Today, July 23, was my father in law, Joe's 102 birthday. He is at home with loving, qualified professional care in our absence. Happy Birthday Joe.
This was our first day out of the Trent Severn since we entered this beautiful canal system on July 10. The Summer Star and the Salt Shaker are headed across a Severn Sound (adjacent the south end of Georgian Bay) into Midland Bay and then into the town of Midland. Our destination is the Midland Municipal Marina.
Just out of the Christie's Mill Resort docks. Nice dinner last night at this upscale location.
This sign identifying the last of the 45 locks in the canal system. This is the smallest lock in the system which means that they can take fewer boats per lock thru than the others. Last night they had a large backlog of boats so if it had been our desire to keep on going instead of stopping at Christie's, we would have not made it thru this lock before dark. Sooo we made the right decision without knowing it.
The Summer Star behind us just out of the lock. Sally is very happy to be in relatively open water. No more locks. You can see the considerable turbulence in the stream.
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Looking ahead at the short but narrow channel leading us out. There is not enough room for two boats to pass each other and I was criticized on the radio by a opposing boat that did not understand this. I took my half out of the middle and I am sure he did the same once we were out and he was in.
On the way into the marina, we passed a number of these interesting sailing vessels, also equipped with oars, like a Roman galley ship. When the sails and the masts were down, each side was lined with these oars and the oarsmen put their backs into it. These vessels were from a number of countries as indicated by the flags they were flying on their stern. A number of Scandinavian countries were represented. They were all participating in training and competitive racing.
At the entrance to the marina, at its right hand side is this big silo complex, with a beautiful painting depicting a meeting between a local native and Samuel de Champlain. More information about this and other Midland facts can be found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland,_Ontario .
The marina office.
Finding this beautiful painting was a treat for me. This is of the long gone Great Lakes cruise ships the SS North American and the SS South American. When I was a teenager, we lived on Grosse Ile, Mi, right on the Detroit River. These two ships would pass our house on their way to their destinations with their loads of cruise passengers. They had the most unique whistles. They made a musical sound like no other vessel on the lakes. You would know that one of these ships was going to pass you long before you could see it.
The pavillion at the marina. We met lots of Canadians while sitting there and had many an interesting discussion about politics. It turns out that Canadians are just as passionate about their range of poliical views as any US citizen.
Always an event, as usual in the land of our northern neighbors.
A ship used for training and demonstration. It was loaded with young folks. She looks a bit worn.
Same ship, other end.
Local art.
On our way out of the harbor. A better look at the painting on the silo.
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