Rick and I spent the night aboard last night and Ray joined us at about 7:46am.
8:12am left coboconk public dock heading for Rosedale marina for a pump out and water refill. 1st locks of the day are in rosedale (mile marker 157.2). Rick has spent the last 10 days at the gov’t dock and is very happy with the way the boat is running. Lots of boat maintenance done in the last 10 days. This is my first time on ‘The Entertainer’ and I must say Rick has made it a very impressive vessel. The first wager has begun: Based on information Rick has given me I have calculated we should get through the Lovesick Lock #30. Ray has the advantage since he has been on the boat before. He predicts we can make it through to Lock #27 Young’s Point. Raining to start the trip of course, wouldn’t have it any other way. But we may push on resulting in a win for Ray.
Crossing over the Highest Point on the Waterway. 256.3m (841.0ft) The Rosedale Bridge.
10:09am cleared the Rosedale Lock #35 (4ft drop) and entered into Cameron Lake.
10:58am cleared the Fenelon Falls Lock # 34 (24ft drop) and entered into Sturgeon Lake. Very impressive and dropping happens very quickly.
1:33pm cleared the Bobcaygeon Lock #32 (5.4ft) and entered Pigeon Lake. First locks to be built on the waterway. First time to share the locks with other boaters. Very impressive waterway here in Bobcaygen, with lots of tourists watching. First swing bridge opening for us. The weather is still overcast but with a little luck the sun will shine by dinner time.
4:05pm cleared the Buckhorn Lock #31 (11.5ft drop) and entered into Lower Buckhorn lake. Very nice afternoon with a long trip across Pigeon Lake and through the Gannon Narrows into Buckhorn Lk. We had some fairly dark clouds but we have missed the rain and now that we are through the locks we finally have the blue skies that we have been hopeing for. Lock attendants have been great so far, offering advice on where to spend the night and helping with the lines (Not that captain rick needs help).
5:0p1m cleared the Lovesick Lock #30 (3.5ft drop) and entered Lovesick lk. with only 2 miles to the next locks and some tight passage to get there, no time to type.
5:38pm cleared the Burleigh Falls Lock #28 (24ft drop) There is no #29 lock??? Very nice lock, we will be spending the night here, docked up at the base of the falls. Drinks for all….then boat maint. dinner and a walk around the area to stretch. Of course the rain came back as soon as we enter the locks so all hands on deck and get soaked (captain rick is dry) Finishing the day at mile marker 113.0. 44.2 miles for day 1.
First day is coming to an end and the trip has started off perfectly. After docking we were entertained by the local kids as they jumped the 24 ft lock drop. Funny, the dock attendants left and the kids must have been hiding in the bushes waiting. We are now finishing the day with a delicious stew from our master chef Ray, and for dessert – sambuca and strawberry/rhubarb pie. Tomorrow we will hit Hell’s Gate to begin the day and by noon we should be going through the Peterbourough Locks (biggest drop in waterway). We have also come to find out that staying at the locks for the night is not worth the money, from here on we will spend more time at anchorage. Weather as you have read, for you that know, is a lot like being at home in Nova Scotia. Completely annoying and changing every 10 minutes. Evening/dinner time was perfect weather and I was able to enjoy a swim in the river, however we do expect snow by morning.