Days 30 - 33 - Thrills and Spills

 

Orillia to Lock 42

A terrible moment occurred last night. We had just finished our dinners and were relaxing in the salon. The door was open and Mister Huxley had gone for her usual evening constitutional. The wind kept blowing the cat gate down so I had elected to leave it off for the time being as there was really only one other inhabited boat on our pier and long distances to any others. I was startled suddenly by a pitiful yowling coming from outside and, realizing that something must be up with Huxley, ran out. Brooke grabbed a flashlight and followed right behind me. I couldn't see Huxley but the yowling seemed to be coming from right under the dock. Looking over the side I spotted Mister Huxley, her claws somehow lodged into the support structure under the dock. Later we would remark how amazing it was that she managed to hang on there as the structure appeared to be made out of metal or strong plastic material of some kind. (We never did find out how she had managed to fall in but suspicions ranged from strangers on the dock to simple slippage. If she fell between the boat and the finger pier, she would have had to swim all the way around it to end up where she did.)

I got down on my stomach, reached under and hauled a soaked and shaking Mister Huxley up onto the dock. We quickly moved her inside and towelled her off. Aside from the scare she seemed to be okay but for some slight bleeding where her claws had been pulled back a bit. After a while she ate some food and began a cleaning session that went on for hours. We, however, were shaken and it was some time before we could get back to normal calmness. 

 

Mister Huxley after the spill

The next morning we pack up and head out to seek a new spot for the night. We had heard that the lock at Talbot, Lock 42, was a pretty area and at this time of the year we hoped that it would be relatively unpopulated. The trip up Couchiching Lake is fine and what wind there is blows from our stern and pushes up the water with no problem. We arrive at Lock 42 and find that it is, much as described, a nice place. We proceed through the lock as there are a couple of boats camped for the night at the top and take a place by ourselves at the bottom. 

Our resting spot as seen from the top of Lock 42

The cats have a great time scampering around in the brush and Mister Huxley seems to have completely gotten over her slip into the drink. 

Missy the cat looks on enviously from the opposite shore as Hattie & Huxley play

We eat stuffed pork chops from the BBQ and enjoy the surroundings. This might be the last fine weather we will have for a while as it seems things will be getting a bit nasty for the next few days.

Lock 42 to Sparrow Lake Chute Anchorage

The weather is iffy and it looks like we’re in for some major rain. We saunter along the canals and small lakes at a peaceful five knots until we spot an anchorage suggested in the Ports guide. It is in a little bay with good depth so we drop anchor. The wind changes and it becomes necessary to drop another anchor off the stern to keep ourselves from swinging onto the rocky shoreline. The rain begins and it is a deluge that keeps up all night.

In an effort to further impress you with our fine cuisine, I’ll say that we had a dish composed of pork sausage-stuffed peppers with spring salad and New Orleans-style rice and beans. How’s that?

The next morning we find that the securing anchor we fed off the stern has gone under the boat and we have to be careful not to foul it in on the gear underneath as a dive into this rapidly cooling water would be a harsh challenge. We manage to get the rope out by raising the anchor with the help of the boat hook, removing it from the anchor clip and pulling the rope free from the other end. Onwards…

Anchorage to Severn Falls Marina

The scenery in this part of the Muskokas is quite brilliant and we pass many remarkable pictures-in-waiting including the unpainted Group of Seven shown below. It takes us much longer than necessary to get anywhere as we gawk our way along. 

Unpainted Group of Seven

We stop at the lock at Swift Rapids. This is the highest conventional lock on the system at 44 feet, but is a pretty quick descent. We consider staying at the wall here as it is very quiet and secluded since there is no road access. The lock staff has to bicycle in to get to it. However, there are strong winds a’coming and we’re running low on provisions so we decide to stop in at the Severn Falls Emporium where there is, amongst other things, a town dock and an LCBO agency. Hurray.

The town dock at Severn Falls is a rickety affair and we’re quite high off of it so stepping down is a little difficult. Mister Huxley has no trouble jumping down though. We go to the store and buy some things and rent two DVD’s; a so-so comedy with Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English, Reborn) and a not very scary horror film produced by Guillermo Del Toro (Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark). In hindsight, the producers probably found that telling people not to be afraid while watching their so-so horror film was a mistake. We find that the old dock, with no facilities except 30 amp power, is going to cost us $1.25 / foot. Bit of a rip, actually.

We’re getting close to the end of this season’s travels now and we wish the weather could be more co-operative. Tomorrow there are meant to be gale-force winds (over 35 knots) and we’ll have to have a plan in case we can’t proceed. I have to be back in Toronto for work on Wednesday and the truck is in Port Severn.

The rain holds off though and we do enjoy some sun time. To prepare for the winds tomorrow we decide to take the bimini cover down off the bridge. The newly-made cover comes down quickly and easily and the supporting struts are simple to secure. We are very happy with our new bimini. (Constructed by Bennett Custom Canvas of Etobicoke)

Severn Falls Marina to The Big Chute

Misty morning at Severn Falls

This morning is beautiful and mist-coated and the winds seem to be holding off for us. We decide to make the short run to the The Big Chute. Big Chute is a marine railway that actually takes your boat out of the water on a big car that descends into the water. You ride into it, slings raise you up and the whole car rides 400 metres down to the lower side of the Chute. Then it slides back into the water, the slings come off and your drive out of it.

We see it in action this morning and look forward to the ride tomorrow. The predicted winds are somewhat less than announced and we are quite comfortable on the public docks.