Greek's Folly on the Great Loop: Trent Port Marina to Campbellford Town Wall

July 7-9 Sat, Sun, Mon - Trent Port Marina

dinner on Short Vacation with Eric and Karen, Trent Port Harbor hosts

The current plan is to start the Trent Severn Canal system on Tuesday so a list was made of everything that needs to be completed. You would think that we would have everything done, but that is never the case in boating. Tom assists John with his projects as he has been a big help to us; so after a church service and church picnic, Sunday is spent working on Short Vacation and Monday is spent replacing shift cables on Greeks Folly. The water tanks are filled, anchor windlass tested, fenders covered and we should be ready to depart in the morning. Yippee. we are ready to start traveling!!

On the shore of Lake Ontario

July 10-11 Tues and Wed Trenton to Lock 8

The trip on the Trent Severn Canal began with locks. The day consisted of 6 locks, 7 1/2 miles and 3 1/2 hours. The locks were about a mile apart and with a lift of over 16 ft. The sun was shining and pulling into the locks made for a warm day. As the water rose with us floating up, we seemed to catch a breeze until the next lock with it's steep walls. We rafted off the west wall above lock 6 at Frankford with 5 other boats - some old neighbors and some new friends to meet. The short walk into town includes a trip thru the hardware store and the grocery store - always fun explorations for Tom. A steak dinner and a night cap on the back deck is a classy way to end the first day.

The locks on the canal open at 9 which is perfect for Colletta- not too early and not too late. The other 5 boats on the lock wall leave by 0915 so we start moving by 1000. Rather wait tied to a wall than idle for 40 minutes in front of the next lock. We travel thru some narrow areas with rocks visible sticking up out of the water. Our short day of travel is concluded at Lock 8, Percy's Reach, where we tie below the lock at a grassy park. The area is green and lush and quiet and peaceful. Colletta went for a walk on a gravel road and through a soybean field. The hills roll and the pastures and fields travel down to the waters edge. The place is very secluded - basically in the middle of nowhere. We spend the evening fishing and chatting and being entertained by 3 young men camping in the park and chasing their soccer ball. (Yes, it went into the water)

The beginning of the Trent-Severn Adventure

Map of the waterway and 45 locks

Waiting on the blue line at Lock 1. The locks don't have radios so if you\
want to lock thru you pull up to the blue line. Sometimes the lock
staff sees you coming and is ready for you to pull right in the lock
sometimes you wait.

Like the Rideau Canal from last summer many of the locks have doors that
are manually opened and closed. There seems to be a combination as some locks
have hydraulic doors and valves to flood the chamber

July 12-14, Thurs, Fri, Sat Lock 8 to Campbellford

The locks open at 9 and we are the first ones thru. The goal today is to go thru 5 locks and get to Campbellford City wall as quickly as possible. Each lock is ready for us with the doors open as we approach and we continue on and reach Campbellford about noon, but not without adventure. As we make out last curve to starboard, the port engine overheats, the alarm goes off the the captain turn off the engine. We pull in to the wall and Tom does a great job of docking with one engine. The diesel engine will cool for the rest of the day as we walk thru town and enjoy the evening. The engine will be checked tomorrow.

By 0730 on Friday Tom has cleaned the strainers, checked the impellers and hoses and believes he has the problem solved. He started the engine, lets it run, increases rpms and all seems good. he thinks we may have sucked up a plastic bag into our engine water inlet. We get on the bikes and ride to the suspension bridge over Ranney Gorge and thru Ferris Provincial Park. Fortunately the park entrance is adjacent to World's Finest Chocolate outlet store so we reward ourselves with delicious treats. Everyone does their own thing in the afternoon but in the evening we all head into town for dinner to celebrate Pam's birthday.

Tom and John walk to Dooher's Bakery for donuts and pastries in the morning. At 0815 the bakery is empty but at 0900 the place is packed with over 20 people because everyone knows the donuts are ready at 9. Doohers is a talked-about stop for the loopers and we too enjoy the cream and jelly filled donuts. The town has an Incredible Edible festival today - food, farmers market, demos, music and entertainment. Beer jelly, poutine, are all available for a small price.