Hastings to Peterborough

July 17-22 Tues - Sun - Hastings to Peterborough

An early exit today as we have a 50 mile run, most of which is across Rice Lake.  The lake is 2 miles wide and 12 miles long.  It has multiple island scattered throughout, with rolling green hills.  Nice scenery.  We leave the lake and head north up the Otonabee river.  The river narrows and winds tightly, with trees on both sides right down to the water's edge.  After a seven hour ride we pull into Peterborough Marina and settle in for the stay.  We walk thru town and get a "lay of the land"  The main street includes may restaurants and stores. We return to our boat and enjoy our "back porch", read our books and have an easy dinner of leftovers.  The next days in the Peterborough were filled both with activities and socializing with many loopers - as this is a popular stop along the trip.  The Peterborough Lift lock is a highlight for boaters.  We rode the bikes to the lock to watch the process and to visually see what we will be experiencing  It is an awesome sight to watch these two huge bathtubs of water go up and down to transport boats on their journey. Boats drive in the lower tub, water is also filled into the upper cylinder. The water is pumped into the cylinder which then pushes the bottom tub up and lowers the top tub. An interesting process. The town sponsors music in the park twice a week so we are entertained by 2 different rock bands.  It also sponsors a farmers market twice a week where we purchase farm fresh veggies and fresh baked bread.  The street fest on Saturday is called Peterborough Pulse.  It is a family oriented fest with games to try; like mini -curling, skateboard ramps, zumba demos, hoola hoop fitness and chalking the street.  Colletta's favorite was the ax throwing.  Peterborough was a good stop, but it is time to move on.


 

This time last year in Canada Colletta was

wearing a hoody and blanket. What a difference

a year makes.

 

Sunset tied to the Lock wall for the night

The Lock staffs have their own gardens and sense of

humor

Pisces Pete sculpture in Hastings

Heading up the river

Exiting the lock you maneuver thru a narrow

opening and then this abandoned RR trestle that

the local kids use for a diving platform.

Mama loon with her baby on her back

Found at the Farmer's Market in Peterborough

Don't mess with Colletta when she has an axe in her hands

 

A pop up park at the Peterborough Pulse festival

The fountain as you approach the marina in Peterborough

You can practice your curling on your own miniature

curling board

 

My new pirate buddy

Lunch at a greek restaurant. Had greek French fries

which were fries with feta cheese on top and an

Italian au jus. Kind of a greek version of poutine.

 

The famous lock itself.

 

The Lift lock at Peterborough. The tallest lift lock in the

world. 65 foot lift built in 1904 and still working well today.

Short Vacation and Greek's Folly approaching

the lift lock.

You tie to the pipes on the wall and since you

are floating in a tub of water there is no movement

up or down like normal lock. Very smooth.

On our way up. These pictures were taken by Rob Liss

who is the Harbor Host at Peterborough. He and his wife Glenda

were great hosts

Exiting the lock on top. 65 feet higher

 

 

Campbellford to Hasting Ontario

July 15 and 16 Sun and Mon- -Campbellford to Hastings Wall

We were stymied this morning by multiple boats getting in the que for the lock.  Didn't make our first lock until after 1 PM.  Again it was a short mileage day but did 5 locks in 3 1/2 hours, only 6 miles.  We tied to top of lock 17, which was a double lift of 54 ft total.  John dropped the dingy in the we were off to find a place to swim.  The weather has been warm, the water is comfortable and we just drop anchor close to shore and jump in and float on the refreshing Seymour Lake.  The beers are cold, the water refreshing, and the sun was warm and pleasant.  Tom treated us to dinner of a new recipe - pasta ad sausage with fennel- delicious.  The sunset was stunning and by midnight the skies was filled with twinkling stars..

