♪ 32 Trent Severn Locks To Go, 32 Locks to Go!♪

June 10, 2022

We got another 6 locks under our belt today. Lock 16/17 was the same kind of "flight lock" as lock 11/12 the day before. Locking makes for busy days. There wasn't much time for sight seeing or pictures, but an uneventful day of locking is a successful day of boating. We stopped and tied up after Lock 18 in the town of Hastings right behind a pet supply store. That was handy since Brodie knocked a dog dish into the lake the other day. There was a laundry mat a couple of blocks away, so Gramps and I took a load and headed over. There was a park for the kids to play in, and Gord worked while we were all off the boat, which made Hastings an efficient stop. We went out for dinner at The Captain's Table and both Gramps and Gord ordered the two piece fish and chips because they were hungry and I ordered a chicken Caesar salad.. When our plates arrived, the mound of food on them was laughable. The portions were huge. I mean, you've seen the bags of romaine lettuce in the grocery store that have three heads of lettuce in them. I'm pretty sure when you order this salad, they use all three of the lettuce(s). The fish and chips arrived with two pieces of massive beer battered fish and an entire crop of potatoes as a side of fries. The kids' meals were reasonable in size. We enjoyed dinner and when the server came to remove some plates, Gramps' plate looked like he hadn't really started eating yet and Gord's plate wasn't much further along. I sent a mound the size of two lettuce(s) back, but ate all the chicken. As she was removing our plates, Gord said he was stuffed and our server said "Yeah, usually people order the two piece fish meal and split it." As we sat there staring at her, we suggested maybe that was some information that would have been best provided when we were ordering our meals.

We waddled our way through town and back to Holy Cow. Europa (the catamaran with the boy child on it) and Saunters were tied up to the wall behind us. We were likely travelling with them again the next day, so we discussed a departure time and then settled in for the night.

Voyage Log

Flight Lock 11/12 to Hastings Lock 18 travel log here.

♪ 26 Trent Severn Locks To Go, 26 Locks to Go!♪

I sing this in my head every morning to the tune of 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. Today, Tom Jopling (Grampa) was meeting us at the Peterborough Lift Lock - Lock 21. We hadn't seen him in months, and we were looking forward to the visit. If you are unsure of what a lift lock is, so was I. The locks leading up to this one fill (or empty) from the side, back or front, or bottom. The Parks Canada crew controls the flow of the water and either lift or drop the water level to allow the boat through to the upper or lower level. Every time we are in a lock that lowers us to the next water level, I tell the kids I have a sinking feeling as we descend along the slimly concrete walls. They are totally over the joke now, and with rolling eyes, wish I'd stop saying it. The Peterborough Lift Lock is very different. This lock is a hydraulic lift. You drive your boat into either the upper or lower the lift, and rather than raise or lower the water level, they close a gate behind you and lift (or lower) the entire boat and water like a massive bath tub. Boats were not meant to fly, but in this case, that's exactly what we do. The ground pulls away and our tub of water lifts 65 feet into the air. When we reach the top, the opposite gate door opens and we pull forward into the calm canal ahead. It's incredible really.

Let's take a moment to do a shout out to Gord. The currents that were in this stretch of the journey were crazy. Leading up to, and out of, every lock there is dam and the water is turbulent. Buoys marking the channels to the locks bounce and swing around like something has taken hold and is trying to swim away with it. These currents, together with the already swiftly moving water of the river, catch boats and twist them this way and that. Watching boats recover from being caught in the current can be equally as entertaining as it is nerve wracking. To date, Gord has nailed every single lock entry and departure and has made it easy for his crew to reach and secure the lines to the cables inside the lock.

Our stay at the Peterborough Lift Lock was great. We were the only boat on the wall and there was a long trail that ran along the side of the canal. We took the dogs for a long, off leash, walk and ordered in Swiss Chalet for dinner. It was a great visit with Grampa and his dog, Gucci. We had a big day planned for the next day, so it was lights out at a reasonable time. Our destination tomorrow is Buckhorn.

Voyage Log

Hastings to Peterborough Lift Lock 21 travel log here.