Greek's Folly on the Great Loop: Wed, Aug 2 - Westport to Chaffey Lock 37

Wed, Aug 2 - Westport to Chaffey Lock 37
After a quick trip to the Bakery for butter tarts and after we savored but devoured them. We left Westport and go thru the Newboro lock. This is the top of the canal system, 407 ft. We now switch the red and green markers and are being lowered in the locks. We come out on Newboro Lake and find we are "On Golden Pond." The loons greet us with calls between mates, numerous coves, island and anchorages can be seen each direction we look, and the locals and cruisers are all enjoying the water. It is very scenic. The entrances of the locks are very narrow and twisty which reminds us of the Dismal Swamp, but the water is now clean and very clear. We can see fish swimming and the rocks on the bottom in the canals. We are close to a waterfall again and the lock hands once again move planks to control the speed of the water. We moor to the wall at the bottom of Chaffey lock and go to the famous Opinicon Resort

restaurant. It was been renovated, remodeled, expanded and is booked for dinner every night so reservations are a must. We did not plan in advance, so we decide to eat a late lunch in their pub which was casual but very good food. We enjoyed watching boats come and go thru the lock - the max was 9 at a time.

On the Chaffey Lock Wall. We had power so it gave the generator
a rest and was quieter

The dam spillway next to the lock. Still quite a bit of water
going thru. I took a swim up from here off a dock and it was
really nice because as far as you could dive off the dock
the current would bring you right back. You just had to make
sure you didn't miss the dock or down the spillway you would
go.