Day 275 - June 16, 2014: Lock 19, just before Peterborough, Ontario

Before departing Campbellford, I biked over to Dooher’s Bakery for a chocolate donut and then headed for The World’s Finest Chocolate Factory. Both are recommended in the cruising guides. The donut was great, but the factory store was not yet open. Darn, this would have been a good time to stock up.

Smiling lockmaster in the rain

The World's Finest Chocolate Factory Outlet Store

We departed in the rain up the Trent River through lock 13 and 14, then lock 15, and then the dual flight locks 16 and 17 at Healey Falls. I have noticed that boaters here on the Trent-Severn are not honoring good safety practices in the locks. They are not wearing life jackets out on the decks and are cleating off lines tightly to the vertical steel cables on the lock walls. Lockmasters would not permit these violations in the U.S.

Next was lock 18 where we entered Rice Lake, the second largest lake on the waterway, measuring over 18 miles long. This lock is in Hastings where we entered the lake, and as is common in these small towns, there is a swing bridge for crossing traffic just beyond the lock that is opened in conjunction with the lock.

Swing bridge at top of lock 18

We were interested in anchoring out somewhere on Rice Lake, but the weather report predicted more rain and thunderstorms, so we thought better and continued up to lock 19, just before Peterborough. It turned out we had sun, smooth water and no rain. So much for weather reporting, but it did make for an incredibly beautiful and smooth ride

A beautiful cruise down the length of Rice Lake

In this waterway, we have now gone through 18 locks (6 locks a day for three days) and risen 396.6 feet in altitude. The scenery has gone from urban centers and airfields to farm land and dairy farming. In the Otonabee River, we are seeing dense trees and rolling hillsides which are reminiscent of the Tennessee River. 

Otonabee River bank