Orillia to Port Severn to Midland, Ontario
We begin Volume 2 (2013) Chapter 2 (July, post-trip home) in
our longest lingering spot so far - Midland Ontario. We are lingering because it is a pretty good
sized place (17,000 pop) - the largest we will see until returning to the States
next month. Lots to see and do. We lucked into another concert and art show right next to our boat, for our first night. I’m tempted by the 5 pin bowling, but this
Canadian bastardization seems a bit silly, doesn’t it? Little balls, 5 pins, short lanes? Shouldn’t this be a bar game, rather than a
whole building?
Anyway, we did some real sightseeing today. A beautiful long bike ride through town and along the bay – and a visit to a re-creation of a 1600’s Jesuit settlement - primarily created to convert the local natives.
The town is known for its murals, including the largest mural in N. America (below left) - in case you can't tell, these are four painted grain elevators. The lighthouse is painted around a real window with a real light. The stamp mural is on the post office, of course. Just be glad you aren't getting photos of all 33 murals.
Actually, we did not go to the Ontario Hummingbird Festival. I just wanted you to put the dates in your calendar for 2014.
We go to lots of things we wouldn't normally go to in Atlanta. That's how we learn about the variety of communities we have the privilege to visit. So, earlier this evening we rode our bikes out to a local lake for a gathering of Harley riders. Here's a picture of Debi with her portable chair, starting the trek.
And this is a picture of the entertainment - lounge music, Harley-style. There's live music in Little 5 Points every night of the week, but we don't go often enough, because it's always there. But when we visit these other worlds, we are compelled to take it in while we can.
Anyway, we did some real sightseeing today. A beautiful long bike ride through town and along the bay – and a visit to a re-creation of a 1600’s Jesuit settlement - primarily created to convert the local natives.
The town is known for its murals, including the largest mural in N. America (below left) - in case you can't tell, these are four painted grain elevators. The lighthouse is painted around a real window with a real light. The stamp mural is on the post office, of course. Just be glad you aren't getting photos of all 33 murals.
Actually, we did not go to the Ontario Hummingbird Festival. I just wanted you to put the dates in your calendar for 2014.
We go to lots of things we wouldn't normally go to in Atlanta. That's how we learn about the variety of communities we have the privilege to visit. So, earlier this evening we rode our bikes out to a local lake for a gathering of Harley riders. Here's a picture of Debi with her portable chair, starting the trek.
And this is a picture of the entertainment - lounge music, Harley-style. There's live music in Little 5 Points every night of the week, but we don't go often enough, because it's always there. But when we visit these other worlds, we are compelled to take it in while we can.
How did we get to Midland?
As you may know, Debi and I managed to book flights back to Toronto on
consecutive days. I think we each chose
the day that the other wanted. In any
case,the good side of that is that Debi was able to borrow a car (from a friendly
boater who just offered his car and keys while they left for a few days) and
came to pick me up in Toronto. The bad side
of that is that I came in during horrendous storms. Highways closed, power (and traffic lights)
out, crazy traffic, etc. So what should have been a
2.5 hour round trip turned into a 6 hour mess for Debi and a 15 hour travel day
for me.
Despite getting back to the boat at midnight, we left early the next morning, because it seemed like our best travel day of the next few. This was a beautiful trip through pine woods, narrow channels, beautiful cottages, and granite cliffs and islands. The highlight was a crazy engineering marvel – the Big Chute! There was a 58’ foot drop in water levels between two bodies of water. Rather than building a lock and canal between them, they created a rail track (more like a roller coaster) between the two. Then they created a weird rail car that drives on those tracks right into the water, on both sides. We drove our boat into the bed of the car, they stabilized us with straps, and then the car pulled up on the track and out of the water, at which point the boat was sitting on its keel, with the back end hanging off the car. We did a gradual rise, passed OVER a road, and then began a steep downhill descent into the next body of water. Somehow the boat remained horizontal as the car descends the track and deposits us back in the water. The Big Chute indeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTs7V-moy4E will give you a video view of the whole thing.
Despite getting back to the boat at midnight, we left early the next morning, because it seemed like our best travel day of the next few. This was a beautiful trip through pine woods, narrow channels, beautiful cottages, and granite cliffs and islands. The highlight was a crazy engineering marvel – the Big Chute! There was a 58’ foot drop in water levels between two bodies of water. Rather than building a lock and canal between them, they created a rail track (more like a roller coaster) between the two. Then they created a weird rail car that drives on those tracks right into the water, on both sides. We drove our boat into the bed of the car, they stabilized us with straps, and then the car pulled up on the track and out of the water, at which point the boat was sitting on its keel, with the back end hanging off the car. We did a gradual rise, passed OVER a road, and then began a steep downhill descent into the next body of water. Somehow the boat remained horizontal as the car descends the track and deposits us back in the water. The Big Chute indeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTs7V-moy4E will give you a video view of the whole thing.
Yesterday we went through the 45th and final lock of the Trent-Severn Waterway, which we entered on June 18 – 240 beautiful miles ago. Once we came through that last lock, we had entered the Georgian Bay – the next challenge of the Loop. This will be the phase of the entire Great Circle Loop which will require the greatest navigational challenges, narrow and shallow channels – but some of the most pristine and beautiful scenery of the trip as well. We’re travelling with minimal fuel and water to keep the boat as high in the water as possible. We will be entering the Georgian Bay National Park, part of the 30,000 Islands.
Bob Baer is driving up from NYC to join us for a
few days - will arrive this morning – which is the other reason we are lingering in Midland. If we had gone on from here, it would have been difficult for Bob to hook up with us – as we’ll be cruising among the
islands. Today is supposed to be perfect weather conditions for a hopefully idyllic long cruising day. Wish you were with us....
Georgian Bay, here we come!
Jim and Debi
Georgian Bay, here we come!
Jim and Debi
No comments:
Post a Comment