announce on the radio that they are entering this section to make boaters on the other end aware. 
 
Don't know if you can see this, but look for Trent Canal in the middle of the chart.  There is blue on the far right and blue on the far left.  The narrow canal is what you see in the pictures above and below.  It's only about 6-7 ft deep and very narrow.


The Kirkfield lock is a lift lock similar to the Peterborough lock.  We didn't realize there were 2 on the Trent.  This one is never mentioned. 

Kind of spooky driving into this one.  It felt like we were going to drive right off the edge. 

Jerry on the bow of the boat.

Met up with Rickshaw at one of the 7 locks today.  We traveled together to an anchorage at Chiefs Island on Lake Simcoe.  After some guy with huge speakers on his boat left it was a quiet, peaceful evening.  And what a fabulous sunset!  
 Monday - Off today about 8am.  A railroad bridge that is usually open was closed.  Rickshaw, Wind Song and another boat had to wait.  A train went by but the bridge didn't open.  About 15 minutes later, a guy came out and yelled to the first boat that there was another train coming.  We ended up waiting about an hour. 
 
Waiting for the bridge
 
Through another narrow section with docks and cottages on both sides. This opened up to Sparrow Lake. Wind was blowing and it is cool. Feels good. Much better than heat.
 


The water was as blue as it looks here and so clear.

Check out the rocks.  Don't have to worry much about mowing any grass.

We were all packed in this lock.  I think there were 2-3 40-45ft boats plus a couple of smaller boats.  It was tight.
 
We are almost finished with the Trent Severn Waterway.  Two more locks.  The Big Chute is next.  Vessels are floated into the cradle, which is about 80 ft by 26 ft.  Four 200 horsepower electric motors provide traction by cable.  It can transport up to a combined total of 91 tons.  The front wheels are on a different track than the back wheels, with the front of the carriage on the upper tracks.  The carriage remains level throughout the ride.  Boats rest on the bottom of the carriage, and webbing slings are provided to support boats safely.  The original railway opened in 1917. 
  
Looking at updating the railway with a lock in 1960, a survey was completed.  Before construction began the sea lamprey (a parasitic, eel-like fish), which had been devastating the fishing industry in the Great Lakes, was found in Gloucester Pool—at the bottom of the railway—and plans were put on hold. Several impractical ideas were suggested, but no practical solution could be found. By the end of the 1960s the old marine railway could not keep up with the amount of boating traffic in the area. Long lines formed at either end of the railway, with waits often being overnight. Research was done to find a way to prevent the migration of the sea lamprey into Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, while still effectively increasing the flow of traffic. A biologist sat at the bottom of the railway for days, checking the bottom of boats that locked through, and finally saw a lamprey attached to the bottom of a boat. The lamprey fell off after less than 6 meters, so the railway was determined to be effective at preventing the sea lamprey's migration. In 1976 it was finally decided that a new, enlarged railway would be built. The current carriage was opened to the public in 1978, and can carry a boat up to 100 feet (30 m) long and 24 feet (7.3 m) beam.[1] It cost $3 million to build
 
We hooked up with Rickshaw and when we arrived at Big Chute decided to dock before transiting.  Wanted to see what we were in for. 
 

The back of that boat is hanging off the back. 

 The railway crosses a street so gates come down as it crosses.





 We moved to the blue line after our short walk around.  Rickshaw was first.  The railway isn't big enough for both of us so they take off.  The lock master got a couple of smaller boats in first.  They take off and are gone in a few minutes down the other side.  Boats on the downside are picked up and brought up.

We read to pull all the fenders in and have lines available.  We're up.  They take a smaller boat and a SeaDoo ahead of us.  Then we follow.  We drive in and they tighten the slings on the front and middle of Wind Song.  Next thing you know we are out of the water. 

 You can sort of see the SeaDoos and a small boat riding along with us.
Jerry and me at the top of the Big Chute

We just crossed the street here.  One of the lock tenders told Jerry he had to sit down while out on the deck.

Slow and steady.  The scene is beautiful from up top.  It's really freaky though, the boat bounces on the rail platform. 
 



 We get to the bottom, probably only takes 10-12 minutes all total.  The platform goes into the water and the smaller boat and Sea Doos float off.  They take off then we are told to start our engines and we are off.  What a ride!

I'm looking back to make sure we clear everything. 
This gorgeous wooden boat was cruising around showing off.  And rightly so.
 
Rickshaw was meeting some friends and staying at a marina tonight.  We plan to stay at lock 45 on the wall for the night if we can find a spot.  We pass through Little Chute another very narrow section that opens up to a lake.
 
Lucky for us we find a spot at the top of the lock.  Say Goodbye and Attitude Adjustment are already there.  We decide to stay a couple of nights.  No hurry to go on and it's kind of a neat place.
 
Lock 45

Saturday - Walked into town.  Not much around. Found a general store, then another, right next to it.  A couple of marinas, a restaurant and we were done.  Ad breakfast at a resort marina, pretty hoity toity.  My pancakes weren't that good.
 
As we're eating we see boats lining up to go through the lock about 30 minutes before it even opens.  All day, nonstop boats waiting for the lock.  The lock master says his day is playing Tetris with boats getting as many into the lock at one time as possible.  He is good. It's amazing how he makes it work.
 
Later in the afternoon, we packed up laundry and walked to the laundromat about a mile away.  It was hot so when we got back we jumped in the water for a quick dip.  Felt really good.
 
Had dinner out at Dam Grill just across from the lock.  We ate pickerel (walleye).  Really good.
 
Invited dock neighbors Sharon and Brian over for a drink.  They had friends coming by so didn't stay long.  They did loan us their extra charts for the first part of Georgian Bay and showed us some great places to anchor.
 




