Day 280 - June 21, 2014: Lake Simcoe and Orillia, Ontario

We have been observing and interacting with the lock masters and attendants here in Canada for almost two weeks, and for the most part they have been a model of friendliness and helpfulness. Some have worked the locks for many years and tell stories of the recent cutbacks and reduction in hours that they have had to adjust to. Others are young kids working summer jobs, often paired one male with one female at a lock. They are filled with enthusiasm.

Today, I realized how repetitive their jobs must be. To lock a boat down, the older locks require the following steps. Each attendant opens one of the two doors for a boat to enter. This means each pushes the opening bar around for 25 circles. Then letting the water out requires each to walk to the other end of the lock and crank the water gate handle 60 times to open the water exit gate. When the water level bottoms out, each must then open the doors which is another 25 circles on the cranking bar. They may do this dozens of time a day.

Walking the door opening bar in circles

We crossed the small, narrow, shallow and weedy Canal Lake, where there were farms, and the cows came out to greet us. On the way, we were lowered down through five more locks, passing a unique bridge called "Hole in the Wall Bridge."

Cows watching the boats go by

Hole in the Wall Bridge

Lake Simcoe is the largest lake on the Trent-Severn and the fourth largest in Ontario. It measures 20 miles long and 16 miles wide, and its open water and shallow depth can create serious cruising hazards, as thunderstorms can quickly bring eight-foot waves. We know of boats that have been stalled for days waiting to enter the lake. Our incredible crossing luck continued, for as we entered, there was sun, no wind and almost glassy water.

Crossing Lake Simcoe

We stopped at the Port of Orillia Marina, right at the end of the main street of Orillia. Much to our surprise, this weekend was Christmas in June, where over 100 boaters had come for the weekend and decorated their boats as if for Christmas. They were really nice people and treated us well, although the partying was hearty and the loud music continued well into the night.

One of the many highly decorated boats