Kirkfield is the second highest hydraulic lift in the world. Peterborough is the highest. It is also the first down lock since Trenton. Because it is all “downstream” from here to Lake Huron, the buoys are reversed for the remainder of the canal.

Let’s take a look at where we have travelled, and where we still have to go. Here is one map of the Trent-Severn Waterway:

In the upper left you will see Georgian Bay – our destination. In the lower right is Trenton, where we began the Trent-Severn Waterway, on Lake Ontario. You will also see Toronto toward the bottom left. At the top is Kawartha Lakes, the historic region we’ve referred to. In the middle of the map are Peterborough, Pigeon Lake, Lakefield, Stony Lake and Lovesick Lake.

Toward the far left is Lake Simcoe and Orillia, which we discuss in the next blog. Finally there is Port Severn, just after the Big Chute (not mentioned on this map) and you then enter Georgian Bay.

This map better details the Locks and the little towns along the Waterway:

If you amplify, you can better read the towns. We have circled the towns where we stopped for the night: Trenton, Percy Reach, Hastings, Ashburton /Peterborough, Lakefield, Pigeon Lake/Big Island, Kirkfield, Orillia, Swift Rapids and the Big Chute.

The journey from Big Island in Pigeon Lake to our next lock – Kirkland – was a colorful one. We loved the Key West type homes at Fenelon on Kawartha Lakes.

The channels were very narrow, with granite rock  on each side. We had been warned that these could be treacherous waters for your prop. Captain Pat had to remain diligent.

We began seeing lots of houseboats. We were told to watch out. Many local vacationers rent these boats for the weekend or week, and may not be the best at maneuvering them.

We arrived at the Kirkland Lock and were fortunate enough to have a spot. There wasn’t much in Kirkland – except for the Lock itself.  In addition to the Peterborough Lift Lock, this was an engineering marvel. It is the second lift lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

The hydraulic lift at Kirkland was constructed between 1900 and 1927 by Canadian engineer Richard Birdsail Rogers, who also designed the Peterborough Lift Lock.

Around the Lock were many diagrams and photos explaining how the Lift Lock works.

We met a daring young man – Vincent – who was biking from Vancouver to Montreal! He said he started out with his girlfriend but she abandoned him after a few weeks. He was such a cute guy. I admire his tenacity and love of adventure.

We departed the Kirkfield lock and headed to the Port of Orillia Marina via Beaverton. The canals were lined with granite rock and beautiful flowers. The country landscape with its barns and fields made for some beautiful photographs.

We arrived Orillia for a much needed extended marina stay!