Boating Adventures

Google it. Highest in the world.

I’m fascinated by these devices. This lock was completed around 1900. Think about it. There was no electricity, no cars. Steam ruled. The lock operates today much like it did 100 years ago. Entirely self powered. These were the moonshot engineering projects of the day.

Tomorrow I’ll go up in the lift lock. Came down two years ago. It’s really cool to be doing this. I remember the first time I saw it. About ten years ago I was in Algonquin Park skiing in February for a few days with friends. I talked them into a detour through Peterborough to visit the lift lock. We trudged around in the snow while I blathered on about it. Thanks guys! I knew then I’d be doing this trip. Touching the frozen tower was part of the journey.

I arrived here about 2:00 and found a part for my generator close by, got it operational, and anchored out in Little Lake with the a/c on. Thunderstorms have just gone through and the wind, temperature and humidity have all dropped. Now a nice evening.

Anchored for the night on Rice Lake by the entrance to the Otonabee River. Relaxed operation today, stopped for an hour or two in Hastings. Tomorrow I go up to Peterborough to meet Sam and Sarah. It was hot and mostly sunny today, and I was mostly inside the last couple of hours seeking shade. Even with the bimini it’s hard not to get cooked.

This is approaching Healey Falls.

And stopped at Hastings

Had a 24 hour break from boat life. Picked up my car at Bowmanville, went home to Guelph, built a fence, washed some clothes, had dinner with friends, and drove back to Campbellford. About 500 km.

I like this park. Could sit here all day chatting with locals and other boaters, and it’s quiet at night.

Tomorrow I head north, up to Rice Lake. Planning to be in Peterborough Monday evening to meet Sam and Sarah.

If anyone wants to join me for this segment or part of it drop me a note. Boat is getting pretty presentable, ready for guests! Also going through the world famous Peterborough Lift Lock (Google it) Tuesday morning and cruising through Trent U campus. Hop on for an hour or two!

I stopped today at around 1 at the park in Campbellford. Nice spot, with power and water. After lunch I did some further cleaning and organizing, and have decided to stay put here. Sarah is picking me up later this evening and taking me to fetch my car and trailer in Bowmanville, then it’s back to Guelph for a day or two to do some fencing there, then back to the boat for a couple of weeks to carry on.

This is a picture from the bridge

Went through a bunch of locks including this double just south of here. There’s a suspension bridge just next to the lock.

I anchored last night in a nice pool just below Lock 7 that’s outside the channel. Dropped the anchor in about 7 feet of water. Muddy bottom, no weeds. Cottages on two sides, but not close.

Sounds great, right? I think so.

But there seems to be an almost universal culture of day tripping from dock to dock. I’m not behaving according to the norms.

When I suggested to the lockmaster that I would anchor out he said that nobody had done that in this area.

An hour or two after I dropped anchor – about 8 pm – a guy came up in a runabout. At first I thought he was fishing, but after asking if I was all right he explained that he had a home nearby, had lived in the area all his life. After I told him what I was doing he seemed satisfied and took off.

Anyway, I like anchoring out. It’s private, free, and I can pee over the side! Will continue to do it whenever possible.

I want to have people visit me aboard. Come see what all the fuss is about!

Hopefully this blog will help. If you’re reading this and want to join me for a few hours or a few days reach out.

Any questions, concerns or fears, just ask.

For example, I plan to go through Peterborough Sunday or Monday. The lift lock there is world famous, an amazing piece of 19th century engineering. Come join me for the lift.

That’s a good looking boat!

I expect to be aboard pretty much all the time for the next six weeks or so, and this segment of my journey ends in Chicago.

You may want to get out a map. I’m currently just north of Trenton. There are basically three major segments.

Trent Severn Waterway: I’m on it now, heading to Rice Lake, Peterborough, Bobcageon, etc. Google it.

Georgian Bay: after exiting the Trent Severn it’s north through the small boat passage up to Killarney, then exploring the North Channel. I expect to be leaving that area around August month end.

Lake Michigan: from Macinac down the lake to Chicago. Think I’ll go down the western side. I think of this as a delivery trip. Pick the weather and scoot. It’s 300 miles down the lake, and generally speaking I don’t enjoy open water.

Meant to write earlier. I’ll try to fill in the deets later, but all is good. Had the motor professionally repaired and fixed the niggling electrical problems and all systems are good. I launched on the weekend at Bowmanville, set out Tuesday evening, and had a marvelous trip down the lake at night to Presqu’ile and anchored just inside the point. Next day I didn’t move. Napped and started to clean up and organize.

Today I went through the Murray Canal to Trenton, stopped to refuel, pick up a few things and eat lunch. Then north on the Trent Severn. I’m now anchored just below lock 7.

That’s the basics.

Sunset in Presqu’ile

Falcon (or eagle?) On the lower TS.