8/17/2010 LAKEFIELD THROUGH BOBCAYEGON LOCK 32

We started our day sighting a Loon family in Katchewanooka Lake. The parents were diving down, retrieving food and feeding the young one. They even called out as we passed into their space.

LOON

Fifty-three foot Quest locked up with a kayak through Young’s Point Lock 27. The guy said he was taking it easy today and only going about 20 miles. Good for him!

YOUNG'S POINT LOCK 27

LOCKSIDE TRADING COMPANY

ONTARIO'S "VERMONT COUNTRY STORE"

KAYAKER LOCKING UP WITH US

Winding our way through the canal with quaint resorts and camp settings brought us to Clear Lake. Stunningly beautiful “little encampments” populated the shore line. Guess they spend more than the summer months here.

BEAUTIFUL HOMES WITH BREATHTAKING VIEWS

St. Peters Anglican Church is situated on an Island in the Hells Gate area. Someone has a sense of humor? Here there are dock tie-ups for the summer Sunday boaters and camp inhabitants.

ST. PETERS

Islands peppered the waterway as we neared the junction to Stony Lake and I tried to take it all in with the Cannon. Somehow you just cannot capture the majestic beauty of it all.

THE CONTRASTS TOOK YOUR BREATH AWAY

PERCHED ON A TINY ISLAND

NESTLED BENEATH THE TREES

ISLANDS IN THE SKY

Anyone interested in buying Bravenders Island with six cabins just across from Lock 28?

ISLAND FOR SALE

At Burleigh Lock 28 (24’ lift) we ran into a traffic jam. One boat was locking down but six of us were docked or floating out waiting our turn. Two houseboats, a cruiser and the little Sea Shack locked up first and we followed with another houseboat. With three boats perched on the blue-line waiting dock on the up side, this is by far the busiest lock we have done so far. There used to be two locks at this site but they combined them both with an new hydraulic lift, thus eliminating Lock 29.

BURLEIGH FALLS LOCK 28

BOATS LINED UP AND WAITING TO ENTER

We entered Lovesick Lake where, as lore has told it, an Indian boy was spurned by a lovely, redhead Irish lass. This rocky route kept Dan on his toes as we sought Lovesick Lock 30 with its meager 4’ lift.

Approaching Buckhorn Lock 31 we found boats crammed together and awaiting lockage on both sides. One of the house boaters really got himself into a pickle with the gusting wind pushing him around. Lots and lots of houseboats!

APPROACHING BUCKHORN LOCK 31

THE TRENT

LOTS OF LOCKING UP

LOOKING OUT OVER THE FRONT LOCK

AT THE HIGHER WATER LEVEL

The GANNON NARROWS BRIDGE, reportedly 22’, was not as reported. Having already established that our boat would make the 22’ clearance requirement, we just proceeded. Clang! Bang! “Houston, we have a problem!” A few things dangling and a few more broken, this will require more investigation when we reach the next lock. Dan is not a happy camper!

THE SCENE OF THE "UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT"

NOT GOOD

HANGING XM ANTENNAE

SLIGHTLY LIFTED??

After plugging through Pigeon Lake we made a quick left in the Big Bob Chanel and approach to Bobcaygeon Lock 32 (6’ lift). Reports were made about the possibility of a mis-marked bridge clearance then we headed to the hardware store for some epoxy bond to some of the breaks.

ALL SET FOR THE NIGHT

SETTING SUN