This morning, we knew when the lock would be ready, as park personnel commute by boat to this lock, which is on an island.
Up the canal, we see a statue of a white-tail deer, and know we are at Buckhorn Lock. The lock personnel all along the canal were very customer-oriented. Yesterday, at Lakefield Lock 26 we had discovered a missing page from a set of navigation charts we had purchased 100 miles back. The lady locktender heard our plight, and arranged for a replacement – delivered today by her daughter, who is locktender here at Buckhorn Lock.
We appreciated the excellent navigational signs along the way.
There are hundreds of houseboats for rent on the canals, with the season just getting started.
We wished we had time to stop at Lock 32 in Bobcaygeon, which looked charming.
But we pressed on to Fenelon Falls, one of only two locks on the Trent-Severn offering lock wall tie up with shore power and water. We started the washing machine immediately!
We walked about town, locating the visitor information building, the public library with internet, restaurants, Sobey’s Supermarket, Tim Horton’s…..
…..and this convenience store with a green thumb, for today’s Globe and Mail newspaper. We learned that Fenelon Falls is one of only two Ontario towns to receive funding for a celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – but it’s not until July 21, so we’ll have to miss the official flotilla planned to commemorate the Queen’s reign.
Next day, we have interesting cruising, with some very narrow channels…
…and rocks close to Monarch on each side.
Then Lock 36, the Kirkfield Lift Lock. Like the Peterborough Lift Lock in design but slightly smaller, this is a bigger thrill for us, as we are entering the lock at the top. It looks like we are driving Monarch right into space.
In our “tub” suspended nearly five stories in the air, we get a great view. Hope those cotter pins hold!
We both enjoy the ride. Take note: at the top of this lock, Monarch is at the highest point above sea level (841 feet) a boat can be driven under its own power in the world!
The lock structure has open girders, which makes us feel like we were really hanging out there!
This part of the canal includes shallow, weed-choked lakes and rivers, as well as man-made cuts. The Hole in the Wall Bridge, which spans the canal, is the first in Ontario to be built of reinforced concrete back in 1905.
After a night at Lock 37 – Bolsover’s upper wall, we moved along. For cottage owners in the area, boat houses are as important – if not more – than the cottage itself.
Here we had to wait about a half-hour for a bridge opening. There was no train in sight, and finally the bridge tender fired up a wheezy old engine, sputtering and coughing, and the bridge slowly and with great creaks and groans, swung barely out of the way.
This next pass reminded us of Little Detroit on the North Channel, very narrow, very close.
We docked for the night before the Swift Rapids Lock. This area is remote, served only by an eleven-mile long, rough two-track trail. Our company tonight included two groups of campers. A couple of fellows with backpacks and tents had hiked in and pitched a pup tent.
We docked for the night before the Swift Rapids Lock. This area is remote, served only by an eleven-mile long, rough two-track trail. Our company tonight included two groups of campers. A couple of fellows with backpacks and tents had hiked in and pitched a pup tent.
For a location for Fenelon Falls, check out the following MapQuest site - http://mapq.st/QvqzHw
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