LAKEFIELD, ON - TOO HOT!

Trip Day:	117	Latitude:	44°25.74 ' N	Locks Today:	5
Miles Today:	9	Longitude:	078°16.23' W	Locks Total:	64
Total Miles:	2,339	Location:	Lakefield Marina

It was difficult to leave Peterborough Lock.  The lock tenders made sure we were settled in for the night before they left and we joked about them delivering breakfast when they returned.  Today was our most challenging locking day due to the number of locks in a short distance and the heavy boat traffic.  We cleared five locks in nine miles and we locked through with five boats each time.  It takes longer for each lock with multiple boats entering, grabbing the cables, securing their lines before the rear gate could close and the water could be let in to begin filling the chamber.  And did I mention the heat, eh?  It was 34° C (conversion - x2+32) you do the math!

We  passed several groups of scullers rowing on the river, then as we rounded a bend Trent University came into sight.  The campus was stunning with surprisingly modern architecture. 

After lock 26 we passed through the most narrow section of the Trent Severn to date.  We were thankful there was no eastbound traffic.

 

We decided to stop in Lakefield for a day of exploring and relaxing, so KatMan2 went on to meet friends up the river and we will meet up later.  Lakefield Marina is in the heart of downtown so stores are only steps away. 

 Being out of beer, we set off to The Beer Store for our first purchase of been since arriving in Canada.  Beer is only sold in official beer stores which are all named “The Beer Store”.  Once inside, the beer selection is displayed by single bottle or can, then delivered by a conveyer belt after the order is placed.  

No more complaining about beer prices back home—Canadian Beer was $24.00 per 12 pack!  

The Canadian boating couples we have met told us they cross Lake Ontario to purchase their beer and wine in the States and consider it cheap!

THURSDAY,  JULY 5TH     -   PETERBOROUGH, ON

Trip Day:	116	Latitude:	44°18.48 ' N	Locks Today:	3
Miles Today:	33	Longitude:	078°18.04' W	Locks Total:	59
Total Miles:	2,330	Location:	Peterborough Lock Wall

The Trent Severn was a huge snake today, twisting and turning as we twisted through small towns and then open mountainous areas.  Making a sharp right turn we left Rice Lake and entered a canal which took us into Peterborough.  This geyser fountain is the official    visitor’s welcome.

Peterborough works hard to draw boaters to their town with a museum, art gallery, stores all within walking distance and free concerts on the waterfront every Wednesday and Saturday evenings. 

We locked through the 1904 Peterborough Lock which is the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world at 65 feet.


The lock works like a simple balance beam scale with two side-by-side pans filled with 330,000 gallons of water (1,500 tons).  For the lift, the boats drive into the lower pan of water and tie off to the rails.  One extra foot of water is added to the top pan (130 tons) - the increased weight in the upper pan forces it to push down and the lower pan rises on its piston, boats and all.  It doesn’t matter how many boats are in the pan—the boats displace their own weight. We tied off our boat and climbed up to the lock to watch the process before we locked through—amazingly simple technology over 100 years old.  It was quite a ride, eh!

Our views from the water pan as we ascended!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4TH - HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM CANADA, EH

Trip Day:	115	Latitude:	44°14.72 ' N	Locks Today:	6
Miles Today:	28	Longitude:	078°04.44' W	Locks Total:	56
Total Miles:	2,297	Location:	Margaret Island / Rice Lake

Breakfast with the group was our final fling in Campbellford.  We managed to have two meals at local restaurants, buy raspberries at the farmer’s   market, visit Dooher’s Bakery for  apple fritters and stock up on chocolate at the World’s Finest Chocolate Factory.  We also walked three miles which  completed our successful visit. 

After breakfast we got underway and headed toward lock 13  following KatMan2.  Ron and Marc have worked out a system of alternating days to take the lead position.  They each do their own navigating research for the next day, then compare notes and map out the course and anchorage or dockage.



In the spring, Healey Falls is a  favorite tourist attraction, but this time of year with such low water, it isn’t much of a waterfall.  Today was very hot and humid, but the  waterway was lovely and each lock tender greeted us with a smile and a wave, wishing us a happy July 4th. 

This huge gate is the first gate of a double lock.  After we entered it closed behind us, the lock filled to the waterline at the bottom of the gate, then when the front gate opened we motored up into another lock and this gate became the back gate and we rose another 24 feet. 

Our compass heading ranged from North, west and South as the waterway snaked through the towns, which are located on the Trans Canada Trail for the cyclists.

This section is called the Trent which is sometimes wide-open  water with mountains in the  distance and other times a narrow  canal with cottages and homes on the bank. 

Our last lock of the day was at Hastings which was the busiest lock we have encountered.  As we approached we saw the gates were closed locking down boats going East, so we tied up on the wall at the blue line where three other boats were already standing by.  When the eastbound boats exited, the lock tender walked the wall and told each boat  how he wanted it to enter, which side of the lock and what position in relationship to the other boats.  There were two small boats behind us. 

Rice Lake is between the river channels of Hastings on the Trent and travels into Otonabee River.  It is a large lake, but like most of the Kawartha lakes, it is shallow except for the marked channel.  The lake was a giant granary in Native American times and was named for the wild rice that grew along its shores.  The lake attracts great flocks of southbound ducks and geese on their way to winter feeding grounds. 

 

Having dropped anchor in the lee of Margaret Island, out of the blue we saw a boat motoring toward us—Betty L was joining us.  Within minutes of anchoring, all six of us were in the water to escape the heat.  We cleared long strands of grass off the outdrive and rudders.

Madaline and Bob invited everyone to the Betty L for happy hour which we were more than willing to accept.