July 27 Making way under fair weather

We made way in the morning to Balsam Lake (first pic), which is the highest point about sea level in the world (about 850 feet above sea level) where a boat under its own power can reach sea level.  From here on we will be descending to sea level.  To do that, we have to progress through a lot of locks, and one of the most treacherous passages of the entire trip – a narrow canal that was made by blasting through the Canadian shield.  That means sharp rock ledges on both sides of the canal (See pics 2,3,4).  We arrived at the second highest lift lock in the world, the Kirkfield lock (see pics 5, 6).   After progressing through about 6 more locks, and through the Hole in the Wall bridge (pic 7) we came to the largest lake on the system, Simcoe Lake.  We planned to dock at the last lock, but weather conditions were good and we pressed onward, since Simcoe Lake is known to have 6 to 8 foot seas regularly.    We made it across the lake to the Port of Orillia –about a 10 hour day on the water.