On to Bobcaygeon

As a little update to the "side issues" from the previous post, after a few issues with UPS we now have updated charts on our chart plotter.  The SD card actually beat us to the marina yesterday, but they would not accept it because there was duty due on the package.  After more calls than I can count to UPS and downloading their app to track the package, we received it today at 3 PM. Can't wait to actually leave tomorrow and be able to look at it rather than an iPad.  We had our generator looked at by a tech at the Buckhorn Marina.  He shortened the hose to take out a small kink - that wasn't the issue.  He took apart the freshwater hoses to try to find an obstruction - that wasn't the issue.  Finally, he disconnected the raw water flow sensor - that was the issue. Fortunately, disconnecting the sensor makes it think that all is well and the generator runs.  We have a new sensor on order a couple of towns up so hopefully, that will put everything right.  In the meantime, our generator works.  Pretty sure that the raw water intrusion is coming from the rudder post that took a little bump on our second day in the Niantic Harbor.  The leak is a pain but manageable.

After Campbellford we went to Hastings, then to Peterborough, and on to Buckhorn and Bobcaygeon.  The highlight of that stretch was the lift lock at Peterborough. It took 8 years to build this lock and was inaugurated in 1904. Only 8 lift locks of this type have been built in the world. There are 2 in Canada (we will be going through the Kirkland lift lock in a week); the others are in Belgium, Great Britain and France. But this is the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world.

The lift lock basically functions like a see-saw using hydraulics and gravity. They weight the upper chamber a few thousand pounds more than the lower chamber and let gravity do the rest.  Here is a quick video. Unfortunately, we had a rainy day so the views aren't great and we were in the front of the chamber so there were other boats obstructing our view.

Not our best photo but you get a sense of the height and the weather

An obstructed view off the back of the chamber

Another highlight was traveling through all the connected lakes which are referred to as "cottage country." The lakes are insanely shallow. Eight to ten feet is the norm - anything over 15 feet is a luxury and 5 feet is not infrequent.  We stayed glued to the iPad and the Samsung, running Aquamaps and Navionics.  Aquamaps in Canada is raster format while Navionics is vector.  It was rare that reality would agree with each of our chart plotters, but we made it through.  

A few quick shots of the local scenery.  

It was wonderful to catch up with our cruising friends Cathy and Kim who made the trip up from Toronto to spend two days with us, move Egret three-tenths of a mile and go through the Bobcaygeon lock. Such fun to catch up with them!

Today we will head off to Fenelon Falls, a short trip (15 miles) up the river through Sturgeon Lake with no locks.