We had a very quiet night in the secluded cove
below Big Chute. We took it slow this morning as it was gray, overcast and a little cool. Finally about 9:00 we decided to get underway. I was wondering if we would have to go across and tie on the blue line to get the carriage down and the gentleman behind us suggested that although the Trent locks don’t us VHF I could phone them. 
We cast of and I was about to reach for a guide book to find the phone number when we see t
he car coming down the hill with two thirty foot cruisers.We circled to the side while they exited then we headed into the car. The deckhand/photographer final got the dock lines secure and the camera out to record our entry into the car and its slings. The very skilled Parks Canada staff carefully guided us to where we
needed to be, grabbed the boat with the hydraulically operated slings and we were settled in. They do not actually lift the boat with the slings; they set the boats keel on the car floor and only support the boat in the slings. Since our props are lower than the keel they set us on the back end of the car with the drive shafts off the end of the carriage.Once we were settled the car heads up the hill and in a matter of minutes it is cresting the top. Note in the picture near the top that the two tracks that have been at very different levels
now merge to the same level, the bed of the car has been level at all times. Finally the car runs into the water on the other side, the boat again floats, they lower the slings and we motor out t
o continue our trip while the car is ready to load two more boats that were waiting to go the othe
r way. A most interesting experience, one of the highlights of the trip.
We head off into lots more beautiful country of
narrow streams and small lakes. The photographer, being an artist is most interest in the 
natural scenery and did not get pictures of some of the more build up areas. We went through a couple of river stretches where the water was less than 200 feet wide and there were houses on 50 and 75 foot lots with docks and boats on both
shores. Definitely a no wake area since we were less than 100 feet from the docks on both sides at the same time with opposing traffic.Traffic today was much heavier than traffic we have been seeing. There was a steady parade of boats headed the other way, both larger cruisers and smaller local cruisers. They would come in groups of four and five as the locks cycled.
Eight miles past Big Chute we came to Swift 
Rapids Lock. It is the newest and deepest conventional lock on the system. The vertical lift is 47 feet. We had talked about tying up and looking around before we locked through, but the gates were open so we motored right in and quickly locked up. Then we tied to the approach wall above the lock, past the blue line and walke
d 
back to have a look around. There was a boat waiting as we exited and two more showed up 
while he was going in, so we watched the three of them lock through. The lower gates are high 
enough to allow a fixed bridge above them and the public is allowed to go to the other side of the lock. Diana got pictures locking back down where we came from and the gates opening to let the three boats out.
Rapids Lock. It is the newest and deepest conventional lock on the system. The vertical lift is 47 feet. We had talked about tying up and looking around before we locked through, but the gates were open so we motored right in and quickly locked up. Then we tied to the approach wall above the lock, past the blue line and walke
d 
back to have a look around. There was a boat waiting as we exited and two more showed up 
while he was going in, so we watched the three of them lock through. The lower gates are high 
enough to allow a fixed bridge above them and the public is allowed to go to the other side of the lock. Diana got pictures locking back down where we came from and the gates opening to let the three boats out.
I have not written much about the thrusters lately, using them has become second nature, I just get the boat close to where it needs to be with the shifters and then fine tune the position with the a touch of the thrusters. I am very happy with their performance.
We continued through the lovely waterway, McDonalds Cut is the first of the man made sections of the route; it is about a half a mile. We then came to a 90 degree turn around a red buoy and this island want to be. The weather began to deteriorate and we moved inside with a light mist falling. Fifteen miles from Swift Rapids is Couchiching Lock. We pulled to the approach wall opposite the blue line and decided to wait out the rain before continuing.
We continued through the lovely waterway, McDonalds Cut is the first of the man made sections of the route; it is about a half a mile. We then came to a 90 degree turn around a red buoy and this island want to be. The weather began to deteriorate and we moved inside with a light mist falling. Fifteen miles from Swift Rapids is Couchiching Lock. We pulled to the approach wall opposite the blue line and decided to wait out the rain before continuing.
About an hour later the sun peaked through and we decide to go ahead and continue. We locke
d up and finished the last mile of tight river channel into Lake Chochiching and the eight miles of open water to the town of Orillia. Unfortunately the weather that had cleared the rain was a front 
that brought 15 to 20 mph winds with gust to 25 and occasionally 30. The photographer disappeared into the cabin.
The wind was a little unpleasant but the ride was not too bad. We got to the breakwater for the Port of Orillia and radioed for a slip. They told us where they would like us and the turns after entering the harbor. When we got there, two helpful dockhands were there to help us in. We are spending tomorrow here, so we will put pictures in tomorrow’s entry.
Despite a little rain and wind it was a great day. The Big Chute was a thrill and the scenery is even more beautiful then I remember. Life continues to be very good.
d up and finished the last mile of tight river channel into Lake Chochiching and the eight miles of open water to the town of Orillia. Unfortunately the weather that had cleared the rain was a front 
that brought 15 to 20 mph winds with gust to 25 and occasionally 30. The photographer disappeared into the cabin.The wind was a little unpleasant but the ride was not too bad. We got to the breakwater for the Port of Orillia and radioed for a slip. They told us where they would like us and the turns after entering the harbor. When we got there, two helpful dockhands were there to help us in. We are spending tomorrow here, so we will put pictures in tomorrow’s entry.
Despite a little rain and wind it was a great day. The Big Chute was a thrill and the scenery is even more beautiful then I remember. Life continues to be very good.
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