8/1/14: Georgian Bay: The Georgian Bay with its 30,000 Islands is considered one of the most beautiful cruising destinations in the world. A small-craft channel makes it possible to cruise among the Islands and take in the beauty of the Georgian Bay.

We left Midland and charted a course with an anchor destination in mind near Frying Pan Bay. We wanted to anchor near the famous Henry’s Fish Restaurant then dink over for dinner.  The place we had picked out to anchor was too crowded so we continued on past Bear Head and around Mile marker 46 we turned north into Dauncy Bay. We 4 were the first to arrive and drop the hook but by morning there were 7 boats.

 Our anchorage spot - beautiful.

Twelve Stones On Anchor - Dauncy Bay, Georgina Bay, Canada

Ike Exploring

Best part of anchoring is dropping our dinks and going from boat to boat. This is the gang leaving our boat after dinner.

On the 2^nd day we dropped the dink and headed to Henry’s Fish Restaurant. The only way to get to Henry’s is by boat or by seaplane. Well know celebrities often fly in for a meal. Seaplanes did come & go while we were there but we didn’t see any celebrities.

We spent another 2 nights on anchor at Hopewell Bay then at Green Island.

As you can tell from the pictures it was such a great anchorage we decided to stay 2 nights

7/30/14: We left Trenton, Canada entering the Trent Severn Waterway on 7/14/14. It took sixteen (16) days to complete the 240 mile & the 43 locks.

Since entering the New York waterway system at Albany on 6/24/14, we have locked through 72 locks & traveled 470 NM.

While there were many memorable moments in the Locks, the Big Chute Lock 44 was the most exciting lock of them all. In this particular Lock you power your boat onto a railway car, the boat is cradled in a sling, the water is drained, & then you are carried over land to the other side. The locking staff is professional and extremely knowledgeable which helps to release any stress about the entire process.

TWELVE STONES IN THE BIG CHUTE

After leaving the Trent Severn Waterway we entered the Georgian Bay. We made it a short day docking at Wye Marina in Midland, Canada.

7/24/14: After a quiet night on the wall at Lock 36 we left went through 5 locks & 2 swing bridge openings, crossed Lake Simcoe and docked at Port of Orillia Marina. The marina is located in the heart of town so we will be able to get provisions.

7/23/14: Today we went through the 2^nd & last Hydraulic Lift Lock on the Trent Severn Waterway. At Lock 21 we entered at the bottom and were taken to the top to exit. At Lock 36 we entered at the top and went to the bottom. Lock 36 was the scariest as you enter & keep going forward overlooking the edge. Wow

Lock 36 - Enter on the right and pull all the way up.

View once you are in Lock 36.

View from the front of Twelve Stones.

Once side goes down, other side goes up.

Lock 21

Lock 21 view

Leaving Lock 21

7/22/14: We spent the night on the wall north of Lock 27 so we got an early start. We went through Clear Lake and Hells Gate passage. Hells Gate passage is the channel marked between numerous Islands. As we passed through we could look ahead & behind and see each the other boats between the Islands.

After leaving Burleigh Falls Lock 28 we traveled 13 miles thought the magnificent rocky islands of Lovesick and Lower Buckhorn Lake.

At Lock 31 we said goodbye to John on Endeavor as he pulled into a marina to await a mail drop.

Lock 32 Bobcaygeon is a popular spot & was full which meant we had to anchor out. Since we all love to anchor out this was icing on the cake. We anchored out just behind Big Island. Numerous Houseboats were tied to the shore.

Houseboats anchored near us.

Steve lowered his dink and served as water taxi bring Joe and Connie over to our boat for dinner.

Steve, Connie, & Joe coming over for supper.

Right after we went to bed we were treated to a light show by a brief thunderstorm. Beautiful night on anchor.

7/21/14: Left Peterborough today and went through 7 locks, Lock 20-27. At times the wait for the locks was as much as 35-40 minutes which made our day long on hours but short on miles, only 15 NM today. 

Lockmaster opening gate by hand.

Inside A Lock

Enter, water goes out, Exit

Lock Grounds Are Beautiful

7/18/14: Up early and off across Rice Lake. The Lake was calm, thanking God for a calm crossing.

View from Hasting Lock

Calm Rice Lake

Exiting Rice Lake onto Otonabee River the scene changed from manicured canal to marshy grasslands & overhanging trees. Reminded us of the St. Johns River in Florida, minus the alligators.

Peaceful 

As we exited the Otonabee River the Scotts Mills Lock 19 was right around the corner. This lock is much smaller than previous locks but all 4 of us managed to squeeze in.

Close in the Lock

We docked at the Peterborough Marina, Peterborough, Ontario. This is a great stop for provisions. Although we didn’t really need much we all decided to wait out the weekend traffic and stay docked until Monday. Plus, there was another free concert Saturday night, again right near the boat.

Tallest Lock Yet!

7/16/14: We left Campbellford and continued through 5 locks (16.5 NM) for a night tie-up Lock 18, Hastings.  We could have gone further but the wind picked up which would have made crossing Rice Lake uncomfortable.

Hasting Wall Lock 18

Miss Hadley rafting off Twelve Stones inside a lock.

7/15/14: Today we went through Lock 8 – Lock 12. Locks 11-12 were the first of two flight locks on the Trent Severn Waterway. Flight Locks are two conventional locks joined in a sequence of locks designed to handle the large change in water level. As soon as the doors open to the first lock you enter the second lock. WOW! We docked at the Campbellford City Wall and stayed for two days.

Wall At Campbellford

Inside A Lock

Shopping, free concert (right by our boat again), and time to catch up on boat chores.

7/14/14: Today we entered the Trent-Severn Waterway. The first 6 locks close together, less than 8 miles with lock 7 about 6 miles further. Although we only went 12 NM we were beat from the locking so we tied up at Lock 7, Frankford wall.

John aboard Endeavor a Catamaran decided to join our group so we are now 4 boats strong. We had met John in the fall of 2013 at the Joe Wheeler Loopers meeting than saw him again at the Norfolk, VA meeting. Glad we caught up with him and he joined us.

John from Endeavor

Endeavor

7/12/14: Docked at Fraiser Park Marina the entrance to the Trent-Severn Waterway. We plan on staying here until Monday. 

7/11/14: We left the Murray Canal Swing bridge, headed into the Bay of Quinte, then to the entrance to the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Entering Bay of Quinte

Miss Hadley, Chesapeake, & Summerland Behind Us

We saw lots of Swans on the bay.

On 7/10/14 we left Oswego, out into Lake Ontario, and headed straight for Murray Canal, Canada a 63 NM journey. The trip started out with some waves but about 1 ½ hours into it the waters calmed and by the time we had reached the other side of the lake it was almost flat. Thanking the Lord for a safe and beautiful crossing.

A Calm Lake Ontario

Quarantine Flag going up as we enter Canadian Waters.

When tied off at the wall of the 1^st swing bridge on the Murray Canal.  Row & Gus aboard Summerland arrived shortly after us and tied-up as well. We had a great cookout & enjoyed the beautiful park grounds at the bridge.

The Captains Awaiting Customs Check-In

Cooking out & enjoying the park at the Swing Bridge wall.

The next  morning Russ cooked a delicious breakfast for us all before we got underway.

We saw this Eagle along the way. I think he was just telling us goodbye as we made plans to leave America.