Friday

June 30, 2017

We left Peterborough Marina on Thursday.  It was a cold and rainy day.  We traveled 15 miles and through 8 locks.  Figure one half hour per lock and 10 miles an hour of driving.  Not too long of a day, if it weren't for the speed zones and the rain.  Spent the evening at a lock wall inYoungs Point, ON.  A very small town, but they did have a general store with tourist trap items in it.  Of course we bought some trinkets...

Today we left Youngs Point and headed for Bobcaygeon, ON.  This is a really cute small town with everything one might need.  It is supposed to be the busiest town on the Trent-Severn.  We'll be staying two nights to help the Canadians celebrate their 150 year Birthday.  We'll all wear red tomorrow and even Elwood has a Canadian scarf.  We're on a lock wall with many wonderful boaters.  There are a few loopers here too, but we don't know them very well.  Enjoying the company of locals tonight.

We'll think of it as an early 4th of July.  Food, a parade, Ryan Carr Band and Fireworks on Saturday evening.

Just a little bit about why there is a big fountain in the center of the Peterborough bay.

This was so cool!  

After leaving the town of Peterborough we went through the historic Peterborough Lift Lock.  For quite a while it was the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world, built in a time when lifts were usually 7 ft, it raises boats 65ft. There are two identical bathtub-like ship caissons in which vessels ascend and descend.  Both are enclosed at each end by pivoting gates.  The coolest part is there is no external power, the lift functions by gravity alone using the counterweight principle.  One caisson always ascends and the other always descends during each locking cycle.  When one reaches the top it stops 12 inches below the water level of the upper reach and when it is filled to capacity the extra foot. The lock is held in that position until the boats drive out but that extra weight of the one foot of water makes it come down forcing the other tub to ascend and it repeats.

The start of the Lift Lock...

Here we go...

In the U.S. boaters stay in their boats during the locking process.  No one can go anywhere near the locks.  They're all fenced in.  In Canada, people are walking all over the locks literally.  Joell is walking across a lock gate in this picture.  

This picture was taken for Joell's sister.  Mike thought the cartoon characters would help her understand where we are.  Well the picture just won't do... so below is a video of the same map so you all can see a little better of the travels through the Trent-Severn Waterway...

(hope this helps Beth :-)

A little history of Youngs Point.

This is a boat waiting to lock through at Youngs Point.

The Youngs Point dam.

Just a lock between islands called Lovesick.  It only locks us up 4 feet.

Mike thinks this might be a glass home used in a movie called The Lake House.

They call these falls.  We call them rapids.

Mike cleaning the Canadian goose poop off of the sidewalk in front of our boat.  Our new friend Steve looks on.

Bobcaygeon, ON is a very nice stop.  It is noted for its huge Bigley shoe store.  Locals say Canadians come from all over to shop here.  We'll visit the store tomorrow.