Days 326 and 327 - Fenelon Falls — Captain Father John

Miles cruised 15, locks transited 2, lifted 30′, fuel purchased for dingy $20, slip fee $45, daily high temperature 78°f

Day 2 at Bobcaygeon was similar to the previous day with shopping as the focus. The only difference is shoes were not purchased today but a pair of slacks were. Then we took a dingy ride to beat the heat. We met some gold loopers John and Terry Spang onboard Lucky Us from League City, Texas. They are on the lock wall with no power and are waiting to get over the other side to get plugged in. Several small boats will have to depart to make room for them. They mentioned their first loop trip was delayed by health problems. When they finally cast off they blew an engine after only two days. They limped home on one engine and $20,000 later they were once again on their way. They are doing their second loop counter clockwise.

It rained a little bit overnight on Friday. Not enough to relieve the severe drought conditions but it was something. Saturday morning started with overcast skies and a chance of rain. We cast off at 8:40 am to get in line for the lock opening at 9:00 am. Boaters at Gordon’s suggested we get an early start of we want to get a spot on the wall with electric in Fenelon Falls. Both sides of the lock wall in Bobcaygeon were lined with boats. The Loopers on Lucky Us were on the wall with electric. Good for them. Two houseboats were on the blue line ahead of us to enter the lock. There was no room for us to tie up and wait for the lock so we hovered in the narrow channel. There was a houseboat next to us with six young men aboard. Four were drinking coffee and two were drinking beer for breakfast.

This is the R and R houseboat rental marina.

As we started toward the lock entrance some boaters on the wall warned us that the driver of the black houseboat had hit another boat last night and to give him plenty of room. We let the black houseboat bounce around inside the lock and and pulled next to him with a full six inches to spare on either side of us. Andy did a good job of fending off. I asked the houseboat captain next to us if we could depart first. That would give him lots of room to maneuver as he exited the lock. He was happy to oblige.

We received an email from Laura and Artie on Leap of Faith that they are still in Orillia getting repairs. We will see them on Tuesday. You might recall that Artie had stepped on a staple and got blood poisoning when we were in Norfolk for the Looper rendezvous. He had to be evacuated by helicopter to the hospital when they were at Tangiers Island on Chesapeake Bay. After a few weeks they headed out again. When they reached Lake Simcoe on the Trent Waterway they hit a reef and severely damaged their propellors. They have been waiting for parts for several weeks. The parts finally arrived on Friday but the mechanics do not work on weekends so they will be in Orillia next week. They must be experts on where to go and which restaurants are best.

We arrived at Fenelon Falls lock #34 at 11:30 am. The lock door was closed so we tied up on the blue line. We want to tie up overnight on the top of the lock so I walked across the bridge to the upper lock wall. There were two open electric pedestals. However neither one had enough space on the wall to fit CL. I asked the nice lady on the 48′ from California if she could move up a few feet so we could fit in. She squawked about being tied up and I should look at the other end of the wall. At the other end there was a pedestal and enough room us if a small boat pulled up five feet. The owner had a plate of pancakes in his hand and a scowl on his face. He was not inclined to help. I went back to the first spot and Andy the Canadian in the small houseboat said he would make room for us. I noticed the lock doors were open on the low side so I hurried back to CL. The risk is a boat would come from the other side of the lock and take our newly created spot on the wall. We transited the 24′ lock and pulled into our spot with ease. Andy showed me where to check in with the lock master to pay for the overnight dockage and double electricity. They charge for each 30 amp plug and we need two 30’s to run our system. The total cost is $45 USD. It started raining torrentially. Andy the houseboat guy ran back in the rain and was soaked. No good deed goes unpunished. I waited out the rain the under the eves on the lock master building and chatted with a couple from Detroit, MI. They had been on holiday at a rental cabin and came to the lock in a 16′ boat to kill time until they have to return the boat at 4:30 pm. It had been raining and raining and raining like the end of the world. Not a good plan them. If there was a single salt crystal remaining on CL it is long gone now.

Fenleon Falls

Fenelon Falls has several restaurants, shops and a grocery store next to the lock. This looks like a great stopover if it ever stops raining.

Bonus photo

On Sunday we will cruise 16 miles and transit 3 locks. We will stay on the wall at the Kirkland Lock.

Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote of the day.

“A ship is always referred to as “she” because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder.”

The reference to powder is of course gun powder. CFJ

Chester Nimitz

Chester William Nimitz, February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) was a fleet admiral of the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet (CinCPac), for U.S. naval forces and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CinCPOA), for U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II.