We began our journey through the Trent Severn Waterway by purchasing our transit & mooring permits for the waterway and Georgian Bay at Lock 1 for $491 Canadian. The waterway is 240 miles of interconnected lakes and rivers joining Lakes Ontario and Huron via 44 locks. The Canadian locks are much smaller and narrower than the New York Canal system. Only 2-3 boats can lock through at a time, all on one side of the lock. The lock gates are opened & closed manually by the Parks Canada staff via turnstiles (think mules walking around and around in circles). Each lock is part of the Canadian park system with picnic tables, trash receptacles and bathrooms. Some even have campgrounds and showers. Very nice, very clean and incredible staff!
We spent our first two nights moored to lock walls, passing campgrounds and pretty cottages along the Trent River. By day 3 we had traveled 31 miles and transited 12 locks arriving in Campbellford (at this pace we’ll still be in Canada in September!) We tied up at the town wall and paid for 2 nights as this is a favorite of Loopers before us. We were right in front of the town park and had the use of electricity and showers. Our first stop was the infamous Dooher’s Bakery (voted the “Sweetest Bakery in Canada”). You could smell it a half block away! Treated ourselves to a donut confirming there would be a second visit (at least). Walked the town, had a great lunch at Apollo’s then visited the World’s Finest Chocolate Factory Outlet Store. Remember those giant candy bars we sold for school fundraisers? This is where they are made! Bought 3 1-pound bags of chocolates and vowed to make room for them in the cooler.
After breakfast at Dooher’s again, Day 4 we bicycled the Rotary Trail back to Lock 12, then across the river on a suspension bridge! Well, we actually walked our bikes across the bridge, but we had a great view of the river and the falls. Continued the loop trail through Farris Provincial Park and back to the town of Campbellford. Free concert in the park that night, very old country tunes (Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash songs were the most recent).
Decided to stay one more night in Campbellford (3rd night’s free!). Dooher’s again for breakfast; bought baked goods and fresh bread for the road (fill a bag from the “day old” rack for $10). Cleaned the boat and provisioned at No Frills grocery (think Aldi’s); great meats for the freezer! Invited Jan & Dayle from A little Loopy (Ranger Tug docked next to us in Trenton) to join us for dinner at Apollo’s (not knowing it was Dayle’s 68th birthday!) Good food, great company. It’s the people you meet along the way that make this journey so special😊.
Finally tore ourselves away from Campbellford and continued on to Hastings, Lock 18. Covered 20 miles and 6 locks! Laundromat was a short walk, so we hauled our dirty laundry through town and completed that weekly chore. When we returned to the boat, we had been joined on the lock wall by several other Loopers, cause for celebration! We gathered at a park picnic table over cocktails and potluck appetizers, coined “Dock tales”. Had a great time meeting and sharing stories with like-minded boaters.
Day 7 was a long day for us, 7 hours and 33 miles crossing Rice Lake and traveling the Otonabee River. The river was beautiful, very winding and picturesque. Parted ways with the Loopers in Hastings as they headed to the Peterborough Marina for a couple of days. We tied to the lock wall in Ashburnham, just short of the famous Peterborough Lift Lock. We will transit this highlight of the Trent Severn Waterway tomorrow!