8/17/2010 BOBCAYGEON TO PORTAGE LOCK 39

BULLY TO YOU!

Another beautiful morning in paradise! The nights and mornings are cooler now and the days still comfortably warm. How could it be better? The black squirrels were busy collecting and storing food for the approaching winter months.

WORKIN' AND WATCHIN'

Dan and the Lockmaster, Scott, re-measured the height of the boat and confirmed the height of 21’3.5”. A crew from the Trent-Severn Waterway will be measuring the height of the bridge sometime today. Some extra caution signage may be needed at the Gannon Narrows Bridge if it is lower than the 22’ or if the windswept, choppy waters cause a rise there.

DAN AND LOCKMASTER SCOTT MEASURING QUEST

Leaving Bobcaygeon we followed the narrow channel then crossed Sturgeon Lake and continued on to Fenelon Falls Lock 34. We did not opt to make the detour to Lake Scugog through Lindsay Lock 33. Plenty of boats and summer camps keep our attention.

OSPREY ON THE ROCK

What a fiasco pulling into the blue waiting line at Fenelon Falls. An un-schooled houseboater couldn’t figure out how to get his 50’ tin can to the mooring and had everything tied up for some time. The scary part is that it was a rental.

SAILBOAT SIGN

Fenelon Falls Lock 34 (24’ vertical lift) was bordered by a charming and bustling little town with many folks watching the locking process. One couple at the lock railing said they had seen us locking up the Peterborough Lift Lock.

MURAL AT FENELON FALLS LOCK 34

FENELON FALLS SHOPS RIGHT AT THE CANAL

Onward through lovely Cameron Lake and arriving at the last lift lock, Rosedale Lock 35, we decided this might be the prettiest lock park area yet. With a lift of only 4’ we were quickly on our way to Balsam Lake. We were now at the highest point in the system, 598’ above Trenton and would now be dropping the 260’ to Georgian Bay. This is the highest elevation (841’) above sea level that a boat can reach under its own power. Neat fact!

ROSEDALE LOCK 35

 INVITING PARK SETTING AT ROSEDALE

We cruised peacefully with no overhead obstructions, no shallow depths and no narrow channel for long enough to enjoy our lunch. Then we entered the narrow, shallow Trent Canal between Balsam Lake and Mitchell Lake and reentered when departing Mitchell Lake. We were warned to be on alert all the way through here and paid close attention to the Garmin readings as well as sightings. Shale banks lined the close slopes and we could see rocks cropping up from the bottom.

NARROW TRENT CANAL

SLATE LINED BANKS

FARM ALONG THE CANAL

At Kirkfield Lift Lock 36 we entered the hanging lift basket and went right to the front. Boy was that a “heart stopper”, suspended out in mid-air. We are now down locking and made the 49’ vertical drop in awe.

HISTORIC KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK

WAY, WAY HIGH

LOOKING

WAY, WAY DOWN

WE JUST EXITED THE LEFT LOCK

FOUND THESE OLD SCHOOL CLETES JUST

OUTSIDE THE KIRKFIELD LOCK

Exiting Kirkfield we were advised to be mindful of sticking to the channel as this man-made lake has shallows, petulant weed growth and often submerged dead heads. We saw 3.3’ right in the middle of the channel! Because we are going down river we are now seeing the channel markers with green on the starboard and red to our port. After passing under the Canal Lake High Arch Bridge, we found deeper waters but the lake was infested with long, thick weeds. There were definitely “diamonds on the water” this afternoon.

CANAL LAKE HIGH ARCH BRIDGE

We continued the 7.7 miles to Bolsover Lock 37 (22’ vertical drop) and decided we liked this “locking down” process. The Lockhands are there to assist you with attaching your lines (because they are now very low) and are full of interesting information and tips. A pontoon tour boat with a group attending a church camp pulled into the lock behind us and Dan entertained them from his perch on the stern during the locking down process.

BOLSOVER LOCK 37

OPENING FOR QUEST

GETTING THE TOUR OF THE LOCKS

Just a mile later, after passing through farm lands and a cattle ranch, we approached Talbot Lock 38 (14’ vertical drop) then continued the 1.6 miles on to Portage Lock 39. We chose this as our nights resting place and moored to the topside of the lock. Portage is very isolated and peaceful, offering a quiet night perfect for sharing a bonfire with our fellow boaters, Scott and Justin.

TALBOT LOCK 38

LOCK 38

GOOSE AND CATTLE RANCH?

PORTAGE LOCK 39

HOME FOR THE NIGHT

And here are some of todays signs of aproaching fall.