Friday July 17: Orillia

It's been less than a week but we've traveled a bit over 100 miles from Peterborough to Orillia. There is a Scottish Festival here this weekend that we caught a part of many years ago. Sounded like fun so here we are ......

Map of part of the Trent Canal System

Leaving Peterborough Marina

Lift lock - one of two on the system

We left Peterborough Monday morning after arriving from Buffalo the previous night. The day was beautiful and warm.

The second lock  of the day was the lift lock at Peterborough. Still the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world, it was completed in 1904. For more info, click here.

Cruising on the Talbot River

Six locks and quiet travel on the Talbot River later, we arrived at Lakefield for the night. The laundry was close so it was a good time to get that done. Steve walked to the grocery store - I guarded the boat :-)

Lakefield Marina

Tuesday was an overcast day but no rain so that was ok.

Finally, we spotted some loons. There were 2 young ones but old enough to dive for fish on their own. Even so, the adults hung around to make sure the young were protected.

Loons outside of Lakefield

This kayaker should have had a really good view!

We continued on through Young's Point (with a quick stop for bait) as our goal was to make it to Lovesick lock for the night.

This is a very popular stop - the only lock with no roads to it (the lockmasters come in by boat) so it's very quiet.

And to our surprise, we were the only boat on the top side! Steve headed off to fish at his favorite spot :-)

Rain at Lovesick Lock

And then the rains came! And continued. Sadly, Steve had a total of about 45 minutes to fish.

He caught a few small bass (one which would have been large enough to eat but he threw it back) - nothing like the pickerel Becky caught a couple of years ago!

It was still nice being there. We'll be back this way later in the season so hopefully the weather will cooperate.

So if you can't have fun, might as well work, right?

Second burner added

Nice fit!

Time to put the second induction burner in. We had ordered this to arrive in Coeur d'Alene so hauled it to Alberta and back - along with a couple of pans we picked up on the way! Good thing Southwest doesn't charge for checked baggage!

Ahh - fit was perfect! Now all that needed done was to finish the plastic cover for it (which we also hauled all the way from Coeur d'Alene!).

It's just so hard to have things shipped up here to Canada (for a reasonable fee anyway).

Adding the wood sides

First, cut the wood sides to length and then attach with small screws. It just doesn't seem like it should have taken as long as it did but that's usually the way it goes.

I had already varnished the boards while Steve was in Greece so that part at least was done.

Backsplash or .....

protective cover.

Finished!

So the cover serves as a backsplash when cooking and a protector for the burners when closed.

So a rainy day is sometimes a good thing!

Bobcaygeon - looking at the old bank building on the corner

Off Wednesday early - passing through Buckhorn lock and lakes and Pigeon Lake as we made our way to Bobcaygeon.

Again one of our favorite spots. Busy little town and people watching is always enjoyable with boats in and out of the harbor most of the day.

There is now power (soon to be water) at some of the docks so for $9.80 we hooked up to the hydro for the night (Canadian speak for 'electric').

Good deal!

Chelsea rolls ...

Werner and Kathy (It's About Time)also caught up to us (they spent an extra night in Peterborough for a hot water heater fix). We told them about the bakery and Chelsea rolls but they were up and out before the bakery opened.

Werner, Kathy and Steve with Guppy and It's About Time in the background.

But we knew where they were headed - and we came bearing gifts: 3 chelsea rolls - warmed nicely in the sun. The stop was at Bolsover - one of the flight locks just before Lake Simcoe. Long day of 40 miles (of course there was a stop for lunch at our FAVORITE Chinese restaurant for lunch!). Nice appetizer for dinner, right?!



It was an early morning rise this morning as we were parked on the blue line (reserved for boats wishing to lock through from 9 am to 5 pm) and needed to leave at 9. Fine with us - only 25 miles to Orillia but first 2 locks and then across Lake Simcoe. It was rainy again - and overcast and cloudy but not too windy so the waves were fine. Definitely not a lake you want to be on in strong winds.

Tomorrow? Parade at noon and then the competitions begin!