OK. Here's another repost from the old site that also provides some decent shots of our boating area. These photos were taken during last year's Royal Regal Rendezvous.
16 boats, mostly Regals, but also including friends in boats by Carver, Doral, Cruisers and Bayliner, left Orillia, Ontario on a five day adventure. This adventure took us thought the locks of the Trent-Severn waterway to Georgian Bay, Parry Sound, Killbear marina and back again.
Here's a map of our Route:
We started in Port of Orillia, which is a town about an hour north of Toronto which very much caters to the boating community.
We headed out from Orillia in four squadrons of four vessels to try to break up things at the locks.
Heading through the Severn River your encounter multiple locks and swing bridges. This one's a train tressle with a couple of Carver's waiting up from for the bridge to open.
The first lock we encounter is Lock 42. The lock system was originally designed for commerce, however now it is maintained by Parks Canada for the recreational boaters.
Here's a shot of a few of our Squadron (including our vessel, the Jackie J IV, a Regal 4260 with a Black Hull and red boot stripe.
Here are some vessels preparing to decend down the lock.
Clearing Lock 45 we navigate a series of lakes, rivers and man-made canals enroute to our next stop at the Swift Rapids Lock.
Here we are coming up to Lock 43, Swift Rapids.
Swift Rapids is the deepest conventional Lock in the system, taking you down about 60 feet.
Clearing Lock 43, we head off once again
Next stop is Big Chute, the marine railway. Here's a shot of The Black Pearl heading over the Chute as we arrive. Once there were a number of marine railways on the Trent Severn, however they were all replaced for efficiency reasons...except for Big Chute. It was maintained and expanded to prevent the further spread of an invasive species, the Lamprey Eel.
We tie off on the blue line wating for the rail car to come back for us.
When the car returns, we float onto the now sunken railcar listening for instructions from the operators as they manipulate straps to hold the Jackie J IV in place. The keel rests on the railcar bed.
Once settled, the rail car rises from the water, crosses a highway, and takes us 67 feet down a rock face.
When we get to the bottom, the railcar is once again sunk and we float off to head for our next destination...Little Chute.
Little Chute is a narrow little passage. I think the signs say it all.
Here we negotiate the passage.
While enroute, I enjoy a nutritious snack. :0)
The final lock to clear is Lock 45 at Port Severn. Here we are looking back at the lock.
Finally we have to negotiate a few tight a tricky passages including this set of buoys under Highway 400.
And then finally we start to enter the more open waters of Southern Georgain Bay (Severn Sound)
And then on to our first night anchorage in Chimney Bay at Beausoleil Island, part of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park.
We had a great night a raft.
Unfortunately, the final squadron didn't clear lock 45 before closing time, therefore our raft was only 12, versus the full complement of 16.
Day 2
The next morning we awoke to a developing thunderstorm.
The pictures don't really do it justice, however the thunder and lightening set in.
We continued on
Hey...this is boating.
I had rain coming in everywhere.
The Admiral didn't look happy...
Are we having fun yet?
We trudged on
And finally made our destination...Killbear marina north of Parry Sound.
This night we had the entire group together, all sixteen.
At night, we had a nice dinner sponsored by Regal.
In the morning, the bad weather was totally gone from the area and we awoke to a beautiful morning.
Many of our partying friends were still sleeping when I took these pics
The waters were perfectly still
"But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day"
- CSN, Southern Cross
Day Three
Day three started, as everyday, with a Captain's meeting.
Then we headed back on the waters towards Parry Sound
First, we had a little fun by forming a Regal "flying V" heading through the sound. We were probably quite a sight.
Here's "Blood, Sweat and Beers" and the "Knottiii Grotto"
The "Jackie J IV"
"Dawntreader"
Another shot of the Knottiii Grotto
And the whole flotilla heading up the Sound
Finally, all hands come off plane.
And head towards a narrow passage called the "Hole in the Wall"
Here's the boats coming through the other side.
We pass by a local cruise boat while heading into the town of Parry Sound. For those of you who are hockey fans, Parry Sound is the home town of legendary Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr.
We continue on our tour through spectacular wilderness
Some of the typical sights...
Enroute we pass the local legend, Henry's Fishhouse. The only way to get to this popular spot is via boat or floatplane.
Day three concludes with a raft-up at Twelve Mile Bay. Here's a shot of the raft forming up
Jason and Marc check the anchors
Prior to another great night at anchor.
