Journey to Parry Sound - Part 2

Evening of Day 5
After the pot luck dinner, Leonard and I checked out the opening time of the Metro store, a few blocks away before walking to the park across the Trent River where they were setting up for the fire works display,  There had been live entertainment and activities in the park all day long, and we caught a few minutes of a concert before heading back to the boat.  We used the deck lounge on the foredeck to view the fire works, and it was comfy for the 3 of us with the raised backs.  Pierre was busy with his camera snapping pictures of the fire works over the boat.


The park next to the marina in Trenton

Day 6
Since the store wouldn't open before 0800, we had time for showers and breakfast before I went for provisions.  The marina owner was right, the Metro was a  nice store and the staff were busy restocking the shelves with fresh produce.  I was at the check out line line when Leonard showed up to lend me a hand getting everything back to the boat.  I'd taken our back pack, but had enough stuff to fill two more bags, so I was happy for the help.  It's interesting, in Canada, rather than give you $.03 if you bring your own bag, they charge you $.05 for every one you use.  I've stuck a couple of spare bags in the back pack for future use.

It was about 0915 when we left the marina and headed to the first lock to get our pass and begin the Trent Severn passage.  Once again, the lock personnel were very helpful, saying Campbellford, just before lock 13, would be a reasonable destination for the day.  It offered a park on the waterfront with facilities for transients, as well as a beer store, liquor store, chocolate factory outlet store, a bakery, and a grocery store, most within walking distance.  They also recommended the "Stinking Rose" as a local watering hole.  Sounded like the town had something for everyone in the crew!


Somerset II and Stephanie Marie in Lock on the Trent Severn Canal

We caught up with Pete and Jane aboard "Somerset II",  Sea Ray 35, who'd left the marina just ahead of us.  They were "loopers" from Chattanooga, TN, who'd already completed the southern and seaboard sections.  We spent the day locking through to Campbellsford with them.  These locks sported a series of cables moored along either lock wall with enough room for both of us to fit comfortably in the lock.  Pierre nosed the bow close to the lock wall for Will to attach a line around the cable and cleat it off,  then drifted back for Leonard to snag a stern cable.  The lines slide up the cables as the boat is locked up.  In this section of the canal, the locks are closely spaced, and we soon had the system down pat.  Our goal was to keep the fenders off the lock wall so Will wouldn't have to rinse them down after each lock to keep the slimy grimy from being rubbed into the hull. 

Promoting protection of endangered species, Parks Canada had different "lock cards" at each lock which we're collecting as we pass through the locks.  We missed the first 2 sets of cards, but were told the series repeats halfway through the system, so we'll eventually get the whole set.  The lock tenders at the first lock were busy making sure everyone got registered and paid for their passes.  Most of these locks are operated by a "sweep", a turning mechanism that is walked rather than hand cranked.  Depending on the size of the gear, it can take from 10 to 15 revolutions to open or close the gates.  One lock keeper said he goes through a pair of shoes every 10 months.  Everyone was friendly and chatted with us as we passed through.


Park worker opening the lock door

At Lock 3 we had a bit of a wait before the lock doors opened, and when they opened, we had 2 boats exiting.  Pete, aboard "Somerset II", has a system called "sky hook", which holds him in place after he reaches the way point.  Unfortunately for us, his way point left us in the current flow from the dam overflow with no room to ease around him.  Pierre had a "white knuckle" moment when the current caught us, sending us across the path of an exiting boat.  He realized the joy stick didn't have enough available power to overcome the current, and switched to the regular controls, straightened us out and we slid safely into the lock.


Lock master's house at Lock 9

At lock 9, the original lock master's dates from 1914 and is still in use.  It's surrounded by big butternut and hickory trees and has a porch that looks inviting.  Mooring at the locks is permitted with limits from 1 to 5 day stays depending on the lock, and it would have been nice to have stopped here for a while and enjoyed the ambiance  (it was reported to have big restrooms), but it was too early to think of stopping for the day.  Many locks have places for pitching tents and are popular repeat stops for loopers and locals.  The scenery through the canal was magnificent.  There weren't many areas where we could travel above trawler speed, 10 mph, and when there were more open stretches of water, they were dotted with fishing boats which kept our speed down.  We had a couple of jet skis hopping our wake when we were able open the engines up.  They had a ball catching air over our wake.


