We just left Peterborough this morning and are now on our slow slog south to Brewerton, NY where we will leave Subject to Change for winter. We’ll take it easy on the way back and hopefully hit a few places we haven’t been yet. We aim to be back in Clayton, NY by Labor Day to meet up with Roy and Karen Shaw.
Our trip up to Peterborough with Kitty was fun, easy and relaxing with much anticipation of going through the infamous Peterborough Lock 21, the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock. As you head north into the town of Peterborough, you have to transit lock 19, go past the Peterborough Marina a short way and then go through lock 20 and then thru a narrow canal to Lock 21. Since we planned on staying at the marina, but also wanted to get thru Lock 21, we passed by the marina went up to 20 and 21 and then returned and did 21 and 20 again.
Having given you this background, I now have to relay the BIG Lesson Learned on this trip. Locking Rule #1- Always have a sharp serrated knife handy. Before we left on this trip, I made sure that we had 2 folding serrated knives on board. I had read several times on the AGLCA forum about boats whose lines had gotten stuck while locking and had to be cut loose. I had read where boats sunk because the line handler was unable to loosen a line to allow the boat to float up while water filled a lock. I made sure we were prepared. For every lock we went through on the Erie and the Oswego Canals, I made sure we had a knife at both the bow and the stern when we locked. When Kitty came aboard, I told her about the knives and she put one forward and aft for us as we locked in the Trent Severn. But the TS was just so easy compared to the Erie and the Oswego. No big deal I figured and I became complacent. On this day, while cleaning up inside, I saw the knives on the countertop and instead of taking them outside and stationing them as before, I moved them to a spot not readily seen. We breezed through Lock 19’s 8 ‘ lift with ease and moved on to Lock 20. It was no different than the other 19 locks we had already been through on the TS except it was lined with tourists and we were squeezed in with a local LiftLock tour boat. We barely had a foot between us. From my position on the bow, I chatted with a couple wanting to know about our travels from Texas to Ontario, how we long did it take, what was our route, etc. I had to keep the bow pulled in tight to keep us off the stern of the tour boat. I didn’t notice until it was too late that the line I use to loop around the cable was no longer rising with the water level. The cables have a heavy rubber sheath, but the sheath on the cable I was on had rubbed through and bunched up. My line couldn’t rise above the bunched up rubber and because I had been pulling so much to hold us of the tourboat, it had become bound up on my cleat. I couldn’t loosen my line and my line couldn’t rise. I needed my knife and I needed it quickly. Luckily the lock master was close by and using the knife he carried in his pocket, he was able to slice through my line releasing the boat. Lesson learned- always have a knife near when locking and do not let yourself become complacent.
So, with my heart beating a little faster, we approached Lock 21. Completed in 1904, what an engineering marvel! We entered a 330,000 gallon pan at the lower end of the lock, while at the top of the lock another pan is waiting to be loaded. The upper pan is filled with one extra foot of water. Once both pans are closed, a valve is opened and the extra weight of the top pan forces it down, while the lower, lighter pan rises. For more detail, try this website: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough_Lift_Lock
After a quick turn around and back through Locks 21 and 20, we tied up at the Peterborough Marina. It was a Saturday night and that meant a free concert in the park that was next to the marina. What a fantastic show. We listened and danced to “Against the Wind”, a Bob Seger tribute band from Toronto. Fun, fun. The next day included a tour of the Canoe Museum and a walk through town. The next morning we drove Kitty to Toronto with a rental car, and said our “see ya later”. We’ll miss having her aboard.
Hastings
We stopped for one night on the wall above the lock, had a yummy dinner at Gilley’s and walked to the park across the way for a picture of Pisces Pete, a 12’ stainless steel sculpture of a pickerel.
Campbellford
On our way south, we stopped again in Campbellford and took advantage of their “pay for two nights, get a third night free”. When we became through with Kitty, the weekly free concert in the park was cancelled due to weather. This time around we were in a perfect spot to watch the town come out for The White Brothers, a old time country band. We also had the privilege of meeting Andrea, a dear friend of our new friends, the Keelers. She welcomed us to her town with open arms as she has done for so many loopers who stop in Campbellford.
Belleville
We left the Trent Severn Waterway on Sunday and came to Belleville. We’ll be here for a week sucking up free WiFi, visiting the 3 acre dog park, and touring Prince Edward County’s breweries and wineries. We also wanted to be tied up with power for the storm that is coming through today.
