2012
On Board the Historic 100 Mile Cruise
This past weekend I had the privilege to board the RMS Segwun steamship and take part in the 100 Mile Cruise. This historic event was the highlight of the summer in Muskoka and will provide enduring memories for many years. Here are a few pics of the journey which departed Gravenhurst at 8:30am and returned 12 hours later. Please click on each photo to get a 1600 pixel shot.
There was a very large crowd waiting for us as we entered the Port Carling locks. The Wenonah II steamship was following closely behind us.
Looking out from the Port Carling locks to the Lake Rosseau side.
There were many cottages and boathouses crammed with people cheering us on as we passed the shorelines.
Arriving in Port Sandfield at the swing bridge was astounding with more large crowds greeting us and taking photos. As we passed through the channel you could see an amazing flotilla of wooden boats waiting to join us.
This is the Wenonah II passing through Port Sandfield with other boats starting to tag along for the journey.
A large number of the most beautiful vintage boats toured alongside of us. It was breathtaking to see just how many there were. Unfortunately I was not able to recreate the scale of it through photos from one ship. When the aerial photos come out you will see how grand the entire event was.
Take me to your Captain. I had the opportunity to go up on the bridge and visit the Captain and navigator. Very cool people with nerves of steel.
The final destination was up on Little Lake Joseph. I was surprised the route we took as I have often taken my own boat through here and you need to be very careful of the shallow water. I had heard the Captain had spent the day before testing depths for this journey. At the end of the Bay in Little Joe is a large cliff once called the Natural Park where the steamship would stop and let people out for a walk. Today it is private property. At this point the entire flotilla of boats jockeyed around the two steamships while helicopters zoomed bove taking aerial footage of this remarkable event.
The Wenonah II coming back from the top of Lake Joe heading towards Port Sandfield
I shot this photo off the bow of the Segwun as we passed through Port Sandfield heading back towards Port Carling in the late afternoon. We were just about to be called to the dining room for a great dinner.
The RMS Segwun returning home after a very long day. I’m just glad I didn’t have to shovel the coal.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, on the water, uncategorized
It was truly an awesome experience. I was also on the Segwun but had been on the Sagamo for the same cruise in 1948. wonderful memories.
amazing shots, thanks ed
Very Nice!
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ED! WOW! What a great looking experience…the old woodies that escorted looked awesome. Thanks for sharing such a neat cruise. Beautiful photos as always. Enjoy the rest of your summer up there!
Great shots. We were a part of the day as well, boating alongside the Segwun and Wenonah during the Lake Muskoka/Indian River leg of the journey. Then we docked at Port Carling and watched both ships passed thru the locks. It was a thrill just being a small part of the day. Your pictures help fill in what went on the next legs of the journey.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience with us .. great photos as usual.
Your style is very unique compared to other folks
I’ve read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this page.
I spent one wonderful summer on the Sagamo working as a waitress. There were four of us doing that, we were all good friends. The food was great and we hated to come home when summer ended. We were only paid about $25.00 a month but the tips were great which helped when I entered college. I even remember the cooks names (Pink, Chow and Wong) This was in 1954. Gravenhurst is a lovely spot and the lake is gorgeous. It was a pleasure to see it again.