Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (on the eastern shore of Lake Simcoe), a young family – mommy, daddy, daughter – spent every weekend for 3 seasons and every summer vacation, 6 years in a row, with Sundancer.  Sundancer was a traveling companion – always ready and willing to go wherever the little family wanted to go.  She was capable, too, and could be trusted to provide just the right amount of comfort, convenience, and safety.  But the quality I most appreciated about Sundancer was her ability to put me completely at ease and demand nothing from me but total relaxation.

Sundancer was a 25′ Searay cruiser and, together, we travelled up and down the Trent-Severn Waterway venturing as far northwest as Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay and as far southeast as the Thousand Islands and halfway up the Rideau Canal.  Sundancer was our floating cottage and when we were together there was nothing for me to do but think about what I was going to eat each day and maybe where I might swim (if the temperature was hot enough to get me into the water).

Twenty plus years later, and we have just returned from a 3-night, 3-day cruise over the Labour Day weekend with our very bestest of friends, Jan and Peter.  They have their own floating cottage called Birchbark and she provided exactly the same atmosphere I remember so well.

From the western shore of Lake Simcoe we set out for our Saturday destination, The Wabique.  It was sunny and warm as we crossed first, Lake Simcoe and threaded our way through the narrows at Orillia, then Lake Couchiching, and finally entered the northern section of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

It was exactly as I remembered as we glided past marshes, woods, docks – some nicer than others…

   

       

         

    

   

   

Unfortunately, the caterpillars are still doing their damage along the canal…

   

Cruising along the canal leaves you with virtually nothing to do but sit back, relax, enjoy each others company, read a bit, and maybe have a snack

    

    

Or, try to understand why the captain can never leave his post!

Inevitably, you’re bound to run into a lock or two and it wouldn’t be polite if you didn’t do your part…

But that’s hard work so then you need a nap!

We arrived at the Wabique after a very stressful day at sea! If you’ve never boated, this is classy accommodation, complete with a fabulous little restaurant and a welcoming committee.

   

   

Now might be a good time to mention just how dark and quiet it gets at night. If you’re very, very lucky, the sky will be studded with millions of glittering stars and maybe even a few shooting ones (be careful to not get them confused with the satellites). And the only sounds you’re likely to hear are the frogs, crickets, the calls of the loons, and maybe even a sing-a-long following a great dinner and a few beverages 🙂

Sunday: more of the same – cruising, relaxing, locking through (and fighting off the pigeons and deciphering lock scum), and watching the world go by…

       

     

         

         

Despite feeling like the waterway was there for only us boaters, we did have to share it…

        

Although we boated with our lab back in the day, I can’t imagine putting him into a canoe, a kayak, or onto a seadoo!!!!!

       

       

Our Sunday evening destination was a cosy little bay within a larger bay – somewhere. When you’re a guest on a boat, you don’t really care where you go, where you end up, or when. Jan and Peter were disappointed that others had gotten there before us…

…so we moved on a bit and “settled” a little further in… Personally, I could find nothing wrong with our anchor point and was thrilled to have the company of some loons as well.

    

Oh, look, more loons!!!!

This lounging around, bobbing about on – or in – the water, eating and drinking well, and enjoying each others company never grows old. And this city girl will never tire of silence and darkness as long as she’s safely grounded somewhere.

We also saw a variety of water fowl, as well as some other random wildlife…

   

       

    

    

Lake Simcoe has always had the potential of being a bit nasty if the weather turns and Monday’s crossing to return wasn’t as smooth as our trip out on Saturday. Clouds came in, the wind picked up, and the rain came down.

   

But Peter took it slow and steady and before we knew it, we were wrapped in the safety of the marina.

Many thanks to Jan and Peter for hosting us on their floating cottage, Birchbark!

Wait, I’m not finished yet…

And, for no other reason than I’m so enraptured by this picture – and have no idea how I actually got it, other than with a very shallow depth of field – I must share this shot I got of the bow railing and bow line, as shot, no post production whatsoever!