June 6-9, 2012 - Lake Ontario to Hastings, Ontario
A calmer morning dawned, and we were up early to make our Lake Ontario crossing.
The 3½-hour crossing was uneventful, and we entered Canadian waters near Amherst Island. It was another 5½ hours in beautiful channels leading to the Bay of Quinte, then to Trenton, the starting point for our 250-mile Trent-Severn canal trip.
We passed the Canadian Forces Base, with its water tower checkered like Purina’s.
Then, we arrive at the Gateway to the Trent Severn Waterway.
Here is where our good friend and boating buddy, Chuck Throm, joins us.
Before commencing our trip, we stopped at Trenton’s farmer’s market.
As we approached the first lock, a school field trip launched a flock of canoes right in front of Monarch.
Lock 1, the Trenton Lock, beckoned us onward – and upward.
Once lifted 20 feet, Monarch rested in the chamber, while we secured our one-way locking pass for all 41 locks of the Trent-Severn, our mooring pass that allows us to stay along town and lock walls overnight, and navigational charts.
Amazingly, these lock doors are hand-cranked, with two lock tenders rotating the mechanism on each side of the gates.
We really liked Whitney, who was a “roving” locktender today, traveling from lock to lock to assist. She was an enthusiastic representative of the Canada Park System and a wonderful ambassador of the local community.
On top of Lock 6 at Frankford, we tied up Monarch for the night. After a quick reconnoitering of the town, we headed back for dinner aboard.
We invited friends Simone and Jerry for dinner. We met them in Virginia on April 22, just after transiting the Dismal Swamp, and they were nearby putting their boat up for the summer before heading back to their home in Newfoundland.
Next day, Charles was his usual helpful self, monitoring lock gate closings and ably handling lines from the aft deck.
Most locks are singles, but occasionally there are “flights” of two locks right together. The exit door of the first lock is the entrance to the second. This makes for a spectacular sight at Ranney Falls Locks 11 and 12, where the total lift will be 48 feet. The doors look more formidable than the locks are.
Many locks have resident dogs, like this combination Newfoundland and Golden Retriever, which the locktender calls a “Golden Newfie.”
Next a quick stop at Campbellford for lunch aboard.
And a quick walkabout the town to the “World’s Finest Chocolate Factory” outlet.
After picking up some fresh bread and lemon tarts from Doohers Bakery, we moved up the canal through the next lock, and tied up for the night.
More locks on the way today, with the boys doing fine bow work.
With a total lift of 54 feet, flight locks 16 and 17 at Healey Falls have a breathtaking view from astern.
We stop for the night after Lock 18 with a creative flowerbed at the village of Hastings.
The charming town has all the necessities, including a used bookstore, hardware, restaurants, grocery,
and coffee shop.
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