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| Canadian Shield along highway 400 |
Just the way the locks are located along the Trent-Severn Waterway, we saw lock 45 (the last lock) yesterday. Big Chute Lock 44 is actually back north up the highway 400 and we find ourselves fully back into the Canadian Shield and only 60 km from Parry Sound where we visited a few weeks back.
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| Big Chute Lock 44 Marine Railway |
Big Chute Lock 44 is the only marine railway in North America, an engineering marvel on the Trent-Severn Waterway that lifts boats over a 60-foot ridge between the Severn River and Gloucester Pool using a railway-mounted carriage with slings.
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| Boat driving into the chute |
When we arrive just before 10am, it is sitting quietly waiting for the day. At 10 am sharp the operating crew arrives and gets straight to work. There is a boat waiting on the dock and slowly the marine lift slides down the tracks and into the water for the boat to drive into the slings.
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| Boat in the slings |
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| The chute rolls back up to the top |
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| Chute rolling down the other side |
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| Chute into water and boat drives away :) |
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| View of the lift from the other side |
It was a bit out of our way to get up here to see this marine railway, which operates as a lock, but we are sure happy we took the extra effort as it is absolutely amazing to watch. Boats are able to pass over the high ground by floating onto the submerged railway carriage, which then hoists them overland.
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Working machinery of the Chute lift
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We head into the little visitors center and see the massive cables and winches that make this whole thing happen. Very cool.
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Group of kayakers get lifted :)
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We are just heading back to our rig and we notice a group of kayakers getting ready to use the Big Chute lift. Darn, what a cool thing to have joined in on if only we had known. They paddle on and just sit on the base of the lift rather than using the slings. They all have huge smiles.
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| End of the Canadian Shield |
We back track down highway 400 and officially leave the Canadian Shield again. Another beautiful thing we experienced on this trip.
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| Martyrs' Shrine near Midland |
The Martyrs' Shrine is right along our way so we make a quick stop. It is very impressive both inside and out.
It honors eight Jesuit missionaries who were martyred in the 17th century on or near here and tries to give insight of the shared history between the Indigenous peoples and early European missionaries.
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| Inside the Martyrs' Shrine |
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| Town of Midland |
Just down the road is the Town of Midland, which is known for its murals.
It's another sweet colorful town we get a small glimpse of.
Our last pit stop of the day has us on Wasaga Beach.
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| Wasaga Beach |
WOW, what a beach. This beach is recognized as the longest freshwater beach in the world, spanning over 14 km of sandy shoreline along the southern shores of Georgian Bay.
The sand is so soft and warm..
Every Ontario town has these banners with the town name on them. They are always colorful and very nice addition to the streets.
Finally we arrive at Craigleith Provincial Park on the southern shores of Georgian Bay. Our home for the next two nights.
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| Fractured shale shoreline |
It's known for it's fractured shale shoreline and breathtaking views of the crystal clear water.
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| Sun setting on Georgian Bay |
We have a sun downer and call it day...another busy one at that.
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