Gateway to the Trent Severn Waterway

 Trenton

We left Picton Saturday July 16th at 8am for a 39 mile cruise to Trenton. We arrived at 12:30 and after a quick pump out, yes there is a dirty job involved with boating, we got to our slip at Port Trent Marina. The marina turned out to be one of the nicest marinas we have ever been to as far as creature comforts. They provided free laundry and detergent, shower towels and bath mats, nice grills, and a really nice captains room.

They even had their out ice cream shop onsite with the famous Kawartha Ice Cream. Not sure why it’s so famous but it was really rich ice cream. The WiFi was awesome and the staff was as efficient and professional as we have ever seen. To top it off the oldest staff person was all of 25!  We went into town as they happened to have a festival along the Main Street.

Music was playing and stores had all their wears out on the street. Trenton itself was just another Canadian town but had all the basics a boater could want. The grocery store right next to the marina was top notch. We caught up on a lot of boat chores and enjoyed a couple of Looper gatherings on the docks. I went to a Canadian Aviation museum where they had a number of vintage aircraft most of which were made in the US.

Trenton is the gateway to the Trent Severn Waterway, a Canadian national heritage site. It was built much after the Rideau canal system so it lacks the old fashion lock systems. The Trent is 240 miles long with 44 locks ending at Port Severn which is at the mouth of Georgian Bay. We had planned on leaving on Monday but unfortunately the weather had different plans.

 

Rain moved in over night and continued into the afternoon. We decided another day at port would be better than transiting 6 locks in the rain. Besides we really liked the marina and were enjoying the comaraderie of  our fellow dock mates.