Waypoint Wanderings: Campbellford to Port Severn, ON

We left Campbellford on June 17 and headed immediately for the fuel dock just above town where we filled up at highway vs marine prices. The stop is really a gas station where the owner extends his diesel hose to the shore thus saving the boater approximately 80 cents per gallon. The fuel isn't marine pink, but it works.

Our last evening in Campbellford - view across the canal

From Campbellford we headed to Hastings Village. On the way we went through a "flight" of 3 locks that took us up 76 feet in all. The second and third of these were back to back where we went into one, up 27 feet, doors opened to the next, motored in, doors closed, up another 27 feet and out. We got caught in a torrential downpour, but there is no place to go when you have to tend your lines.
From there, we headed up the Trent River toward Hastings. The river is winding with lots of blind bends and the start of weedy grass along the channel. The latter began to encroach the channel the further along we went into the waterway.

The lock master offered to take our picture as the lock filled.

As we left lock 18 and headed into Hastings Village, we encountered greater than 100 bass boats idling near the marina where we had reservations. We were temporarily amazed at the friendliness of Canadians who would go all out to welcome a US boat. Then we realized that they were participating in a fishing tournament that took place on Rice Lake just north of us. It is known for its fishing; and indeed when we left the next morning, we encountered lots of fishermen out early. At one time the lake was used by the native population to grow wild rice which requires fluctuating waters; however, when the waterway was developed and the water levels became regulated, the wild rice died off. Now fishing and cottage-life are the main source of economy on the lake.
From Rice Lake we headed back into the waterway via the Otonabee, again a winding river that was marshy but well-marked. Lots of fish camps and cottages here.

Otonabee River

The walk around Peterborough

1.Tour boat in the lower pan of the lock

One more lock and we were in our next big town - Peterborough. We spent 2 nights here. There is a nice marina in the center of the town action. It has fuel and laundry facilities and is on the path that runs along the water and over to the Peterborough Hydraulic Lift Lock, our next big adventure. We bought groceries - at the ubiquitous No Frills Grocery - and did all of the usual chores. We took the morning to walk to the lift lock and were lucky enough to see a boat lock through (1-3). The lock, built in 1904 and considered an engineering marvel, is 1 of 6 or 7 in the world and 1 of 2 on the canal. It consists of 2 pans - 1 up and 1 down. Each pan is filled with water, but the upper pan has a foot more. A boat enters the bottom pan and the extra weight in the upper pan forces the lower pan up - 65 feet in 2 minutes. A smooth, e-ticket ride.

nofrills - no bags and rent-a-cart!

We left Peterborough on a sunny morning and headed to the first lock of the day - Ashburnum. While awaiting the 0900 opening, we met a couple form Peterborough who keep their boat in Little Buckhorn, ON and were headed home from a wedding celebration. We locked thru with them and then headed for the Peterborough Lift Lock. As we entered the lock(4-6) we were glad we had come to see the process as spectators the previous day. It was much less threatening and we actually enjoyed the ride - no turbulence at all.
We left the lock and headed up the canal past Trent University. The school was built in the 70's, and the modern concrete architecture reflects that period. It's an interesting school in a lovely setting.