In the morning, the boats were pushed off the wall and we continue on our way.  The winding route took us through Seymour Lake and the Trent River.  We snaked our way past quaint cottages, modern homes and may fishing boats and vacationers.  We approached Hastings and waited for out short lift up.  We docked on the lock wall and walked to Captains Table restaurant for their famous fish and chips.  Huge servings, delicious food.  Tom stopped back in the kitchen, he has a job offer there anytime.  The weather changes, it became overcast and rainy all afternoon.  We decided to stay on the lock overnight where we were safe and comfortable.  Tom went to the library in search of Internet service.  Libraries are an important asset to Loopers.  Internet service is usually very good and the librarians are "in the know" about what is happening around town.  Docktails with 6 other boaters filled the evening until the rain chased us all back to our pasts for the night.

2 locks right in a row at Rainney Falls

 

Biking around Campbellford we discovered this mini-library

Suspension bridge over the falls

How often do you find a piano in the forest?

Campbellford is the home of the artist who designed

the back side of the Canadian Tooney (their $2.00 coin)

 

 

One of the dispays at the Incredible Edible feast at Campbellford

Trent Port Marina to Campbellford Town Wall

July 7-9 Sat, Sun, Mon - Trent Port Marina

dinner on Short Vacation with Eric and Karen, Trent Port Harbor hosts

The current plan is to start the Trent Severn Canal system on Tuesday so a list was made of everything that needs to be completed.  You would think that we would have everything done, but that is never the case in boating.  Tom assists John with his projects as he has been a big help to us; so after a church service and church picnic, Sunday is spent working on Short Vacation and Monday is spent replacing shift cables on Greeks Folly.  The water tanks are filled, anchor windlass tested, fenders covered and we should be ready to depart in the morning.  Yippee.  we are ready to start traveling!!

On the shore of Lake Ontario
 

July 10-11 Tues and Wed Trenton to Lock 8

The trip on the Trent Severn Canal began with locks.  The day consisted of 6 locks, 7 1/2 miles  and 3 1/2 hours.  The locks were about a mile apart and with a lift of over 16 ft.  The sun was shining and pulling into the locks made for a warm day.  As the water rose with us floating up, we seemed to catch a breeze until the next lock with it's steep walls.  We rafted off the west wall above lock 6 at Frankford with 5 other boats - some old neighbors and some new friends to meet.  The short walk into town includes a trip thru the hardware store and the grocery store - always fun explorations for Tom.  A steak dinner and a night cap on the back deck is a classy way to end the first day.

The locks on the canal open at 9 which is perfect for Colletta- not too early and not too late.  The other 5 boats on the lock wall leave by 0915 so we start moving by 1000.  Rather wait tied to a wall than idle for 40 minutes in front of the next lock.  We travel thru some narrow areas with rocks visible sticking up out of the water.  Our short day of travel is concluded at Lock 8, Percy's Reach, where we tie below the lock at a grassy park.  The area is green and lush and quiet and peaceful.  Colletta went for a walk on a gravel road and through a soybean field.  The hills roll and the pastures and fields travel down to the waters edge.  The place is very secluded - basically in the middle of nowhere.  We spend the evening fishing and chatting and being entertained by 3 young men camping in the park and chasing their soccer ball. (Yes, it went into the water)

The beginning of the Trent-Severn Adventure

Map of the waterway  and 45 locks

 

Waiting on the blue line at Lock 1. The locks don't have radios so if you\
want to lock thru you pull up to the blue line. Sometimes the lock
staff sees you coming and is ready for you to pull right in the lock
sometimes you wait.

Like the Rideau Canal from last summer many of the locks have doors that
are manually opened and closed. There seems to be a combination as some locks
have hydraulic doors and valves to flood the chamber

July 12-14, Thurs, Fri, Sat  Lock 8 to Campbellford

The locks open at 9 and we are the first ones thru.  The goal today is to go thru 5 locks and get to Campbellford City wall as quickly as possible.  Each lock is ready for us with the doors open as we approach and we continue on and reach Campbellford about noon, but not without adventure.  As we make out last curve to starboard, the port engine overheats, the alarm goes off the the captain turn off the engine.  We pull in to the wall and Tom does a great job of docking with one engine.  The diesel  engine will cool for the rest of the day as we walk thru town and enjoy the evening.  The engine will be checked tomorrow.

