We arrived in Orillia this afternoon after our last official day in the Trent Canal....and I can't tell you how glad we are about that! We touched bottom probably 10 times today, mostly muck, 1 time gravel and 1 time a rock. The rock I believe was strategically placed under a bridge called Hole in the Wall entering Canal Lake to generate business for the local boat repair industry. It was dead center of the channel. Luckily we rode up and over it with no trouble.

The most ironic part of today was coming out of lock 41 right after they opened the lock doors and we got stuck on the bottom...in the lock! The attendant told us it was 6 feet deep.....I said we draw 5 and he says, are you sure? Had I been able to jump up the 12 feet to the top where he was I'd be in jail for justifiable homicide tonight. Anyway, he open the chute on the high water side to let a bit more water in and we got off the bottom and on our way. 3 more scrapings and we were finally out in Lake Simcoe.

So after 16 days in the Trent I think we have actually plowed more furrows than Oliver Wendell Douglas of Green Acres Fame. So much for the 5 feet of water guarantee. Trent Canal......WE BEAT YOU!!

The city run marina in Orillia is the nicest place we've been to so far, including Cobourg. Lots of people come to ask us where we've been and where we're going and are amazed we came through the Trent. We spoke to an American guy here tonight with a Catalina 42 that heading down the Trent with tomorrow that draws 5'2" and has a wing keel. After he heard our story he's freaking out a bit. He doesn't have his mast on the boat so he may be OK without the 800 lbs. he says is weighs. Good luck to him!