My last posting was Sunday, July 4, the morning of the triathlon in Peterborough. That afternoon, Janet and I took a taxi to a cool Canoe Museum, and learned lots about the First Nation people and how canoes shaped their lives, and later, the lives of all Canadians who love canoeing. We were there for hours! We then went shopping and stocked up on some food, including ice cream. But by the time we walked home and put it in a warm refrigerator (from too many nights not plugged in to electricity), it was mush by the time we ate it. Oh well, made fruit smoothies!
The next morning, Monday, we were the first ones through the lock, with three other boats we traveled with through eight locks that day. After only a quarter mile we reached the famous Peterborough Lift Lock, built in 1904. This photo shows Janet, locking gloves on, ready to enter the "bathtub" awaiting us. The other tub is at the top on the left, loading boats from above who are locking down.
After we entered the tub and tied up, they closed the back behind us. This was a lock where we could tie up since the water level would not rise or fall. We were going to lift in the entire tub. This photo shows us lifting and just about to cross the tub lowering from above. They pump an extra foot of water in the upper tub when we're all set, and that extra weight allows the tub to drop and lift us at the same time since we're connected with water-jacketed pistons.
This picture shows what it looked like in front of us, at the tall wall we were about to climb. The other tub can be seen at the top left ready to come down. This picture was taken before the previous one, since we already were moving in that one.
Now we are at the top of the lift, looking back at the canal 65 feet below us. They finally lowered the front of the tub and we headed north with the other three boats. We got to be friends with them since we went through 8 locks that day. Anyway, the Peterborough Lift Lock was exciting and different. Brian and I will get to go through a similar lift lock tomorrow in Kirkfield. It doesn't rise quite as high, but everything else is the same.
It was very hot and humid that day, so after locking through the 7th lock, we needed to cool off. We tied to the wall as we exited the lock and took a swim. And had lunch. And rested in the peaceful scenery. Eventually we went on and departed from the course to visit Stoney Lake for the night. It was written up as a "don't miss" and they were right!
One issue I had been facing for a week was that George notified me that he had a medical problem come up, and would be tested on Tuesday, July 6. I had been back to making frantic phone calls to everyone to see if I could find a new boat mate to accompany me to Perry Sound in Georgian Bay if George indeed would not be able to join me. One possibility was Brian, but he could join me for only a week since he was still job hunting. So, I was busy trying to plan who, what, where, when and how Brian might join if George could not.
If you remember how I described the Thousand Islands area in the St. Lawrence River, Stoney Lake rivaled its beauty! Forested, islands all over the place, beautiful cottages on each one, spectacular summer living. We finally found a suitable anchorage, and hoped it would hold in the strong afternoon wind. (It's consistently windy in the afternoons and then calm all night and the mornings.)
That evening we swam to cool off, and the next morning took a long kayak ride to see the coves and cottages up close and personal. Janet even saw a mink!
When we got back to the boat, I turned on the computer and learned that Brian got a job!!! He had sent the e-mail late the night before, so I was the last to learn. But I jumped for joy and dance around and cannonballed into the water and celebrated. It also meant that he no longer was limited to joining me for only a week, so the problem was solved! This picture shows me swimming for joy!
After making plane reservations, motel reservations, and transportation plans for Brian to get to me, we lifted anchor and cruised a couple hours to a remote lock called Lovesick. It elevated only 3.5 feet, and was in complete wilderness. The lock operators came and went by boat. We tied up there and met wonderful folks from Newfoundland, a local chap who taught me boating lessons, and one of the couples who locked through with us the day before. We took hikes and successfully avoided the poison ivy, and sped around the lake in the dinghy.
A funny story occurred as we approached an earlier lock that day. I received a call-back from the dermatologist in Cincinnati who I was seeking to remove my squamous cell cancer in Sept. We were discussing an appointment date and I cruised right past the lock, set off to the left (west) in trees. After I hung up I kept looking for the lock, and finally reached the end of the waterway. I was totally perplexed how I had missed it. After turning around, I almost missed it again! It was truly hidden.
This is a picture of Debbie and Wayne, who visited us and drove us and partied with us and hosted us and fed us, and we had so much fun!
