Sunday August 16: Peterborough

Well, I almost saw the sunrise again. Close but not quite :-)

An early morning departure was in the plan as we left the Lakefield Marina Sunday morning.

The high temp for the day was to be 95 degrees and we had seven locks to go through. These are the hand operated 'just like it used to be' locks between Lakefield and Peterborough.

Avg time to travel the 7 1/2 miles and 7 locks? About 3 hours - and that's on a good day.


Our plan was to move to the blue line so we were totally ready for the first lock of the day at 9 am.

There was absolutely no wind - which made the short canal from the marina to the lock a mirror in the water.

Once on the blue line, Steve made breakfast (we had arrived about 8 or so). Great stop! And as always a great breakfast :-)

We like Debbie's (near the marina) but it just didn't make sense to get any later start than we needed.

We ended up being 1 of 7 boats traveling the locks together (having picked up another 4 boats at one of the locks). As the last in line of boats, at first we thought we might not make it in but the lockmasters doubled up a couple of the smaller boats. Everyone was able to squeeze in!

The travel between the locks was mostly slow zones and for once Cousin Vinnie was not with us! Everyone stayed in the same positions in the locks (which makes it much easier). And everyone was very good at getting in and out quickly.

Steve even managed to be on the shade side of the lock (not an accident) but what a plus. The sun was just crazy hot.

We thought of Matt when we saw a pack (group? bunch?) of bikers along the canal. Can't imagine how they could be riding in this heat ....

We also spotted the smallest campsite on a tiny island along the waterway. Definitely someone wanting to get away from it all :-)

Finally after 3 1/2 hours - made it to the lock just above the city of Peterborough (a short bike ride across the bridge) and found a spot in the shade.

Where I read and watched the Liftlock tour boat travel through this lock and then the liftlock and back.

Surprising the number of people who enjoyed the trip on this Sunday afternoon. But then they say people come from around the world to see the lock. And to be able to ride it up and down would be a fun thing to do for a visitor to the area.

Meanwhile Steve was busy trying to keep the solar panel in the sun! Worked out well as we managed to keep the boat in the shade and the panel in the sun!

Biggest controversy of the day: could the guy that caught a 30" muskie keep it?

Of course not. They are HUGE fish when grown and the minimum length to keep is 44" and only if you have a sportfish license.

Turns out the person that caught it didn't have ANY license and was clueless about muskie in general. Steve finally settled it by telling the group fishing they HAD to throw it back and they couldn't keep it. Of course by then the fish had about had it (pictures and decision time). So Steve successfully (we think) resuscitated it by swishing it in the water so it's gills were able to process the oxygen in the water. Often time the fish is so tired out that it literally can't breathe on it's own.

One of the guys yelled "just let it go" as Steve was on the back of the boat working to get the fish to breathe on it's own. Not a smart thing to say. Takes a lot to make him mad but that did it. I think the guy was about to get some help with a flying leap into the water ....

Monday? Off to at least Hastings - maybe farther. We're headed for a road trip to Georgian Bay to see if we can spend a day with Peter and Cheryl on Deja Vu and Jim and Linda on Symmetry II before we head back across Lake Ontario. Since our plan to join them in the North Channel was foiled by the weather, we'll try by car!