Day 7 saw us continue up the Waterway to Hastings (Mile 51.1 and all that), with the prospect of two nights on the lock wall to weather out another round of constant rain and thunderstorms. Here we were joined by several other boats, including four long distance loopers (from Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Grimsby, Ontario). Time to stock up on groceries and LCBO, but not a town that found a place in our hearts.
Day Nine and we escape bright and early, for our run to Peterborough and points beyond, starting with Rice Lake.
On reaching Peterborough, we tie up for lunch at Lock 19, joined by our American friends, and watch as hundreds of kayakers, coming from the annual “fill the Lift Lock” event for Canada Day, swarm the lock.
Eventually we move on to the famous Peterborough Lift Lock (highest in the world, etc.) and then move on for a peaceful evening at Lock 22. Along the way, there is shallow water, heavy weeds, and narrow channels. But at least it doesn’t rain.
Day Ten brings more narrow channels, dam torrents, and Otonabee, Douro, Sawer Creek and Lakefield locks before we arrive at Young’s Point (Lock 27) at lunch time, with another afternoon of rain and “The risk of thunderstorms”, the latter rapidly becoming a sure thing. Again, our American boats (“The Good Life”, “Magic” and “Endeavour” catch up with is here. It’s a great spot, which is just as well since we tie up for the rest of the day.
The next morning is beautiful, but we know it’s only going to last till the afternoon, so we get up early and head out across Clear Lake, then through Burleigh Falls Lock, with Endeavor, for Lovesick Lock – a beautiful sounding lock, on an island, and the favourite of a lot of people – for a peaceful day and night.
