Days 314 and 315 - The Giant Toonie

Miles cruised 30, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $38, daily high temperature 81°f

We cruised 30 miles and transited 12 locks today. It was an 8 hour day from the time we arrived at the first lock until we were tied up in Campbellford, Ontario. We were lifted 235 feet in total.

The scenery along the waterway was very pastoral with lots of trees and rolling hills. The lock masters are even more laid back in Canada than on the Erie Canal. People are allowed to climb all over the lock walls and bridges while the lock is in operation. No one is wearing a life vest. There is an ice cream store within a a short walk of several of the locks. We purchased our one way transit lock pass at lock #1 for $209 Canadian.

A slightly leaky door on the lock making a nice waterfall.

Lock door art.

Trivia question – answer provided later in this blog.

How are the lock gates operated to get them to open and close?

A. Electric motors are used to open and close the gates.

B. A hydraulic ram is used to open and close the gates.

C. Humans walk around in circles pushing an iron bar to open and close the gates.

D. Large weights similar to window weights are used to open and close the gates.

We are tied up on the west wall in downtown Campbellford. They offer the third night free with a two night stay. We had planned to stay two nights. Perhaps we will stay here three nights and only one night in Hastings. We were told that Banjos restaurant is the place to go in Hastings. On Friday and Saturday we will be in Petersborough.

Changing Latitudes on the wall in Campbellford.

Today is Monday August 1 and it is a Canadian national holiday called Civic day. Most stores are closed but hopefully a few restaurants are open.

On Monday night in Campbellford we went to the Church Key Bar for a cocktail and joined in their trivia contest. They were using Trivial Pursuit cards from 1986 so were dialed in. They were a fun group. Then we wandered next door to Cappers restaurant for dinner. The crew of Maravillas was there. They had a few family members join them for this section of the trip on the Waterway.

On Tuesday morning I walked across the bridge to Dooher’s bakery. They are the bakers of the famous cream filled donuts. Yum, Yum!

Answer to today’s trivia question – Humans walk around in circles pushing an iron bar to open and close the lock gates.

This is a statue of the $2.00 Canadian coin affectionately called a “Toonie.”

Laura from Leap of Faith advised that just outside of Orillia on the Trent Severn Waterway they hit some rocks. “We were going to Port of Orillia marina and rounded a bend to the left just past Bridgeport marina. There is apparently a color change on markers here that is local knowledge but not readily apparent. Two greens in a row no reds. The marina was not easily visible so we called for directions. Marina said “we have you in sight turn towards church steeple”. Crunch!!! While we were there two other boats did same thing. One hit the other just missed. It took several days to repair the damage.” Glad to hear they are repaired and on their way again.

Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote of the day.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is known as the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism, and as a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions.

Or if it is a boat cruise – a journey of 6,000 miles must begin with untying the dock lines.
Captain Father John