Port Severn

Monday, August 17

It started as another hot and humid morning. We were off about 8:30 for the ten mile run down the middle of Lake Couchiching. It starts as a generally open water run then funnels into the shallow north end of the lake where there is a two mile straight stretch between pairs of buoys. This is known locally as the bowling alley.

It is in the mid 70s with near 100% humidity and the wind is about eight directly behind us so there is no apparent wind. It is very sticky even on the fly bridge. We exit the Lake into the Severn River. Shortly we come to this train bridge that must open for us. The operator starts as soon as he sees us. However, the bridge moves very slowly and from the noise of the machinery we wonder if it is going to make it.



The rest of the day we are on the Severn and it is probably the most beautiful scenery of the trip. It is mile after mile of heavy granite river bank, tree lined with nice cottages too. There is a great deal of local small boat traffic. It is mid August and all the cottagers are enjoying their vacation on a hot day.

We have now turned so the wind is close to on the bow and it has increased. With 15 mph winds gusting 20 the boat wants to go all over and requires constant attention. It has become partly cloudy and the heat is not as bad now.

We lock through the Couchiching Lock and another hour we are at Swift Rapids. This is the newest lock on the system and was build with all hydraulic controls. It is also the highest lift, 47 feet, of any of the conventional locks on the system. It has a floating bollard, so we need only a mid ship line and I get a picture of Diana holding the line.

Diana takes pictures as we exit, of the lock and the dam next to it.

Another hour of beautiful scenery and we are at Big Chute and the Marine Railway. The car is nowhere in sight. We go into the blue line. There is another boat there ahead of us, he says the car went down ten minutes ago and should be back shortly. We relax and shortly the car appears coming back up the hill and out from behind the control building. They proceed across the road and down into the water. Soon six smaller boats exit the carriage.

Now it is our turn. The other two boats waiting go in first; we have to be at the back so our props can hang off the back of the carriage. The pictures show the slings supporting us while we get settled. They set the boats down on their keels once the car moves out of the water, the slings only balance the boats. The next picture is looking down off the bow at some of the hydraulics on the deck of the car. Then from above; starting up out of the water, cresting the top, looking over the side as we cross the road, two looking out over the descend, looking back at where we came from and final going down into the water and looking back as we exit the carriage.

The whole thing, from starting to load to exiting the carriage probably was less than 15 minutes; I was too busy to time it. Although I have done it before and know what to expect it is still a great thrill and one of the highlights of the trip.

Shortly after big chute we come to little chute. This is a narrow passage through granite walls with more current than most of the rest of the river, not a place to meet another boat and it is a blind turn into it at the top. Every boat of any size makes a security call on the radio.

Another 45 minutes and we are at Severn Boat Haven where we have dockage reserved for the night, we go to the fuel dock for a pump out first.

We have fresh corn on the cob done on the grill that is excellent and then start planning for Georgian Bay tomorrow.

It was a great day.