 
 


8/17-8/21/2012

Friday - just another day on the water.  We are hangin out at Charlevoix waiting for weather to be reasonable on Lake Michigan.  Jerry went to the bakery this morning.  I was reading and didn't want to get dressed.  He came back and started working on the transferring diesel fuel from one tank to the other.  Basically wanted to see how much we had. 

So he starts a low pressure pump to transfer the fuel.  Thinking he has less than the 200 gallon tank he is moving it to, it shouldn't be a problem.  Someone bangs on the side of the boat saying we're pumping fuel overboard.  Jerry immediately turns off the pump stopping the flow.  Unfortunately, some did spill into the water.  Maybe 3-4 gallons, enough to see on the top of the water.  Next thing we know the Coast Guard has been called as well as the Charlevoix Fire Department.  It was quite a circus.  The Coast Guard took a report, the Fire Dept put out booms around the marina to prevent the fuel from moving into Round Lake.  Jerry had something he has used in the bilge to clean up oil and fuel so dropped them into the water as well around our boat.  The Fire Dept also sprayed dispersant to dissipate the fuel.  To add to the circus, Charlevoix stores were having sidewalk sales just up the hill from the marina so all the hoopla brought lots of  lookie loos.  All in all, it was pretty embarrassing. 

Our buddies, on the Coast Guard boat

The Coast Guard guys were really great.  I think they didn't believe this was that big a deal.  However, they had been called therefore, they had to do their job.  Understandable.  About 2 hours later, things calmed down, everyone left and they had moved the "boom of shame" so it was just around our boat.  About 5pm we had a visit from a couple of more Coast Guard guys.  They came by to see the engine room and the notorious fuel pump.  One told us we would receive a Warning in the mail with no fines.  But we could protest and usually all that came of that is something more than a warning.  We won't be protesting anything!  Also, the assistant harbor master came by.  We apologized for the mishap.  He said, these things happen.

A couple from Last Resort invited us over for drinks that evening.  We were so ready to talk about something other than fuel spills.  Don and Freya are Canadian and wonderful interesting people.  We certainly enjoyed our time with them.  They started the loop in Florida.

Saturday - today had to be a better day than yesterday.  We did breakfast out.  Came back and picked up some of the absorbent pads that were in the water next to the boat.  Soon after, the harbor master and his assistant came by to pick up the boom around the boat.   They were both really great about the whole thing. 

That afternoon we went to the movies to see "The Campaign" with Will Ferrell.  We laughed and laughed and ate popcorn.  Rode bikes in the afternoon, about 10 miles. 

Freya came by and invited us over again along with Tara and Joe from Seabatical.  Had another good evening. 

Sunday - weather looked good so we took off about 7:30.  Thought we would stop at Leland but with the weather being what it was, great, we decided to take advantage.  Seventy four miles later, we were in Frankfort, MI. 
The bridge at Charlevoix


 Passed Sleeping Bear Dunes. Jerry sent a text to Trudy and Kendell. They had all done a vacation years ago and stopped here

We arrived at Frankfort around 4pm. 
The seawall at Frankfort.

As we were getting settled, Edie from Seaquel stopped by and invited us to docktails. 

There were probably 5-6 other looper boats at the marina.  I needed some cream cheese for our appetizers so we took off for the store only we didn't know where it was.  We ended up riding way out of the way, but that was OK, since we needed the exercise. 
Saw these swans in the harbor.  Swans are such beautiful birds.












Met with Last Resort, Queen Kathleen, Northern Spirit, Quest and  Seaquel.  Had a great time!  Forgot to take pictures. 

Monday - weather is holding so want to cross the lake to Wisconsin.  Left the dock about 7:30 again.  Water was calm with a slight breeze.  It's only 52F outside so both of us have on jackets. 

Water is deep.  I didn't realize how deep Lake Michigan is.  At one point, we registered over 1000 ft depths.    The lake has a surface area of 22,300 square miles, making it the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. and the 5th largest lake in the world.


Our trip from Frankfort, MI to Manitowoc, WI across Lake Michigan was 80 miles and took us over 10 hours averaging 7.7 mph.  We saw 3-4 freighters. 

One, Algosteel, was on a course that passed within a mile of us.  Jerry contacted the ship to let him know we saw him and as long as we both stayed on our current path there would be no issue.  He said he had been watching us as well, good to know.


Made it into Manitowoc.  We had been here looking at boats a few years back.  Nice little town.

The lighthouse at the sea wall coming into Manitowoc.

I'm driving into the harbor and the slip.












 A couple came by, Anita and Don, almost loopers.  They plan to leave from here September 10th.  We talked for about 45 minutes.  Anita said she has been watching for other loopers but none come to this side of the lake.  We are the first loopers she has met. 

Dinner in tonight.


Tuesday - Anita told us about a good place for breakfast so we walked to 8th and York, the name of the restaurant.  It's located at 8th and York also.  Good food.  It was early so none of the shops were open yet.  Back to boat to figure out what to do today. 

There is a great bike trail from here to Two Rivers.  I need a new bike seat.  The one we bought in St. Ignace was just not working for me.  Found a great bike shop in town so took the bikes there on our way to do the trail.  Man what a difference it makes having a comfortable seat.

 The SS Badger is the is a coal-fired passenger and vehicle ferry that has been in Lake Michigan service from 1953 until present.  It shuttles between Ludington, MI and Manitowoc, WI.  The SS Badger is the last coal passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes.

One of the lovely gardens along the bike trail.

 And art.
Those crazy kids standing in Lake Michigan cooling off.

This huge propeller is in front of the Manitowoc Yacht Club.












I did laundry this afternoon.  Kismet and CBay came in this afternoon.