Three days!

Hi everyone! It's been three days without wifi, so I'll try to catch you up. We left off in Peterborough, where Rebecca left us to go home. We miss her!

It was an eventful day to say the least! We left Peterborough and did one "normal" lock, then we went through the Peterborough Lift-lock. This is the lock I told you about in the last blog. One side goes up as the other goes down. It is a little going through the lock than looking at it!

We continued on through the waterway, and had a small sea-plane land in front of us. It wasn't close enough to be dangerous, but it was close enough for some photos. We anchored out in Clear Lake for the night. It was gorgeous! There were beautiful homes scattered along the shore on the side where we anchored. I got some awesome photos of the sunset and the moonrise of a full moon over the trees.

The mast, with the satellite TV receiver, has been down since we started through the Erie Canal. Steve was inspired by the fact that the British Open was playing to raise it again. We discovered that it really wasn't that hard to raise it and lower it, and we have gotten pretty efficient at it. It does have to go back down each morning because of the bridges along the way, but we enjoyed watching the Open.

Next morning  we were preparing to lower the mast before leaving, and had a visit by canoe. Betsy McGregor (pronounced with proper Scottish flair) rowed out from her dock to invite us for coffee on shore. She is a lovely lady! We regretted that we had to move on and couldn't take her up on her offer, but she stayed and talked to us a bit about our trip and about the Clear Lake community. She told us that as a girl, most of the houses had outhouses and gas lamps because it was so remote. They had an Outhouse Regatta going from outhouse to outhouse in small sailboats. Sounded like great fun! Now of course there are roads, electricity and running water... and those gorgeous houses I mentioned before. Betsy recently ran for Parliament, but didn't make it. I'm sure they haven't heard the last of her!

Just before we left, a kayak pulled up and another resident of the community was there to say hello. His name was Steve and he was very friendly - just wanted to admire the boat and find out more about our trip. They say that Southerners are friendly and gracious, but we have nothing on the Canadians!

It has been unseasonably hot here - wouldn't you just know it? As long as there is a breeze, it's not too bad. I've been packing a cooler of ice and a jug of lemonade to take up on the bridge while we cruise. We have been through LOTS of locks and some beautiful scenery. Our second night, we intended to go to Bobcageon, but there was no space at the marina or on the walls. We went just beyond and anchored in a remote and beautiful spot, next to a rocky coast. The anchor stuck the next morning as we prepared to leave, but Steve was able to un-stick it and we cruised on.

The third night, we tied up along the wall just past the lock at Rosedale. There were plenty of other boats there, including a large canoe that we had seen before. The couple in the canoe is camping along the Trent-Severn and they carry all their gear from place to place. This waterway is a very popular with boaters and campers. At each lock, there are picnic tables, bathrooms and sometimes grills. There is almost always someone fishing or picnicking.

Yesterday was a very long day. We cruised for eight hours, much of that time in narrow canals with rocky sides or through narrow passes through lakes where shallow water and/or submerged rocks lurked outside the channel. For most of the day we traveled with Trident a 42ft Grand Banks Europa. We were all pretty happy to arrive at the Orillia Municipal Marina - dogs included! Bill and Carol travel with a 100 lb dog named Monty. I think he is a Newfoundland - he has lots of thick hair and is not very happy about the heat!

One of the locks we went through yesterday was another lift-lock, kind of like the one at Peterborough. It wasn't as high, but it was more "open". The framework and the tubs had a more open design, so you really felt like you were "out there". Going down was a little different than going up too. Going up, you just cruise in at ground level. Going down, you cruise into a tub suspended five stories in the air. Fortunately you are so busy getting lines secured and such that you don't have time to think about it.

Orillia is a neat town! We just missed their Scottish festival - I was very sorry to miss all the men in kilts! They have a few museums, a boardwalk, lots of places to shop and eat, and little sailboats. If you remember the bears from New Bern and the cats from Catskill, you will love the sailboats from Orillia. They will be in the next blog.

Bye, Becca  : (

Headed for the lift-lock at Peterborough

There it is!

Coming into the "pan"

Looking at the other "pan"

Going up

Almost even with the other "pan"

Looking over the side.

And we're off again

Going through the campus of Trenton University

This guy had a long night...

There are cows hiding here

Love some of these boat names! Piece of Ship II

What the Hull

There have been lots of beaches along the lakes - and people enjoying them!

Some of the lakes have lots of little islands, with houses built on them

The seaplane we saw land

Pretty cool!

Note the teenagers sunbathing on top of the bridge

Sunset at Clear Lake

The last skier of the day

A beautiful moonrise

A little blurry, but I like it

Mist on the water next morning

Hello to Betsy McGregor

Next time we'll allow time for coffee

And goodbye to Steve

A little church on an island

Another little island. Some of the houses are small, some a little larger and nicer like this.

Another tribute to Sam - not quite his shade of blue, but everything was blue!

This is a glass house - literally!

This was a little tight

Our anchorage the second night.

Ryder manages to stay in the shade

This boat locked through with us a few times. It is similar to the boat Carl Poythress owns.

So many folks with docks along the waterway have made them very festive for the summer

The lock walls just before one of the locks

The farther we go, the more crowded the locks are... especially since this is the weekend

This shot was supposed to be a jet skier coming too close - I wasn't fast enough

There are lots of house boats here - mostly rentals. The operators have varying skill levels, but they are in the locks with you.

You can see the rocky sides of the canal

This is a cute little stainless steel boat

This kayaker just pulled up to a marker to fish

Notice the empty paper plate. Ryder managed to get up there while Steve and I were locking through and snatched some sandwiches.

Sunset at the lock wall at Rosedale

Morning at the lock

The big canoe is tied to the wall behind us. You can see their bicycles in the boat and their tent in the park

There were other campers too.

Riding down the ditch

More rocky sides

These boats were coming the opposite direction, and the boat in front is fishing - slowly

We found cows! I said they came to say hello - Steve said they were just thirsty

The second lift-lock. Not as high, but a little scary nevertheless.

You just ride out into this pan - 5 stories above the ground

Looking down into the other pan

Whew! Glad that's done

This bridge is called "The Hole in the Wall"

We came out into a beautiful but very shallow lake

More campers

This guy has the right idea. Up to his shoulders in cool water with a cool drink in his hand

More cows!

This was interesting

I found wildflowers!

Hard to see, but it's another beach full of people

Following Trident into Orillia