The Big Chute
The Big Chute Marine Railway is boat lift that lifts boats in individual cradles up a height of 60 feet and then down railroad tracks to the water. It is the only marine railroad of its kind in North America still in use.
We go all the way (285 miles) across the Trent -Severn and the Big Chute is at the end. The Big Chute is very overwhelming. There is a sign that says they are not resposible for any damage to your boat - great! When "Perfect Day" is in the sling 12 feet of the boat are hanginng out over the back of the lift because of the inboard motors and hull design. They tell us not stand past the middle of the boat as it will upset the weight balance and now we find out that the amount of fuel we have is an issue - they could have had signs upriver about this! When trying to make us feel better we are told they have never had a boat fall out of the lift and only some have fallen out of the slings. A lot of nerves, but we make it through fine!
Hanging out waiting to do the Big Chute in the morning
(Our Venture, Learylyne and us)
The further west we went on the Trent-Severn the more beautiful the scenery got. It became more rugged and absoutely breathtaking. The cottages became bigger and bigger too.
Lots of water toys in front of the cottages -slides, diving boards, rafts, see doos, kayaks, canoes
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