Friday, August 14
The weather is more of the summer days. Clear, warm and light winds; the forecast is no change for four or five days. Since we don’t have far to go today, we take our time this morning. Diana goes out to take waterfall pictures that she hope the light would be better than last night. Eithe
r, they closed part of the dam or the water level dropped over night (I suspect the later), there is not as much water. Yesterday there was water all the way across, now there is a large dry section. It is still a pretty sight.
Final a little after nine I notified the lock staff that we would lock through on the next cycle. They were just locking a small boat down and were ready by the time I got the engines starte
d. As we reached the top of the lock, Diana took pictures of the shops across the street from the lock, including the Captains Table where we ate last night. It was already feeling warm in town at 9:30.
A
short distance above the lock we past the Kawartha Spirit. She is a day excursion boat that we had passed yesterday, then watched come back and lock thru after we were tied up.
We make the short crossing (about 3 miles) of Cameron Lake and along the way get the daily osprey picture.
We are soon approaching Rosedale Lock. This small rise will take us up to Balsam Lake which is the highest point on the system. From here we will start going down.
As we exit the lock Diana gets this picture that not only shows the pretty scenery put also the total lack of wind and clouds.
Balsam is another of the nice lakes on the system; we pass only about four miles from one side to the other it is much larger in the other direction. Our route takes us out and around Grand Island.
The weather is more of the summer days. Clear, warm and light winds; the forecast is no change for four or five days. Since we don’t have far to go today, we take our time this morning. Diana goes out to take waterfall pictures that she hope the light would be better than last night. Eithe
r, they closed part of the dam or the water level dropped over night (I suspect the later), there is not as much water. Yesterday there was water all the way across, now there is a large dry section. It is still a pretty sight.Final a little after nine I notified the lock staff that we would lock through on the next cycle. They were just locking a small boat down and were ready by the time I got the engines starte
d. As we reached the top of the lock, Diana took pictures of the shops across the street from the lock, including the Captains Table where we ate last night. It was already feeling warm in town at 9:30.
A
short distance above the lock we past the Kawartha Spirit. She is a day excursion boat that we had passed yesterday, then watched come back and lock thru after we were tied up.We make the short crossing (about 3 miles) of Cameron Lake and along the way get the daily osprey picture.
We are soon approaching Rosedale Lock. This small rise will take us up to Balsam Lake which is the highest point on the system. From here we will start going down.
As we exit the lock Diana gets this picture that not only shows the pretty scenery put also the total lack of wind and clouds.
Balsam is another of the nice lakes on the system; we pass only about four miles from one side to the other it is much larger in the other direction. Our route takes us out and around Grand Island.
Along the way we get the daily loon picture.
The route leaves Balsam Lake thru a man made channel blasted and dug out of limestone shale. This connects the Trent watershed we have been in to the Severn watershed we are about to enter. We make a security call on VHF 16 to notify other boats in the area of our intentions, the channel is no place for large boats to meet.
This takes us to Mitchell Lake, a small swampy area with a buoyed channel to the next man made cut that goes to Kirkfield Lock. As we enter Mitchell there is a security call from an east bound boat out of Kirkfield. We respond and advise him we will wait in Mitchell until he clears the channel, he is a 46 foot Sea Ray. Not a boat to pass in close quarters.
While we wait we let a 30 foot cruiser go in front and we both head into the channel when the Sea Ray clears. Five minutes behind the Sea Ray is a runabout.
There is room to get by him, but nothing much bigger.
After over a mile of channel the top of the lift lock is in sight. We have to sit in neutral for only a minute and the green light comes on. We pull into the chamber and as always the view is
fantastic. Diana spots a section of gray line (just visible on the left) that appears to be in heavy shade.
We lock down and shortly after noon we are tied up for the day. We have lunch on the front deck and enjoy a beautiful peaceful setting. Although it is pleasant in the shade by mid afternoon the cabin is getting stuffy and we need to charge the inverter batteries sometime. So we start the generator and run both ACs. The cabin cools quickly.
Diana takes pictures; looking back on the starboard side is the lock and on the port is the tree
lined embankment we are moored to.
I do a couple of boat chores then I seriously contemplate what the next few days schedule will
be.
The lock sits out in the country side, the only thing nearby is a small restaurant. They have ice cream. We walk up and it tastes great. On the way back Diana takes a picture from the road that runs under the lock, looking out under the up chamber with Memories in the background.
We have pork tenderloin and corn on the cob for dinner, done on the grill.
I have commented in the past about the Park’s Canada staff at the locks, but I will do it again. Throughout both the Trent and Rideau systems all the staff has been most pleasant and helpful. Their attitude and friendliness help make the trip the wonderful experience that it is.
Another perfect day.
The route leaves Balsam Lake thru a man made channel blasted and dug out of limestone shale. This connects the Trent watershed we have been in to the Severn watershed we are about to enter. We make a security call on VHF 16 to notify other boats in the area of our intentions, the channel is no place for large boats to meet.
This takes us to Mitchell Lake, a small swampy area with a buoyed channel to the next man made cut that goes to Kirkfield Lock. As we enter Mitchell there is a security call from an east bound boat out of Kirkfield. We respond and advise him we will wait in Mitchell until he clears the channel, he is a 46 foot Sea Ray. Not a boat to pass in close quarters.
While we wait we let a 30 foot cruiser go in front and we both head into the channel when the Sea Ray clears. Five minutes behind the Sea Ray is a runabout.
There is room to get by him, but nothing much bigger.
After over a mile of channel the top of the lift lock is in sight. We have to sit in neutral for only a minute and the green light comes on. We pull into the chamber and as always the view is
fantastic. Diana spots a section of gray line (just visible on the left) that appears to be in heavy shade.
We lock down and shortly after noon we are tied up for the day. We have lunch on the front deck and enjoy a beautiful peaceful setting. Although it is pleasant in the shade by mid afternoon the cabin is getting stuffy and we need to charge the inverter batteries sometime. So we start the generator and run both ACs. The cabin cools quickly.
Diana takes pictures; looking back on the starboard side is the lock and on the port is the tree
lined embankment we are moored to.I do a couple of boat chores then I seriously contemplate what the next few days schedule will
be.The lock sits out in the country side, the only thing nearby is a small restaurant. They have ice cream. We walk up and it tastes great. On the way back Diana takes a picture from the road that runs under the lock, looking out under the up chamber with Memories in the background.
We have pork tenderloin and corn on the cob for dinner, done on the grill.
I have commented in the past about the Park’s Canada staff at the locks, but I will do it again. Throughout both the Trent and Rideau systems all the staff has been most pleasant and helpful. Their attitude and friendliness help make the trip the wonderful experience that it is.
Another perfect day.
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