Lift Lock + Lakefield + Buckhorn

 We are entering the lift lock on the left.  See the pan hanging above on the right side?

On Monday we left Peterborough at 10:30 am.  We had tried to let some other boats go ahead of us, and then we had to wait for a pump out before exiting.  We sat for a few minutes alone at Lock # 20, feeling pretty smug.  We were going through the locks alone. Then the tour boat showed up.  Oh, darn.  I had forgotten that the tour boat left our marina at 10:30, and now it was waiting for the lock with us.  Then two smaller boats came along too.  What a crowd!  The lockmaster said the tour boat would go in first, then the two smaller boats, and we would enter last.  I’m not sure why.  “Would we have room?”

“Yes,” he assured me. 

“Would there be room in the Peterborough Lift Lock for all four of us?”

“Yes.”

Here is the view from the top and back of the lift lock. 

So we went through Lock #20 and then motored a half mile to the Lift Lock.  The Lift Lock is a mechanical wonder completed in 1904.  We entered at the back of the lock and actually had the best position.  We were looking out over the world.  As the lock pan moved up, there were no walls around us.  I did have a moment of terror, but there was nothing to do but enjoy the ride.  And the ride was swift.  The lock pan moved up quickly like an elevator.  We were surprised.  Some looper friends were on the tour boat, and they took photos of us.  We were amazed to be doing one of those iconic looper challenges: We were in the lift lock!

The tour boat turned back after that lock, and we continued with the two smaller boats through five more locks, finally stopping for the night at Lakefield on the wall above Lock #26.  We had done a good day’s work, and we were surprised that only one boat was on the long wall.  After we tied up, we read a bit.  Then we walked into town for ice cream, groceries, and the LCBO store (again). 

We put down the dinghy and dangled our legs in the cold and clear water. On the back porch there was cool breeze, so we read there.  George tried to entice fish onto his pole.  We could actually see the fish look at his lure as it passed them.  That’s how clear the water was.  It was a quiet and delightful evening.

As we sat on the swim platform, this was the view by the wall.

Today we went 20 miles and through four locks to Buckhorn.  We saw amazing scenery in the Clear Lake region.  We were surrounded by spruce and stone.  There were huge rock outcroppings and whole islands of stone. 

Here is a house built on stone.  

Going through Hell's Gate we had to be careful to stay in the curvy channel. 

See the red and green markers?

We had an easy travel day because we were either alone or with one other boat in the locks.  Several locks opened as we reached them.  Open Sesamé.  I had a fun encounter in Lock #28, Burleigh Falls.  A woman on the boat to our side said, "Hello, Martha" after she tied her line.  What?  She knew me because she reads the blog.  I asked if they were doing the loop, and she replied that they were doing it with us.  How charming!  

When we reached Buckhorn, we decided to stop for the day.  The wind had picked up, and we wondered how rough the next lake would be.  The lock master helped us secure a spot on the wall, and we went to lunch at a cafe on the water.  

Seaquacious and Always Home passed as we were eating.  Spirit and Nearly Perfect tied up below the lock to wait for entrance.  They had to wait over an hour because four houseboats entered the lock at the top.  It was a wild show.  This is houseboat rental territory, and we've heard the renter just has to watch a 10 minute video and then takes the boat.  Two boats entered the lock without trouble.  When the third tried to come in, the wind caught its stern and turned it sideways.  I was scared for Aunt Aggie, who was sitting nearby on the wall.  

This houseboat had to move out, turn around and try a second time.

We are at the library in Buckhorn, using the public internet.  We will walk to the marina and visit friends for docktails later.  Then home for dinner and an early start tomorrow across Stony Lake.  There is less wind in the morning, so we will take off around 7:00 am.