Entering Lock 11- looking at lock 12 door

Locks 11 and 12 were big step locks, with the water of the upper lock used to fill the lower lock.  The lock gate is impressive, towering 48' above the lock.  Each lock raised or lowered vessels 24'.  Lock 12 is steps away from Ranny Gorge Suspension Bridge, which is 90 metres long, and at an entrance to the Ferris Provincial Park.  We could have walked over from here, but instead, headed to Campbellford, about mile up the canal.  I'd read about the Rotary Trail that loops from town to the suspension bridge and park, and then up the other side of the canal back to town, and planned on taking the walk during our stay.


Checking out the dinghy

We made arrangements to get together with Pete and Jane aboard "Somerset II", for sundowners at Old Mill Park since we'd both be spending the night on the wall in town.  Once we were tied up and checked in at the park, Pierre and Will took the "garage" apart to check out the dinghy and do some cleaning. Leonard worked on the TV in the main cabin which hasn't been working.  I took a walk across the bridge to check out the bakery and see a bit of the town.  When I came back, Pierre and Will had emptied the garage and launched the dinghy.  In order to check the outboard, they took it for a spin, looking like 2 kids playing hooky as they charged up and down the river.  Unfortunately the outboard quit after about 10 minutes (something Leonard and I are all too familiar with!), but they were almost at the boat when it quit.  It would have been a paddle had they been down stream since there was a decent current flowing.  (Row, Willy!)  We had  sundowners a bit later than planned, but we visited both boats to check the competition out.  Somerset II was smaller, but nicely laid out and more manageable for 2 people to handle, especially in the locks.  They were impressed with all our amenities. 

Day 7

The suspension bridge

Leonard and I got up early and hiked the Rotary Trail which ran along the canal down to the suspension bridge. There were a number of trails in the park that looked interesting, but we didn't have time to explore.  Back in town we made a stop at the bakery and picked up some fresh muffins from the huge variety offered.  After a quick shower we were underway by 0840 with the first lock of the day about  mile away.  The lock master entrusted me with a key to be dropped off at the next lock and I got a lot of ribbing from the guys about remembering: 1. where I put it and 2. to hand it over, not that I remember having a memory issue.  I did remember where it was and to hand it over.


On the Campbellford dock in the morning


Clock Tower at Campbellford


Campbellford monument honoring designer of Canadian $2 coin

Since it was 1 of 2 mandatory port side tie-up locks up bound on the canal, the lock tender had to stretch to see our decal which is down low on the starboard windshield.  I asked how, would be possible to get this far without paying, and she said there are boaters who try and manage to get further than you'd think without paying, but they usually get caught before they reach the other end.  Depending on which pass you get, it can be expensive, especially if you also get the docking permit ($8/foot) that allows you to tie up at any wall space.  She mentioned a chicken dinner that some folks were supposed to drop off at the next lock, but never made it, just the empty bag!


Locals swimming in our wake


Pierre and Will hard at work underway


The countryside along the way

We had another, even bigger, flight lock with a 76' total lift, located at the largest hydro generating station on the Trent River.  We traversed through some beautiful rolling countryside as we headed toward Petersborourgh, the largest town on the river.  We had thought about anchoring out as we traveled through some of the more open lakes on the canal, but as we got closer to Petersborough, anchoring spots became limited.  At Lock 19 we had to tie up briefly in the wall before being locked through, so Pierre went up to chat with the lock master while we waited for a boat to lock down.  Once in the lock, Chad, the lock master took Pierre's camera to get pictures of us going through the lock which is one of the oldest on the system.  It had original limestone blocks that had been placed by stone masons more than a century and a half ago.  We all watched as Chad pocketed the camera, but he said don't worry, he was going to snap pictures of Pierre and Will opening the lock gates, and set them to work turning the trace.  He also suggested we stay in town where we'd be treated to a live blues concert and suggested Pierre give "Mom" the night off and take us to the local Thai place that uses only local produce.  He even made reservations for us at 1900 (the folks at the marina had been alerted to give us the time).


