Lock'in -n- Dock'in on the Trent Severn Waterway

Trenton Port Marina, at the mouth of the Trent River, was probably the most unique place we have stayed so far on the Loop.  Everyone staying here got the celebrity treatment.  Super nice and friendly college-aged dockhands were always there to help when a new boat came or went.  The facility was new, but all the docks and marina store were a cut above when it came to furnishings and trim.  They even had a "water mower" running around in the marina cutting the vegetation growing in the water.  The Metro grocery store was only a 3-minute walk from the marina for all our provisioning needs.

The Trent Severn Waterway begins here.  It goes 240 miles connecting Trenton to the Georgian Bay at Port Severn.  There are 44 locks, including 36 conventional locks, two sets of flight locks, hydraulic lift locks at Peterborough and Kirkfield, and a marine railway at Big Chute, which transports boats between the upper and lower sections of the Severn. The system also includes 39 swing bridges and 160 dams and control structures that manage the water levels for flood control and navigation on lakes and rivers that drain approximately 18,600 square kilometers

(7,182 sq. mi) of central Ontario's cottage country region, across four counties and three single-tier cities, an area that is home to more than a million Canadians.   Today we made it to Lock #6 in Frankford, Ontario where we tied up just above the lock, plugged in the power and turned on the a/c.  It is 88 degrees here today and bright sunny skies, so it feels a little like Alabama just with less humidity.  Tomorrow we will only go to Lock #8 and stay there for the night.
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That's the news and here are some views:

We are here

Today's route from Trenton Marina to Lock #6 on the TSW

The amazing water mower.  It has a sickle mower that's on a hydraulic arm that lowers into the water and cuts a 5 foot swath of weeds.  The cab and engine shifts front/aft to change the center of gravity which controls the depth of cut and traction on land.  It has dozer type tracks with rubber paddles that move forward and aft for steering and direction.

Climbing out and back onto land

Viridian docked at Trent Port Marina, Ontario

Lock #1

All of the locks have been recently fitted with these cables that are connected to the top and bottom of the lock walls.  All a boater has to do is loop a breast line around it, put out two ball fenders, fore and aft, and enjoy the ride.

These locks are off the grid.  The lock master opens and closes the doors manually with a hand crank set of bars.

Lock #2

Lock #3

This video shows the strong currents inside the lock from port to starboard while ascending

Lock #5

Lock #6

One of the summer hires cranking the doors open

Lockmaster's house.  No longer used to house the Lockmaster but now serves as a public washroom facility

Viridian Docked on the up-side of Lock #6 on July 4th 2018

Happy Independence Day!!!