Gloucester Pool and the Severn River, Rendezvous.

Julie and Chris Bullen

August 14, 2006

Tim and Scott organized a fantastic day on the water. They even got Mother Nature to work her magic for some perfect weather. Launching started out between 9 and 10 at the top of the Big Chute Railway. With the use of two ramps the boats were in quickly and we were ready to have fun on the water. Tim's charming wife Kim distributed out the charts and agendas from their floating palace decked out with the ACBS banner. We were free to set our own course for the day with stops/sites of interest marked on the charts. We headed out down the rail to Gloucester pool. What a view. We were fortunate to be on the front of the railcar on the way down to see across the bay and get some good photos. The trip on the rail is a quick and fun mode of transport. Heading out the channel to Gloucester pool is a very narrow cut through the rock. Once in the main part of the pool we were up on plane and off to see the falls at White Rock, after that we traveled along the shore admiring the cottages and boat houses on the way. Passing the Thompson place on the point - the homestead of the Dunsmoors, we were eager to hear about the history as we met up with many of the participants had some snacks and refreshments at the Dunsmoor's. Out back in "the barn" is a boat that Scott had found in the woods on the property and discovered that is was Sanitimo 1 - Grandma's boat. In need of some work (a definite gray boat) it will be a while before she's back in the water. Just a short boat ride up Little Go Home Bay is Sandy's outboard collection which he graciously opened his home (actually his bonk room and garage) for us to view, admire and drool. Sandy has amassed over a 100 motors together with old ads and catalogues; you could spend a month in there appreciating all that you see. Leaving Sandys we toured the rest of the bay and had a picnic lunch. The chart pointed out many nice picnic spots as well as places to stop and eat. By 1:00 it was time to head back up the Big Chute. In 1978 the Big Chute opened and can hold vessels 100' long and 24' wide (the smaller, single vessel, original water rail built in 1917 was causing dreadful back-ups on busy weekends). The line was a little long but we all made it up to the top with enough time to see Peter Breen's boathouse and his collection of wooden boats. After this it was time to head out to see some more of the river and then back to the ramp to prepare for the trip home. We gathered at Severn Lodge for cocktails and dinner. The locals came by boat and gave the lodge there own private show. The group enjoyed a peek over into the owner's boathouse. Inside was a very unique Greavette. A 1935, 36' feet long keel with a distinctive build. We thought it may be one of the Dart boats from the U.S. that Greavette was involved in. Beside the Greavette was a very big Ditchburn for transporting a large crowd's. Thanks for all the work the Akienhead's and the Dunsmoors put together a very organized and fun event for the club members to enjoy. These events are still my favorite during the clubs boating season, and this was the third one of the season. Getting out on the water with friends and old boats, exploring new areas, what could be a better way to spend a summer's day.