Publish Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates: 44° 13.636′ N 76° 28.707′ W
We are currently in Kingston, Ontario where we have some decent internet so I thought I would share some photos of our transiting the Trent Severn Waterway National Historic Site (quite a name, eh?). We should also have a From The Pilothouse video up within the week, which will do it more justice. 🙂
Here are a couple of interesting facts for you about the Trent Severn:
- The waterway is a meandering 241 miles (386 km), comprised of 44 locks, running between Trenton, ON (at the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario) and Port Severn, ON (at Georgian Bay on Lake Huron).
- First lock construction began at Bobcaygeon in 1833 with goal of helping to move valuable lumber between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron.
- The waterway was completed in 1920.
- Peterborough is the Highest Hydraulic Lift Lock in the world, moving boats up and down 65.4 feet. This engineering marvel was completed over 100 years ago with 1 steam engine, a few horses and lots of men with pick-axes. Amazing!
- The Big Chute “Lock” is actually a marine railway, lifting your boat out of the water and carrying it over a hill. Equally, if not more incredible!
- Best part of the transit is the Parks Canada staff and interns working the locks, keeping you safe and sharing a bit of local history and lore.
- Each lock has a painted blue area along the approach wall, where you tie up to indicate to the lock master that you are ready to lock through.
- Every lock has room both above and below the lock to let several boats moor overnight.
- A highlight is all the wonderful people you meet while going through the locks together. 🙂
Just wanted to say hi to you guys. We are at our cottage on the Trent Waterway. We are approximately 3 miles east of Hastings on the north side. Through the binoculars I was able to see your sign about following your joiurney. Good Luck and Safe Travels.
Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing!
xoox:)
Hi just thought I would let you know where you guys docked at Little LAKE IN Peterborough used to be the Peterborough Lumber Companies lumber yards that was back in the 50,s.My dad was born in 1893 and he used to talk about going back in the bushand cutting logs to be sent down the Trent river in the spring.He said it was not uncommon for them to work in the middle of winter with their shirts off !They would stay back in the camps all winter and then float the logs down the river in the spring.Theywere ahardy bunch.T.McCarthy
Glad you enjoyed your time through the “Trent”. It’s nice to hear positive feedback on our government employees!!
Good luck with the rest of your journey.
hey my name is Brad and me and my family we psted u guys about a few weeks ago in feniln falls and saw your boat with the sing and that was amazing and we were blowen away. i personaly think that is sick that you are that cloes to ur parents that you can do that cuz i would love to do that as a part of my life growing up on a boat i am a boat fanitick, i have a huge family of 6 i have one older sister named Jenn i am Brad and i have two brothers that drive me crazey and insain so i think that you are luckey. like you and your parents my family is a team to when it comes to baoting witch we love but our cottage is in the town oc cameron feniln falls and we ahve many friends that are over there to, i wish that i could have grown up on a boat with my mom and dad and i think that i am going find a nice wif that likes to boat to cuz i want to do that as a fauther with my kids but im only 18 so good luck on your travels and good luck in the future peace Brad Watson