Put to work opening the lock doors

The fountain in Little Lake was impressive.  It looked like a geyser in the south end of the lake, and we could see why the guide books warned about watching the wind direction if anchoring, you could get soaked if the wind switched.  It sported colored lights after dark. making for a colorful display.  Pierre wowed the folks at the marina  by spinning a 360 when we came into the marina.  I told Will we'd be sure to hand off the dock lines rather than toss them to the 4 guys waiting to catch our lines and watch us screw up (watching folks dock can provide entertainment for the locals).  We didn't, and slid gently into the dock as the current gave us a push.  Consequently we impressed a lot of folks that really wanted to see the boat.  If we'd charged admission for everyone who eventually took a look, it could have paid for our dinner.  I should have kept count!  Everyone was very impressed.


On the dock at Petersboroug  with concert shell


The fountain in little lake at Peterborough

After we were tied up at the marina and hooked up to shore power and water, the guys took another look at the trim tab problem, this time with Pierre in the water and Will acting as relay between Leonard running the jumpered switch.  They were able to determine that the switch was the problem, and Pierre was able to order a part with the help of the marina staff, which will get delivered to the boat at the lock further down the line at Buckhorn.  It would be great to have that problem solved and see if that makes it easier to see forward when we're on plane.

Chad's advice about the restaurant was right on.  All the food was good, especially Will's green curry dish.  By the time we got back to the boat, the concert was in full swing.  Jimmy Bowskill, a local singer, who at 18 is preforming at some big jazz festivals across Canada and the States, including Montreal.  The concert attracted  a big crowd and a bunch of food vendors had set up shop by the marina which added to the festive atmosphere.  We watched for a bit before heading out to the boat.  Like a lot of amped concerts, the sound was better away from the speakers.  We watched the end of Waking Ned Devine, a movie we started back in Montreal and have been too tired at night to finish.  It was a great movie and Pierre promised we'll like the next one too.


The concert in progress


Day 8
Leonard and I took a walk to the lift lock before breakfast.  It will be an interesting experience when we reach it.  Chad's advice was a bit off in this case, as there were no boats lined up waiting for the opening, and we wondered if we should have headed out early to avoid the holiday weekend Sunday rush of local boaters.  During breakfast we decided to make use of the laundry facilities at the marina while the guys washed down the boat and I made breakfast.  We came to a consensus that it made sense  spend a lay day in town, which would give us a chance to do a more thorough cleaning and time to work on some of the systems that have still have some issues.   We also avoided the hassle of traveling on a weekend which always brings out more boaters.  We'd watched a number of local boaters head out for the day while we worked.

Peterborough clock tower

Pierre and Will spent most of the day cleaning and polishing on the decks and sides.  About noon they came below and Pierere commented on how warm it was.  We hadn't noticed since we were working on selecting photos and not physically active  With the cabin temperature at 81 degrees.it was obvious the AC wasn't working.  Pierre and Leonard began looking for the problem and son the entire cabin was in disarray as everything was hauled out of the access storage areas and put on the floor.  They eventually found and solved the problem.  By the time the boat reaches Georgian Bay, the guys will know all the systems and where everything is located. By the end of the day, the only unresolved problem was getting the cable TV to turn on, a problem.that predated the delivery contract.  Leonard asked for a multi-meter, one of those things that would be taken in another such trip.

While Pierre and Will were out running errands, Leonard and I headed back to the lift lock to see if we could see how it worked before we tried it.  We also hiked up one of the highest hills in town only to find we couldn't see anything but brush from the top.  We caught the end of a transfer as we walked down to the lock.  A rental houseboat was locking through, and it's obvious we should steer clear of them if possible (they were almost sideways in the pan before they left the lock).  Pete and Jane on Somerset II arrived in Petersborough and were on the dock by the time we got back to the boat, so we got together with them before dinner.  They'd had a long day in the locks and would be spending some time in port. Will and Pierre had gotten some wire and a switch and Leonard jury rigged it so we now have control of both trim tabs.


The lift lock with one chamber up and the other down

Will, who is a world class downhill skate boarder, hooked up with some local boarders, and went out for an evening of skating.  We've watched some videos of his downhill boarding, and it's a lot like downhill ski racing, only on a skate board.  Looks way to fast and complicated for us, but is becoming an Olympic sport, so perhaps we'll see him competing in the future.  Not sure where he found the energy after having spent most of the day detailing the boat with Pierre!

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