44 LOCKS?!? - YES, PLEASE!
July 13-14, 2026
On our first day on the Trent Severn waterway we went through 8 locks. We didn’t want to go through 8 locks, but there it is. One issue with so many people completing the loop is that lock spots fill up quickly. We wanted to stop at Frankford which is lock 6, but both the below and above lock spaces were taken up. So, we endeavored onward to lock 7 (also completely full) and then to lock 8 (Percy Reach). I think we got there around 4:30 p.m. (long day as we had started a little after 9 a.m.). If you are going through the locks by yourself, it goes pretty quickly, but if you have other boats with you, it can add 15-25 minutes depending on how many other boats there are. I believe there were two other boats with us for the first 8 locks.
The “official” beginning of the Trent Severn Waterway!
First Trent Severn lock! Spoke with Laura, one of the lock hands who was working there for the summer.
Going into the Percy Reach lock.
The lock master allowed me to push the large wooden swing-beam turnstile to open the lock gate. Many of the locks have manual turnstiles on each side of the lock so on a busy day (15-20 times) the lock masters are completing this process 30-40 times. It certainly helps with getting in your steps and a bit of cardio!
We stayed over on the above side of the lock and as it was hot, went swimming. Vicki, from the boat, Pair of Jokers, joined us. Had a really nice time cooling off!
Swimming at Percy Reach lock.
The next morning we headed out for lock 9 (Meyers) around 8:15 a.m. The locks don’t open until 9 a.m., so we figured we would be one of the first in line. Nope, there were four boats ahead of us which meant that we would have to wait at least 40 minutes after they opened to go through (each of the boats were large enough that only two boats could go through at a time). So, we walked around, threw the ball for the dog and talked to the lock master and the students who were working there for the summer.
I also stuck up a conversation with a woman who was wearing construction clothes and had her two daughters with her. She said she had lived in the area for many years and had never gone through the locks. I asked her if she wanted to come onto our boat and experience the Meyer lock and she enthusiastically said yes. So, they all came on and sat on the fly bridge as we went through lock 9. The girls had a great time with Bella and afterward, we let them off at the top wall. Her husband was also there and he took pictures. When we asked about work, she said, “Oh, I work on the locks. My first job of the day is here at lock 9.”