By 0730 on Friday Tom has cleaned the strainers, checked the impellers and hoses and believes he has the problem solved.  He started the engine, lets it run, increases rpms and all seems good.  he thinks we may have sucked up a plastic bag into our engine water inlet. We get on the bikes and ride to the suspension bridge over Ranney Gorge and thru Ferris Provincial Park.  Fortunately the park entrance is adjacent to World's Finest Chocolate outlet store so we reward ourselves with delicious treats.  Everyone does their own thing in the afternoon but in the evening we all head into town for dinner to celebrate Pam's birthday.  

Tom and John walk to Dooher's Bakery for donuts and pastries in the morning.  At 0815 the bakery is empty but at 0900 the place is packed with over 20 people because everyone knows the donuts are ready at 9.  Doohers is a talked-about stop for the loopers and we too enjoy the cream and jelly filled donuts.  The town has an Incredible Edible festival today - food, farmers market, demos, music and entertainment.  Beer jelly, poutine, are all available for a small price.

Lock 6 with electric for $9.80 per night

We cover our fenders with 99 cent t-shirts we buy at close outs.

I think our son Pete played for this volleyball team at one time

Have to make sure you pau attention to the buoys on the waterway

Canadian creativity on the waterway. Conffy couch!

In the lock

Zebra mussels in the locks

Restored vintage lock master house

 

 

 

Bellevile, Ontario- Trent Port Marina, Trenton, Ontario

June 28-29 Thurs, Fri, Sat  Crate Marine to Trent Port Harbor

The morning was a busy one, quickly loading the bikes and heading out.  The short ride to Trenton was an easy, smooth trip.  This marina is also new, the facilities are pristine and the dock-hands scurry around to assist and get your boat secure before they head to the next one.  The batteries on Greeks Folly no longer hold a charge so Tom and John head out on bikes and purchased 6 new batteries to be delivered at the end of the day.  The captains/mechanics work in our engine room to get the old ones out, receive and install the new ones; all in a day's work.  The evening continues with a welcoming cocktail hour with AGLCA members (Looper Association), music in the park, and fish and chips at Captain Georges - on the corner.  The day was very productive, well planned and acquiring the batteries was a major accomplishment and relief to the captain.  On Friday, we attended an all-day seminar and were educated on the Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay, and the North Channel - the 3 areas we will by traveling on this leg of our cruise.  The Trent-Severn is a waterway with 44 locks, within many lakes and winding rivers.  The Georgian Bay and North Channel consist of a hug body of water with many islands (over 30,000), beautiful scenery, the Canadian Shield, and many rocks - many submerged and many visible.  We are looking forward to all 3 of these distinct and different cruising experiences.  We were awaken as the boat jerked, the wind blew and the thunder boomed.  We quickly secured things on the back deck, closed all windows and heard the rain pour down.  The storm blew in quickly and its fierce moments and it was over.  By 1000 we were on the biked with blue skies overhead, pedaling into town for the farmers market.  We walked the town and then rode to the first lock/  Some of us made it there (Tom and John) and some of us turned around to avoid the forest trail and headed home.  There was a couple who were locals and they gave use an extensive overview of the Georgian Bay and North channel.  There were 10 of us sitting at a table with charts, highlight markers, notebooks, and I pads with nav programs, all talking about the beautiful anchorages and adventures ahead of us on our route.  James and Mary Jane were wonderful in sharing their local knowledge.  The evening continued with docktails on the back of Short Vacation with laughs and fun.

On route to Belleville, Short Vacation followed by Aurora

two beautiful Defevers

The marina building at Trent Port. A first class operation all around.

Great harbor hosts, Eric and Karen. They were the best.

The marina is city owned but they didn't spare any expenses/

Beautiful showers( better then home) boaters lounge, ice cream store,

and FREE laundry. This must be heaven.

