Sat, Sun - July 29-30 Lock 20 to Smith Falls (Lock 29)

Sat, Sun - July 29-30  Lock 20 to Smith Falls  (lock 29)  

Sun up and so are we.  The lock workers dropped another beam into the dam to continue to slow the water flow.  20 minus later we receive word that all locks are open and boats should start to move - so we do.  We said good-bye to our new friends and head south to Smith Falls.  We pass many boats' wakes as we all travel and many boats also follow us up.  8 locks, 17 miles and 5 1/2 hours later we arrived, found a spot on the free wall and set out to explore Smith Falls.  We rode our bikes into the business district, found the big box stores and enjoyed Tom's favorite - Dairy Queen.  While on the back deck of the boat, we watched other boaters lock thru, 6-8 per lockage.  Everyone is happy to be moving.

This is Allison one of the lock tenders at Lock 20. She gave us a ride
into Smith Falls and along with the other staff members: Kevin,
Jordan, and Griff tried to make our unscheduled stay as comfortable
and pleasant as possible. Great bunch of people.

 

Before we depart a little vegetation had to be removed from
our rudders and struts

 

 

 

Sunday -

Time to go to worship.  We attend church today - which really felt good; many prayers continue to be said.  The two museums in the area were the Railroad Museum, where a gentleman shared with us info about train communication via Morse code, flags, lights and radio.  We climbed aboard engines, cabooses and even a dentistry rail car.  The other museum was a Heritage Museum which displayed the visual history of Smith Falls.  We enjoyed some folk music in the park and the fresh sweet corn with our steaks - delicious.  

The gentleman who demonstrated railroad communication
to us. A retired school teacher who always loved railroads
after 38 years teaching got his wish.

A really impressive museum that was well done
and very informative

A Canadian railroad track snow plow. They don't mess around
up here in the Great White North. Where the CN is on the side that is
a wing that folds out to cover more area and throw the snow further
off the track

One of the nicely preserved railroad cars with a also nicely preserved
couple in front

John and I were hoping to get to drive this 2 man car but it was not
to be...today.