8/16/10 THROUGH THE PETERBOROUGH LIFT LOCK TO LAKEFIELDS 26

BIGGEST NEWS OF THE DAY:

STEVEN GOT THE JOB AT LANDMARK COLLEGE!

GO STEVEN, WE ARE LOVE YA!

We awoke to a stunning morning and the end of the rain. When the lock opened at 8:30, we were ready and entered with 2 other boats for the up lock. First, since everything was wet, I was unable to get the gaff pole extended to reach the tie-off cable. When Dan finally got it extended for me and I grabbed the cable, I got the gaff jammed between the wall and the abandon-ship life raft storage container. What a show!

We proceeded to the bottom of the Peterborough Lift Lock 21 and tied off to watch the workings of the lift and gather some knowledge from the adjacent museum. We were enthralled watching the boats on one side go up while the others descended at the same time.

BOATS LOADING IN THE LOWER LOCK

BOTH LOCKS LOADED AND GATES CLOSED

LEFT LOCK 1/2 WAY UP

RIGHT LOCK 1/2 WAY DOWN

The Peterborough Lift Lock opened in 1904 and was considered a marvel of its day. This 65’ vertical lift raises and lowers boats in two water-filled chambers. A movement of one chamber forces an equal and opposite movement of the other chamber.

OLD SCHOOL RIVETS

OK, now we were armed with knowledge and the experience of watching a lock up. This was so cool! We entered and tied up as two other pleasure boats joined us for the ascent. When both sides were ready, the Lock Tender welcomed us all and got things moving. The other side went down as we went up, passing midway. Soon we could look out over our stern and see way down where we had just been.

IT IS A LONG, LONG WAY UP THERE

PASSING THE DOWN BOATS JUST ABOUT 1/2 WAY

ALL THE WAY UP AND LOOKING DOWN

THE LOCK DOG

The next 4.2 miles to Nassau Mills Lock 22 went by quickly as we passed Trent University and several bridges.

NASSAU MILLS LOCK 22

We are now traveling only short distances between the next four locks, all within a cumulative distance of 4.5 miles. At Nassau Mills Lock 22, we finally realized the we were really in House Boat Rental Heaven. They are popping up everywhere.

Otonabee Lock 23 with its 12’ vertical lift was only half a mile on up the river. We locked up in Duro Lock 24 (12’), Sawyer Creek Lock 25 (10’) and Lakefield Lock 26 (16’) before mooring to the Parks Canada side wall.

ALL OF THESE LOCKS STILL OPERATE WITH A HAND CRANK

THE UPWARD ARM FOLDS DOWN AND IS PUSHED AROUND

DURO LOCK 24

SAWER CREEK LOCK 25

LAKEFIELD LOCK 26

We had a nice walk to the little town, stopping for a couple of things at their nice market, and returned to find the mooring wall filling for the night. We shared the picnic tables and fun stories with the Bultje families. Twin brothers, Jim and Jeff, each had their families traveling the Trent-Severn in houseboats. Jim and Yvonne’s children: Nic, Jen, Amy, James and Erica were having a grand time with Jeff and Jackie’s brood: Stefanie, Kalrina, Alex, Oliver and Rachel. The cousins were most charming and delightful to be around.

A LITTLE CANADA NATURAL LIFE