Lost Channel

Saturday Aug. 30

Today was a short but productive day. We started our day at the Port of Orillia Marina where we did some small maintenance checks such as engine room checks and switched out my fresh water pump as the other one was leaking, checked all the battery levels and we filled the water tanks. At approx. 10:30 we said our goodbyes to Bruce and Marg as they were staying in Orillia one more day before they started the trek back to Hamilton. We headed down Lake Couchiching where we started the final leg of the Trent-Severn Waterway. As we started up the final stretch we got to the swing bridge where there was a back up of boats floating waiting for the bridge to open. We had to wait approx. 30 minutes for the train to pass and get the bridge open (nothing like trying to stay in one spot with a current is trying to push you the opposite direction). Back on our way we got to Lock 42 Couchiching where there was a small backlog of boats but it didn't take long to get through. Next we hit Lock 43 Swift Rapids which lived up to its name, the current was very strong but again we had to wait as there was a back up of boats there as well (not to bad only about 40 minutes). While waiting the lock master came by to tell us that the Big Chute Lock was not in operation but they were hoping to have it up and running again shortly, not good news but we are on vacation so go with the flow. Moving on down the waterway we called the Big Chute lock and were advised that it still wasn't operational but they were hopeful.  We made one more call to the lock about 30 minutes later and were told that it was down for the rest of the day so we pulled into Lost Channel approx. 2 miles before the lock to anchor for the night. As we were slowly cruising up the Channel the skies started to get dark fairly quickly so we found a pretty protected area and just as Mimi was putting the anchor down the skies opened up and it started pouring out. When she finally had it set she looked like a drowned rat but as a real trooper she was smiling and said it cooled her down. I guess it was good timing because with the rain the winds picked up and it started to thunder out as well but here we are all settled in the bay for the night.

Sorry no pictures today. Good night