8/20/10 SWIFT RAPIDS, BIG CHUTE AND MOOSE-DEER POINT MARINA

Woke up this morning wishing for an additional blanket to warm us and we both have on long sleeved shirts!

DIAMOND DEW DROPS

Brilliant morning here as we near the end of our journey through the beautiful Trent-Severn Waterway. We are savoring each moment and grasping to take in each site. Some of the homes are just too picturesque, nestled amongst the trees and perched on the pink granite.

PICTURESQUE SETTINGS

The tiny village of Severn Falls was a delight for the eyes and we adored this little “Linger Longer” cottage built right on the water.

LINGER LONGER

We passed several barges moving construction equipment on the Severn River. How would you like this for your “work truck”?

DELIVERING THE SKID STEER TO THE WORK SITE

We thought these folks at Copp Point had it right. It looks like they just had a piece of property, built a dock, added power and water and made it their summer camp-living right on the boat.

ALL YOU REALLY NEED.

WATER, POWER AND A BEAUTIFUL SETTING!

Holy S#*t! How did we get to the Big Chute so fast? This one has me a little worried so we tied up and watched a few boats go through before attempting our passage. I think these Parks Canada guys know their business and it looks like a breeze. These are photos of boats locking up (we will be locking down).

SLUNG UP AND READY TO START

JUST ABOUT TO THE TOP

STARTING TO LOWER TO WATER

LOWER YET

FLOATING AND LEAVING THE CHAMBER

We stopped to get some encouragement at the lock house and visited with a snake at their wild life exhibit. I am all set for anything now! (And Steven, don’t freak out!)

JUST GETTING CHUMMY WITH THE SNAKE

We moved our Quest to the blue staging line and awaited our instructions to advance onto the chute. OK, a little nervous again! They had us pull in behind two, side-by-side 28’ boats, slung us up and we were on our way. Up, up and over! What a thrill!

LOADED BEHIND TWO BOATS

TIGHT ON PORT SIDE

TIGHT ON STARBOARD

LOOKING DOW DURING OUR DESCENT

THE TRACK OF OUR DESCENT

Some Big Chute Facts: The Big Chute, with its 57’ vertical drop, is not technically a lock but is known as Lock 44. It is a dry lift lock that transports boats from upper Gloucester Pool to the lower Severn River. Four 200 hp electric motors provide the traction for the cables and the dimension of the cradle is about 80 ft. by 26 ft. and can carry a boat 100 ft. long with a 24 ft. beam.

Exiting the slings of Big Chute, we motored the short distance to Little Chute, passing some most gorgeous homes. The Little Chute is a short, narrow passage with an extremely swift current that connects to Gloucester Pool. The areas pink granite lined the steep shores and pine trees grew from the sparse soil around them.

VERDANT SHORELINE

DANGER!!

LITTLE CHUTE'S SWIFT CURRENT

TREES SOMEHOW GROWING FROM THE GRANITE

Our last Trent-Severn Lock came all too soon. We entered the tiny Port Severn Lock 45, made the 14’ drop then zigzagged our way through the narrow and often treacherous channel leading to Georgian Bay. Even with our great Garmin Plotter it was a constant challenge to stay in the channel, twisting and turning to avoid the numerous granite islands, rapids and submerged obstacles. Good work Dan!

LAST LOCK AT PORT SEVERN LOCK 45

THE CONSTANTLY SWITCHING CHANNEL

SHALLOW WATER AND RAPIDS

After traveling in both the inside and outside passages for several hours, we sighted the red and white marker at O'Donnell Point and pulled into 12 Mile Bay around 5:00 PM. Somehow we found Moose-Deer Point Marina and made it our home for the night. Wow! Power, water and a pump out! Living the “High Life”. Sometime during the wee hours of the morning we had a dandy of a thunder storm with a torrential downpour. We, however, were snugly docked and able to sleep through most of it.

O'DONNELL POINT MARKER

MOOSE-DEER POINT MARINA