Trent Severn Days 1-3

Monday morning the Trent Severn opens up at 10 am with the lock staff ready to welcome boaters. We left the Trent Severn Marina a little before 945 in order to start the trip up the canal. The original plan was to make it the entire length of the system ending up in Severn where a ride could be arranged to get up back to the trailer and truck. Unfortunatly, two things put a damper on this plan. First the large lift lock at Kirkfield had a catastrophic failure rendering it out of service for the season. The other issue is that the hours for the canal system are modified in the shoulder seasons running from 10 am to 3:30. This limits the number of locks that can be done in one day and we had not anticipated the number of locks in the first stretch. Regardless we set off into the canal and found it to be everything that it was said to be.

First of all the lockstaff are awesome. They anticipate your arrivals at locks, chat while the locks are filling and provide you information on the upcoming stretch of canal. Helpful advice on fishing and shopping is provided as well as any issues on the next transit. Lock staff are responsible for the upkeep of the lock station and many go above and beyond with the flowers and landscaping. Each lock has clean bathrooms for boaters looking to spend the night and they provide the key code to the restrooms at upcoming locks if you plan on arriving after hours. Once the staff get to know you they let the upcoming lock staff know you are coming and on this trip had the locks open for us to go right in. Unlike the Erie Canal, no radio traffic is used and it is just visual communication to get you passed. We transited the first 5 locks with another boat and then have been up to lock 18 in Peterboro alone.

Day one ended at the bottom of lock 8 where we had a great night stopped. Hot clean showers hit the spot and a boat side meal cooked on a less than effecient boat stove made for a tasty treat. The crusing varies on this stretch between small populated shorelines with cottages and homes, to vast marshes and opens areas.