Thank goodness a great Country radio station here in Peterborough ON! I was back on those dreadful PBS stations for a few days and this makes all the miles worthwhile.
I left the little town of Hastings and the Cute Blonde Twins, who ran the marina for the city. In almost every city marina and locks too, for that matter, they employee either students or young people and they are always pleasant. My segment today took me to Petersborough ON, which is home of the highest lift lock in the world.
What's a lift lock you ask? I'll post pictures tomorrow on Facebook to show you. It's an amazing contraption, which was built in 1904 and it's still in perfect operating condition today…… I hope! It's very simple.... there are two large tubs, which are each filled with 330,000 gallons of water. They sit side-by-side and can handle up to a 100' boat weighing up to 100 tons! They put two boats in, one in each tub. The amount of water they displace is calculated automatically. The boat they want to descend they add one more gallon of water In its tub and this starts the lift to begin to drop.
This canal system here was built for the same purpose as the Erie Canal, to transport goods and commerce to the western part of the country. The Trent-Severn Waterway system was started before 1900 and finished in about 1920. It really didn't get a chance to move much commerce because by then Rail Roads were taking over hauling most goods.
Now, the main function of TSW is to provide additional tourists revenue to the government. It's run by the Parks & Recreation Division and not only provides a way to get from one body of water to another but the property around each lock is used as a camping site.
I passed through only one lock today, shortly before entering the marina. There has been very few fuel stops available since I entered the canal system a week ago so it was time to fill'er up! Diesel fuel is a little more expensive here in Canada. Average cost is about one dollar per liter, figuring 4 L per gallon, that would be four dollars a gallon. Since I was low on fuel it took over 800 L or about one thousand dollars worth.
While filling my tanks and getting the waste pumped out, I met a young man and his family, who are from here in Peterborough and they just completed their loop yesterday! There were two adults and two young boys on a 27 foot sailboat! James, Nancy, Lucas, and Marcus were aboard "LIVING LIFE", but for the past two months, only the guys were on board. Nancy had to come home because her mom got sick and she needed to take care of her. Tragically she passed away just 30 days ago! Her father is still living and he is scheduled to join them as they continued. They own a house just around the corner from the marina but it's rented until 1 August, so they're going to continue cruising until then. We're both going on to the Georgian Bay. They say even though they are from here and it's beautiful, GB is wilderness and more beautiful.
I had an unusual meal this evening. Several lock people have told me when I get to Petersborough, I have to eat at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Even though I was tired tonight, I took a little nap then got up and walked about 10 blocks over to it. Very interesting! Of course you had your Goth dress damsel sitting in a corner with a laptop. Seemed to be drawing, or.... A couple of people were ordering and couple more waiting for their take-out. The menu board on the wall was about 15' by 4' times 2! They had, and their specialty was Poutine. Now if you don't know what that is, ask Cellia. She's eaten more of those than ayone but these are different..... very different. They have over 100 different specials ones they are known for. It's basically french fries covered in cheese curd and brown gravy, but to make it special I ordered a chicken something that was baked, cut up chicken, onions, mushrooms, in a little chinese takee outee boxee. It was very good but I could only eat 1/2. Lunch for tomorrow is now safely in my fridge.
I had an unusual meal this evening. Several lock people have told me when I get to Petersborough, I have to eat at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Even though I was tired tonight, I took a little nap then got up and walked about 10 blocks over to it. Very interesting! Of course you had your Goth dress damsel sitting in a corner with a laptop. Seemed to be drawing, or.... A couple of people were ordering and couple more waiting for their take-out. The menu board on the wall was about 15' by 4' times 2! They had, and their specialty was Poutine. Now if you don't know what that is, ask Cellia. She's eaten more of those than ayone but these are different..... very different. They have over 100 different specials ones they are known for. It's basically french fries covered in cheese curd and brown gravy, but to make it special I ordered a chicken something that was baked, cut up chicken, onions, mushrooms, in a little chinese takee outee boxee. It was very good but I could only eat 1/2. Lunch for tomorrow is now safely in my fridge.
Bet you're surprised there's 2 blogs in 2 days, heh?
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