After the Big Chute, Another Leg Behind Us

Having successfully navigated the Trent-Severn Waterway, we arrived at mid day on Friday in Port Severn, Gateway to Georgian Bay, where we will spend a week ashore with our kids and grandkids. The grandparents and grandkids will be on their best behavior. Let's hope the kids are too!

Thursday, due to thunderstorms, showers, and winds 20 knots plus, we delayed our departure from Lauderdale Point until almost noon time. Though even then it was still gray, breezy and drizzly with occasional rain, the brunt of the front had passed. We arrived at Lock 43 to find boats lining the walls on both sides of the lock and a red light on. While it looked like we'd have to sit through two or three cycles of the lock, it turned out that only one boat other than us was planning to lock through. When the light turned green, we sailed right into the lock. Down we went, 47.5 feet in one shot.

Proceeding downstream toward the Big Chute Lock (more on that in a minute) on a dreary but blessedly cool afternoon, we started looking for a place where we might spend the night. A few were full but then we found a great, largely uninhabited dock in Severn Falls that we had read about and tried unsuccessfully to reserve. It turned out that the River Emporium which had previously managed reservations and collected fees

for the owner had permanently closed. Folks at the adjacent Riverhouse Restaurant told us that "You aren't really supposed to dock overnight there but no one will tell you to move."

This became our first free dock since Charleston where our "free" dock ended up costing us the incremental value of our Sabre 45.

I asked if the restaurant was open and was told, "Yes, but, we're fully booked after 6:00 pm." It sure didn't look like a place that would be that busy but it turned out it was "Wing Night". Little did we know that our dock, empty but for Katahdin, would fill up with "Wing Boats"--hint for loyal followers, they look a lot like ice cream boats. People came from everywhere in the drizzle and gray to tie up for Thursday night Riverhouse wings--another local tradition discovered.

I'll bet the wings were good; they sure smelled good. We both had had Riverhouse fish and chips for a late lunch. About 18:30, we thought maybe we would order some take out wings since the restaurant was fully booked. No dice. The kitchen was too busy even for that and we'd just have to do without. No harm done. I grilled some sausage on the boat which went great with Ceasar salad.

Friday dawned clear, cool--50 degrees cool--and still. This was the weather we thought we'd have all through Canada--not the heat and humidity of the past several weeks. And, today would be a big day for Katahdin and her crew. Today we

would ride the Big Chute Marine Railway, "lock 44" of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

The Big Chute Marine Railway carries boats on a specially designed carriage up and down inclined planes to ultimately raise of lower the vessel 60 feet. Boats float onto the

carriage and then are stabilized with slings. While part of the boat rests on the carriage, the slings prevent it from slipping. Four 200 hp electric motors pull the carriage over the hump and then lower it about 80 vertical feet down the otherside. First built in 1917 when World War I interfered with the construction of a traditional lock, the current version was installed in 2003. It carries vessels up to 100 feet long, 24 feet wide, and weighing 100 tons.

We arrived at the Chute and docked to watch operations and see how things worked. We had the opportunity to observe boats our size load, transport and unload and also saw several trips with multiple smaller boats--all in all a surprisingly clever system.

The crew were spectacular--very knowledgeable, helpful, and capable. Believe me, you did not want a college student on summer vacation in charge of this one.

Prior to loading, we closed the through hulls on our generator, air conditioning, and SeaKeeper so as not to lose their syphons and left ourselves a big note to open them afterwards. Our loading went very easily despite the fact that I worried a bit about our pods. In fact, the Crew Boss told us he prefers pods over almost any other undercarriage. He put the sling well in front of the pods and gingerly lifted the boat until he got a visual that reassured us all that we were good. Then up we went!

And, down we went. If you look at the photo below, you'll wonder how do they possibly

keep the boat level and prevent it from slipping off? Look closely. It turns out that the front wheels ride on one set of higher tracks (the outside tracks) while the rear wheels ride on the lower inside set. Except when you enter the water where the bow is intentionally a modest bit lower than the stern, this design keeps you level across the entire route. Too soon, this event would be over. I've looked forward to it since we started dreaming about the loop. Now, it's successfully behind us.

So, being honest, the rest of Friday was a bit of a let down. We did negotiate another

one of the Trent-Severn's very narrow, granite-lined channels. This one started with an acute turn substantially more than 90 degrees. You could not see around the corner so you hoped there was not another vessel coming up against you, either at the turn or, for that matter, anywhere in the channel. It was exceedingly tight.

And finally, we arrived in Port Severn--the day before the vacation we planned with the kids more than a year ago. With almost 6000 miles under the keel, I view our on time arrival as a minor miracle. When I mentioned this wondrous result to the Admiral, she said, "Of course, I planned it."

And, it's a good thing I can laugh at myself. Katahdin will stay at Starport Severn Upper Marina for the next ten days. She is docked on the outer face dock a mere 15 or 20 meters (we're in Canada) from a very busy channel with about a mile of fetch to the west. I've got all ten bumpers between the boat and the dock. The Admiral thinks that's funny overkill and has been amusing the kids with this picture. I say, "Take care of your own!"