White Swans and the Lock Nest Monster

It’s 18 river miles from Lock-6 to Lock-8 on the Trent Severn Waterway. The temperature was 30 degrees cooler this morning, and the wind was a brisk 15-18 mph from the north.

We departed Lock-6 around 0830 in time to get the 0900 opening of Lock-7. Beautiful farms and lily pad covered shallows lined both sides of the TSW. There were a few houses, some girls swimming from a platform moored out in the water (too cold for me) and some boats tied to makeshift docks in several places.  White swans flew across our bow and landed on the water on the left bank.  Seeing swans in the wild is a first for us!

We arrived at Lock-8 and were greeted by the young, friendly employees who helped us tie-up on the left bank at the top of the dam. The grass had just been mowed, and there was plenty of shade to cover the boat. This place is in the middle of nowhere and is perfect for an overnight stop. The only noise is the wind blowing through the open hatch and thick trees that line the bank.

A snake was spotted in the lock door sunning on some grass piled up in the corner. We called it the “Lock Nest Monster.”


After warming up some leftover pizza, we relaxed and enjoyed our solitary oasis.

That's the news and here's some views:

We are here

Today's 18 mile cruise from Lock-6 to Lock-8 on the TSW

Farewell Lock-6, a great place to stay on the TSW

The geese are leaving too

Entering Lock-7

Beautiful, chilly day on the TSW

River toys

Swans, first ones we have seen so far

Entering Lock-8 at Pearcy Reach

Tied to the wall above Lock-8

The Lockmaster keeps this facility on ship shape

We had the whole park to ourselves

I C U

U C Me

We C thee - Monster in its Nest at the Lock

A view from the Salon

Another day comes to an end on the TSW

Taking Some Heat

It has been unusually hot here in Canada for the last few days.  It has been hot pretty much everywhere because it's summer, but at the 44th parallel it is something to talk about.  We decided to stay an extra day here at Lock #6 because they have power pedestals and we can run our air conditioner onboard Viridian. And run it we did.  The temp got to 91 degrees and the wind quit blowing, making it feel just like Alabama in July.  However, there is something different about the sun at this latitude; it seems hotter, has more of a burning feeling.  Anyway, we stayed in the shade of the willows or inside Viridian during the hottest part of the long day.

Several boats stopped here yesterday to escape the heat.  Traveling on the Trent Severn is a slow-go process since the locks are so close together, so you have to work outside the boat while locking, and while underway there is little wind to cool you off.  The walls were at full capacity this morning with the American boats pointed north and Canadian boaters pointing south.

We will leave this morning in the second flight of boats heading north.  There is only enough room in the locks for the two 46 foot cruisers; so we will stage-in 40 minutes behind.  Our destination will be Lock #8.  Not much there, no power but it is quiet, and most people go on past.  Today the high will be in the mid 70s like it should be, so no need for the a/c today or tonight.

That's the news and here some views:

Tied just above Lock #6 gate

How these locks work

Lots of vegetation to avoid when using the bow thruster 

Cool pic on a hot day

Company at the lock

Lending a hand cracking the hatch

Heading into town

Wing night special at Dimitri's Pizza

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!!!

Making Our Way West to the Trent Severn Water Way, Canada

It was a good day and a good time participating in the Canada Day celebration in Kingston Ontario.  July 1 here is like July 4 in the States: good food, good times and a spectacular fireworks display to cap off the celebration.  We participated in a road race around the courthouse, and the heat and humidity made us feel just like we were at home in Alabama.


Today's 73-mile cruise from Kingston to Trenton took us west along the Trent River past Nicholsons Point and Adolphustown to Deseronto and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory to Belleville and into Trenton.  Trenton marks the beginning of the Trent Severn Waterway from Lake Ontario, overland to the Georgian Bay north of Lake Huron.  The morning started off calm and smooth.  The crystal clear water was cold and kept us cool with a nice breeze blowing from the west.  This breeze later picked up to a 15-18 mph wind with squall warning in our area.  We managed to avoid the heavy weather, but the wind was with us all the way in to Trenton but it was directly on our bow.  We docked at Trent Port Marina, and of the 102 marinas we have visited so far; this one has to be the best one yet.

That's the news and here's some views:

We are here

Today's route from Kingston Ontario to Trenton Ontario

Last Day in Kingston Ontario

Cooking Demonstration in the Square

Chef making Indian spiced grilled chicken with pickled radish and beets and naan

End Product

Funny Money

Bagpipes in Kingston on Canada Day 2018

Killin Time Waiting on a Woman

Ready to Run

Least but not Last

It's just a restaurant, but a way of life?

Laundry Day

All flying Canadian flags on Canada Day

Waiting for the big fireworks display to start

Don't blink

 Leaving Kingston for Trenton Ontario

Traffic in the Channel

Heading west in the channel from Kingston, Ontario

Squall Warning for our area today

We missed the weather all day

Trent Port Marina

Distant storms rumbling eastward