Sparrow Lake & Trent Canal
 

Took my holidays last week with my gf and here are some of the pics of the week.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1107402...7601281910979/

First bunch of pics are from Sunday the 29th and going through my first ever lock on the Trent Severn waterway. It is the largest single chambered lock on the entire system (47 ft lift). The is also one marine railway and 2 sets of flight locks and other 42 are normal locks. The photos of me fiddling in the water is when we were out anchoring yesterday for the first time in my boat. My gf was reading the new Harry Potter book.

Enjoy :)

That's beautiful up there! Water's clear, beautiful shoreline, looks like a blast! Is there a pic of your cabin in there? I've never locked my boat before, is it pretty intimidating for the first time? I've got locks about 30 miles upriver and downriver for me, never tried 'em yet.

And btw, typical female behavior. My g/f reads magazines the whole time we're anchored. :)

Nope my cottage isnt in any of those pics. My cottage is about a 40min boat ride from where that lock is located.

The first time locking through, my heart was letting me know its pumping... lol. Yeah its intimidating the first time, but the lockstaff were friendly and helpful and my uncle guided me along. Once you are inside all you are doing is looping a line around the drop cables to keep your boat from swirling inside the chamber. You will also need 1 or 2 hooks to either grab the drop cable OR to fend off the chamber walls and the side of your boat.

Once you have been through a lock, the second time is a bit easier. But I know each time is going to be a different experience with wind, current, other boaters etc. Little hint for first time, take your sweet time! It isnt a rush, dont worry if u arent going fast, its your boat, your damage to worry about,.. take your time going inside it. Best thing to do, go tie up and walk around to the lock and talk to the lock master or staff and im sure they would help you out. Its easier when you are on the up side because they grab the lines and guide you in. When you are on the lower, you are on your own pretty much.

Forward and neutral coasting should be all you need to putt into the locks, just a simple short blip on the forward and back into neutral and coast your way in.

One other part of my trip I forgot to mention (and take pics of) where the Mariah boats that I saw driving around or tied up along the waterfront of cottagers. Next time im out!

Great pictures! Looks like a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing!

Ahh Diablo....i love that area! Wait til you try the bucket lift on the Trent up at Kirkfield or the marine railway lift at Big Chute. One of these days i'm going to do the Trent-Severn system from end to end. Here's a couple of pics of the marine railway at Big Chute.

http://www.mariahownersclub.com/gall...m/1_calyn2.jpghttp://www.mariahownersclub.com/gall...m/1_calyn3.jpg

WHOA! :eek: That's amazing, I've never seen anything like that before! How does it work?

Yeah my uncle has said its beautiful scenery past Severn Falls going downstream to Big Chute. Kirkfield I would love to do ... crossing Simcoe in a 18 foot bowrider....ummmm don't really want to do. LOL.

I know there is a series of locks one after another as you get into Gamebridge. If I had a trailer I would love to trailer it down around Gamebridge area and just go up and do the locks. Then I wouldnt have to brave Simcoe. Apparently the best time to cross is very early morning or around dusk.

Both of my aunts/uncles on my mom's side have done the TSW from end to end. They went out on a trip for a week or two a couple of years ago. One was on a pontoon boat and the others were in a 22ft Four Winns.

That's because that is the only of its kind in North America! :D

http://www.cruising.ca/trent/docs/L-44.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Chute_Marine_Railway

Has a little bit of information about it on there. Google images for more.