Hope you enjoyed a little slice of our adventure.
Paul
16 boats, mostly Regals, but also including friends in boats by Carver, Doral, Cruisers and Bayliner, left Orillia, Ontario on a five day adventure. This adventure took us thought the locks of the Trent-Severn waterway to Georgian Bay, Parry Sound, Killbear marina and back again.
Here's a map of our Route:
We started in Port of Orillia, which is a town about an hour north of Toronto which very much caters to the boating community.
We headed out from Orillia in four squadrons of four vessels to try to break up things at the locks.
Heading through the Severn River your encounter multiple locks and swing bridges. This one's a train tressle with a couple of Carver's waiting up from for the bridge to open.
The first lock we encounter is Lock 42. The lock system was originally designed for commerce, however now it is maintained by Parks Canada for the recreational boaters.
Here's a shot of a few of our Squadron (including our vessel, the Jackie J IV, a Regal 4260 with a Black Hull and red boot stripe.
Here are some vessels preparing to decend down the lock.
Clearing Lock 45 we navigate a series of lakes, rivers and man-made canals enroute to our next stop at the Swift Rapids Lock.
Here we are coming up to Lock 43, Swift Rapids.
Swift Rapids is the deepest conventional Lock in the system, taking you down about 60 feet.
Clearing Lock 43, we head off once again
Next stop is Big Chute, the marine railway. Here's a shot of The Black Pearl heading over the Chute as we arrive. Once there were a number of marine railways on the Trent Severn, however they were all replaced for efficiency reasons...except for Big Chute. It was maintained and expanded to prevent the further spread of an invasive species, the Lamprey Eel.
We tie off on the blue line wating for the rail car to come back for us.
When the car returns, we float onto the now sunken railcar listening for instructions from the operators as they manipulate straps to hold the Jackie J IV in place. The keel rests on the railcar bed.
Once settled, the rail car rises from the water, crosses a highway, and takes us 67 feet down a rock face.
When we get to the bottom, the railcar is once again sunk and we float off to head for our next destination...Little Chute.
Little Chute is a narrow little passage. I think the signs say it all.
Here we negotiate the passage.
While enroute, I enjoy a nutritious snack. :0)
The final lock to clear is Lock 45 at Port Severn. Here we are looking back at the lock.
Finally we have to negotiate a few tight a tricky passages including this set of buoys under Highway 400.
And then finally we start to enter the more open waters of Southern Georgain Bay (Severn Sound)
And then on to our first night anchorage in Chimney Bay at Beausoleil Island, part of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park.
We had a great night a raft.
Unfortunately, the final squadron didn't clear lock 45 before closing time, therefore our raft was only 12, versus the full complement of 16.
Day 2
The next morning we awoke to a developing thunderstorm.
The pictures don't really do it justice, however the thunder and lightening set in.
We continued on
Hey...this is boating.
I had rain coming in everywhere.
The Admiral didn't look happy...
Are we having fun yet?
We trudged on
And finally made our destination...Killbear marina north of Parry Sound.
This night we had the entire group together, all sixteen.
At night, we had a nice dinner sponsored by Regal.
In the morning, the bad weather was totally gone from the area and we awoke to a beautiful morning.
Many of our partying friends were still sleeping when I took these pics
The waters were perfectly still
"But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day"
- CSN, Southern Cross
Day Three
Day three started, as everyday, with a Captain's meeting.
Then we headed back on the waters towards Parry Sound
First, we had a little fun by forming a Regal "flying V" heading through the sound. We were probably quite a sight.
Here's "Blood, Sweat and Beers" and the "Knottiii Grotto"
The "Jackie J IV"
"Dawntreader"
Another shot of the Knottiii Grotto
And the whole flotilla heading up the Sound
Finally, all hands come off plane.
And head towards a narrow passage called the "Hole in the Wall"
Here's the boats coming through the other side.
We pass by a local cruise boat while heading into the town of Parry Sound. For those of you who are hockey fans, Parry Sound is the home town of legendary Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr.
We continue on our tour through spectacular wilderness
Some of the typical sights...
Enroute we pass the local legend, Henry's Fishhouse. The only way to get to this popular spot is via boat or floatplane.
Day three concludes with a raft-up at Twelve Mile Bay. Here's a shot of the raft forming up
Jason and Marc check the anchors
Prior to another great night at anchor.
Hope you enjoyed a little slice of our adventure.
Paul
