Monday July 14: Lakefield - Again!

The weatherperson was right on with the two days of nice weather!

We left Horseshoe Island Saturday morning to make the short 6 mile trip back to Young's Point - just in time for lunch. Don't remember what we had but I'm sure it was good - as always :-)

The first thing we checked on was the pair of loons with a nest near the concrete piling above the lock. Sadly, it was gone.

Seems a houseboat lost control in the strong current and took the nest out. It sounded like they were lucky they didn't end up getting sucked into the dam (there are cables to prevent this but looked like they took that out as well).

The lady that lives across the way though had been watching the loons from when they first nested - the egg(s) should have hatched at least a week ago. So likely it was not a successful nest anyway. Maybe being wiped out by the houseboat just quickened things a bit. Still, it's sad. For more info about loons, click here.

Being Saturday, it was a very busy day at the lock especially when the Kawartha Voyager appeared at the approach to the lock. How is this going to work, we wondered.

The upper lock channel was bad enough but the lower lock channel was seemingly impossible! But the lockmasters moved some boats around and once the Voyager was in the lock and headed out, there was no problem.

 Into the lock from the top and out at the bottom with no problems at all. It was fun to see the top of the Voyager fold down (including the pilot house!) as it made it's way under the highway bridge below the lock.

Meanwhile, I was entranced by the dragonfly that was eating a mosquito!

It was sitting on our back seat and if you look closely you can see the last bit of wing still hanging out of the dragonfly's mouth.

Must be why we like dragonflies so much!

It began raining Sunday early morning - before 7 and the old adage - rain before 7 clears by 11 - was actually true!

We waited around long enough for the clouds to clear and sure enough, it was a nice sunny ride the 8 miles to Lakefield.

We may stay here for the rest of the summer .... since we are now into a monthly rate! Nice place to spend some time.

And finally time for some kayaking! First time this season that we've had them out - definitely about time.

Sadly the picture left is a bad picture of Steve helping to blow my kayak up. Fortunately there was a dock. Seems someone (no mention of names here) put the screw in valve incorrectly. No wonder I was having an even more difficult time paddling against the current than normal - my kayak was loosing air and sinking!!

 Regardless, it was a nice trip in the marshy area just north of the marina. Lots of wildlife, lilly pads and birds but not very many fish.

It's always nice to see the red-winged blackbirds. Doesn't seem like we see them very often.



And this is what you call having your ducks in a row :-)