Fortunate for us, our days are not starting as early as they did on the Erie Canal…Canadians seem to like to sleep in. The locks on the Trent-Severn open at 9am until Labor Day— opposed to 7am while we were in the US. This means that Duane is able to have his breakfast before we cast off and I can brush my teeth without banging off the bathroom walls.
I am also able to pack our cooler with the essentials for the day as to not have to exert myself and walk down the 8 steps from the fly bridge while underway. I have to say, even though they block my sunshine at certain times during the day, the solar panels running the refrigerator have been a welcome addition to our travel ensemble contributing greatly to my sanity and need for a cold drink as soon as we stop for the day.
The waters are now so clear and not too deep along the canals. It makes for a gorgeous path working our way through the red and green buoys, but also reminds us to stick to the channel as rocks and boulders abound a few feet outside the safe zone. As long as we take it slow and steady and heed the warnings of other boaters, hopefully we will not have any cause for worry and the rocks will stick to their side.
Our destination today was the Peterborough marina. We, for one, wanted to bike to the lift lock and see what this monstrosity was all about. I was told it was like riding up 65 feet in a bathtub, but needed to see for myself. Second, I was told they had a restaurant which served one hundred different kinds of poutine. Fries with cheese and gravy are definitely my weakness so that was a going to be a must stop. On the way, Duane requested to check out the Canadian Canoe Museum which has the largest canoe and kayak collection in the world. I quickly obliged since I had a few other detours to spring on him and this good gesture would give me leverage.
The lift lock was even more impressive up close. Completed in 1904, it was constructed of two “pans” which balanced each other out when filled to capacity with water. In order to raise one pan and lower the other to allow a boat to lock through, one foot of extra water was added to the upper pan to push it down. The whole concept still boggles the mind…I was just praying the door did not open on our trip to the top.
Needing to calm my nerves, we biked to Black’s Distillery (my first detour) where we had a cocktail and sampled their signature vodka, cassis and rye. Totally impressed by the taste and distilling process, we purchased some bottles, strapped them to Duane’s back and rode on. Next on the bike tour, was the Whistle Stop for poutine, but not before a quick side trip (detour) to Publican Brewery which caught my eye (wink wink) as we pedaled by.
The lift lock definitely lived up to the hype. Entering the tub, as we called it, and ascending 65 feet straight up was unlike anything I ever imagined doing. When we arrived at the top and the gate lowered and we drove out onto the river, I felt slightly discombobulated knowing the other end of the waterway is flowing six stories below. The rest of the day was full of going in and out of less exciting locks on the river until we reached Lock 27 in Young’s Point and decided to grab a mooring spot on the wall outside the Lockside Trading Company. At first glance it looked like an old farmhouse, but upon entering from the porch, we realized it was a unique place which rivaled any home goods and furniture store and served ice cream to boot. I almost purchased a hand carved wooden table but Duane pretty much dragged me out of the store by my ponytail.
The long weekend was coming up in addition to Captain D’s birthday so I had to make some preparations before we took off tomorrow. I settled in with a glass of wine to enjoy the sunset and put my thinking cap on.
