We are Joan and Larry Ropka and have in the recent past cruised the US
east coast and Canadian triangle. We have relapsed into RV dirt cruising
and plan to be in the  north central region in early summer. Question: if
you were going to spend a week or two on a rental house boat on the Trent
Severn, what segment(s) would you recomend. Also any must see/ do's therein.

Any/all suggestions welcomed and appreciated.

Larry and Joan
Drying out after 6" of rain in Fort Walton Beach Fl

We cruised a rental houseboat from Bobcageon to Lakefield last fall, and had a great time.
 
We chose the second week in September because all the kids are back in school and the traffic is lower, but the weather is still good and the bugs are mostly gone. We rented from Happy Days Houseboats, and had a good well maintained boat, in good shape, clean, and fully equipped. Propane fridge, heat and stove worked perfectly. GPS and charts were accurate, and they even provided a lengthened anchor rode to alleviate my paranoia! Blankets and bath kits are supplied as extras. I can recommend Happy Days highly.
 
Reserve as soon as possible. We could only get a 4-day rental on a 2-couple boat. I would have opted for a 7-day, or possibly a 14-day if available. It was a shorter cruise, but a GREAT trip! So relaxing and peacefull, no equipment or nav problems, cooking on board or finding a restaurant no easily done. We only ran to Lakefield, due to time, but spent two nights there at the local Marina, and biked down to Peterborough to see the famous lift locks. Good ride, mainly flat riverside roads.
 
You could go a lot further with more time. Doing the lift locks would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the waterway is so much more green and close and attractive than other wider rivers can be.
 
In summary, a great cruise, on a comfortable boat, on a beautiful waterway, with historic attractions, requiring good seamanship but with no nasty surprises lurking if you pay attention, and you don't have to haul the boat and winterize it when you're done!
 
Also, I may be wrong, but it seemed that other houseboat rental outfit's boats looked a little less well maintained than Happy Days. Just an impression.
 
Phil Little
Weehawken NJ
 
 

From: Larry Ropka lropka@gmail.com
To: "great-loop@lists.trawlering.com" great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 7:56 AM
Subject: GL: Cruising the Trent Severn

We are Joan and Larry Ropka and have in the recent past cruised the US
east coast and Canadian triangle. We have relapsed into RV dirt cruising
and plan to be in the  north central region in early summer. Question: if
you were going to spend a week or two on a rental house boat on the Trent
Severn, what segment(s) would you recomend. Also any must see/ do's therein.

Any/all suggestions welcomed and appreciated.

Larry and Joan
Drying out after 6" of rain in Fort Walton Beach Fl

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