Moored at the end of the dock behind, Imagine. A boat we last

saw last summer in Quebec City. They did the outside Loop around

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

 

Steve and Diane's last we all went out for sushi. This is

the before picture when the sushi boat arrived.

 

This is after it hit the reef and sunk. Excellent sushi!

Steve with Christiana on her and Manny's boat. Christina is

Greek and gave us her father's family cook book along with

some of the secret family spice. She and her husband, Manny

were incredible hosts for just having met them.

Did I tell you we were in the flight path of a major

Canadian air force base. These guys went over the marina

all day long practicing.

Biked out to National Air Force Museum of Canada

and it was very nicely done.

A very knowledgeable docent who led us around on

a tour of the first floor.

 

 

 

July 1, Sunday Happy Canada Day

Today is independence day for Canada and they have a town celebration.  The festivities are at the park out on the point and include of course food, crafts, booths sponsored by local organizations as well as a car show,  local Canadian Idol, music by the Joyful Noise choir, Armed Forces Wives choir, a strong man competition, helicopter rescue demo, and fabulous fireworks.  Everyone is wearing a "Canada "shirt or a red shirt, us included.  It is hot -30C or 92F.  The breeze is blowing so we sit under a shade tree to enjoy the days festivities.  Although we are celebrating Canada, it looks very similar to any small town US July 4th celebration.


 

 Celebrating July 1, Canada day. Heading to the festivities.

 

They had a strong man completion, where the contestants

had to pull this truck across the parking lot.

Steve, John, and Pam listening to the Trenton Idol

competition

Hey, celebrating Canada Day isn't all that easy

They have a BIG weed problem in the marina so they

hire these guys ti bring in special machinery to cut and rake

the weeds. took them two days to do the marina.

This machine they built them selves.

This machine would cut the weeds and then with

another attachment on the front it collected the weeds.

They bought this machine in the Netherlands

 

July 2, 3, 4 Mon, Tues, Wed, Trent Port Marina

These three days are the typical life of a boater who is in a marina.  We chose to stay in a marina for the holidays which gives use time.  Last night, the main electrical switch on the panel blew out a circuit and produced a small flame before Tom blew it out. Monday consisted of a two-man work day to install a rotary selector switch.  Tom and John spent the day running wires, crimping wires and testing connections.  During that process, Colletta is the gopher to get parts and tools as needed.  The captains did a great job, and things are repaired and working. Tuesday was a running around day, which included getting a fishing license, checking out parts of town which we may have missed and enjoying A&W Root Beer.  Steve and Diane were preparing to leave Wednesday morning so we all got together for a Thai Sushi dinner - delicious.  Wednesday was July 4th so we visiting the Canadian Air Force museum a short bike ride away.  Tom and John especially enjoyed all the exhibits and history of the planes and their restoration process.  It was still hot - 89 F so a stop at D.Q. was a necessity.


The sushi boat arrives.........


 

 
The sushi boat after it hit the reef and was consumed.......

 

July 5-6  Thurs and Fri - Trent Port Marina

Tom has developed a problem with his hearing in that his left ear has no hearing.  Thursday Tom rented a car so on Friday we can return to Syracuse, NY and see a doctor to do a diagnoses on his ear.  Because we have a car for 2 days, Tom takes his bike to a bike shop to get his wobbly rear tire fixed too.  On Friday morning we all leave early-4 am- and make it to the hospital by 7 am.  John and Pam take the car and run their errands to the apple store and the mall while Tom gets seen first by an emergency MD, then the Head of the ER, then the junior ENT resident, and then the senior ENT resident.  We finally walk to a medical office building, see the specialist, have 2 hearing tests done, get a steroid shot in his ear, and make an appt for 2 weeks out. What an experience.  On the way back to the boat, we stop for groceries, stop at Brewerton for boat parts for John, and again cross the bridge into Canada.  The day was filled with "hurry and wait" moments as well as thankfulness for being in the right place at the right time.  There is no assurance Tom will regain his hearing but as least we needed to do what we can to try.