But before Debbie and Wayne came, we traveled from Lovesick to Bobcaygeon (pronounced Bob-cay'-jun). That morning, before elevating our 3.5 feet in the lock, we took a kayak ride to see nature up close and personal. No wildlife though. Then on to a marina just past the Bobcaygeon lock where I had called ahead a reservation. We needed a marina badly -- the batteries were getting so low that the refrigerator was not staying cold (we hadn't been plugged in since June 28th in Trenton). The boat was covered with dead bugs and spider webs since we hadn't had a water faucet in 6 days, so it needed a good cleaning. We needed to prepare for guests too. So, once we got to the marina, we went to work...cooling off! It was terribly hot and humid. We ran the air conditioner and did odds and ends until night when it cooled enough to scrub down the entire exterior of the boat and completely clean the inside. Janet and I were busy little beavers. And it sure was nice to have A/C.
The next day, Thursday, Debbie and Wayne arrived. Debbie worked with me at Nestle, in the Toronto office. I'd never met Wayne before. They were great. They brought Cajun shrimp and all kinds of stuff for lunch, and we ate in the comfort of the A/C. Later we went into town for sight seeing and groceries, and then the strongest wind came up, complete with rain, and caught everyone by surprise. Later we went back into Bobcaygeon and they treated us to dinner, right on the canal (where the photo above was taken). They slept in the guest room on the boat, and during the night it started raining and never stopped. So instead of taking a day trip in the boat and kayaking as planned, we packed and drove the 2.5 hours to their home in Toronto. We got to meet their interesting and hilariously crazy friends at their local pub, Debby made a fabulous steak dinner, and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience with our new buds.
On Saturday morning, a sunny and sparkling day, we dropped Janet off at the airport. What a wonderful time we had for the past 12 days! And she became quite the boatswoman, locking through 32 locks and helping land at docks and walls. Hated for her stay to end, but I also was excited to pick up Brian and have him with me for 12 days. We went to his motel, but alas, the airline lost his luggage. We had to tell them the name and address of a marina in the next town past Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, and hope they would deliver his luggage later in the day.
So Debbie and Wayne drove Brian and me all the way back to the marina, those sweethearts. I made them lunch, but they couldn't stay. I spent an hour or more going over the boat stuff with Brian, and off we went! He drove for a while, but I took over and he napped. When we got to Fenelon Falls, it was so interesting to navigate along the narrow and deep river, past cottages and boat houses and cliffs, to the waterfall and lock. This picture shows Brian as we were waiting for the lock to open for all of us boats.
The high boating season had sure begun! Gone were the days when Bruce and I were alone in locks. The lakes were swarming with boats of all sizes. When Brian and I got into the Fenelon Falls lock, we had six other boats, including a houseboat and a yacht half again as large as Breaking Away that you can see in the picture. Two boats weren't even on the wall, just holding onto other boats. This lock was jammed all weekend.
Yesterday, too, the lock wall was all taken, so we went past and anchored up. The water skiers must have enjoyed watching us rock, because they sped past us all evening long, even doing circles around the boat. Brian and I kept waiting for his phone call that his luggage was delivered. No such luck. This morning we called and there was no more news, even if they'd located it yet. We dinghied to the marina to show our faces to those we'd spoken to about luggage being delivered there, and they let us call Air Canada on their phone (Brian had to conserve his phone since his charger was in the missing luggage). We then took a chance that a spot had opened up on the lock wall, and so we pulled anchor and returned, and there was indeed a perfect spot for us.
So, we've spent all day here waiting for the phone call, and luckily it came at about 8 pm! The guy said he'd drive his luggage out tonight. It's now 11:55 and he hasn't arrived yet. But it was a fun day for us. We went on a walk and saw the waterfall up close, we toured the village museum, I listened to a soloist sing on the lawn in front of the museum, I swam, I bought distilled water and filled the battery with THREE QUARTS!!!, we watched Spain squeak out the World Cup, and then had a yummy dinner at the dockside restaurant we'd been seeing all day long across from our boat.
Assuming the luggage does get here, we'll be off for a long trek tomorrow. If you need to reach me, call Brian's cell phone at (614) 582-2208.
I am so enjoying reliving the Trent-Severn as you relate your adventure! Looking forward to meeting you and other Loopers in L. Michgan, Chicago and the rivers late summer, early fall. Hope Brian has his luggage by now!
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