Day 83 Lock 43 Swift Rapids

Started this morning with warm, home-made blueberry muffins compliments of our fellow Florida travelers, Wally and MarySue, who moored right across the lock from us last night. We traveled along together crossing Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching, and a few more smaller lakes. By the time we got to the first set of locks after Lake Couchiching, I had on 4 layers of clothing - the wind was quite nippy. Wound through a some more narrow canals that connected the lakes and passed through a few more swing bridges. One of which was McDonald's Cut that was "cut by hand" in 1905 to make it navigable. (Pic 3) We are into a very majestic rocky area again - huge out-croppings of granite are everywhere. We tried to cover as much water as possible so we can get through the "Big Shute" early tomorrow morning. The last lock we did today was the Swift Rapids. We moored on the wall at the lower end of the lock. Wally and Mary Sue took the Beulah Belle on to an anchorage since space was at a premium. It is very isolated here - quiet and pristine. The lock attendants have to travel 11 miles of unpaved road to get to their jobs. The lock drops you 47' - quite impressive as you look up from your boat when you hit the bottom. From our mooring, we see and hear a spectacular man-made waterfall that generates power. (Pic 4) Tomorrow we finish the Trent Severn and enter the Georgian Bay.