LOVESICK to BUCKHORN, BOBCAYGEON & FENELON FALLS

The last few days have been a whirl wind ... Three ports in three days! Tonight we were trying to decide on a favorite of the last three (no conclusion yet...) Maybe you can help us decide?

We departed peaceful LOVESICK and traveled an easy two hours through one lock to BUCKHORN. This is where the craziness started! It is reported to be the busiest lock on the Trent Severn Waterway. After an afternoon and evening observing - we are believers! There were small boats, big boats, jet skies, and house boats all locking and docking in the narrow canal. There were also many visitors waking along the dock wall, eager to strike up a boating conversation. 

The next morning we traveled to BOBCAYGEON. It was another easy two hour journey, with one lock. We passed Fox Island and Pigeon Lake.  Once in BOBCAYGEON we docked on the wall behind "Panchetta", Looper friends from California that we met a few days ago. BOBCAYGEON was a nice touristy town that's famous for its giant shoe store. 

Then on to FENELON FALLS for the next stop. FENELON FALLS is considered to be the jewel of this Kawartha Lake Region. It was a pleasant trip on the Waterway passing pretty summer cottages dotting the shoreline. We docked on the lock wall lined with at least five other Looping trawlers. FENELON FALLS is another nice town with an old Main Street, and a newer trendy area. There was a morning Canadian TV show being filmed along the dock wall...quite exciting!

Looper Tip: In FENELON FALLS dock as close to the visitors center as possible for good free wifi... A real treat!

Our journey the last three days along the Trent Severn Waterway - Red Line.

Beautiful weather :)

Locking our way to the BUCKHORN wall.

BUCKHORN... Very busy!

Art around BUCKHORN and we rode bikes to the library for internet service.

Canadians are very passionate about their Butter Tarts ... Decadent and yummy!

Jack Pot $$$ First fish of the trip...Catch and release :) 

BOBCAYGEON.

Famous Bigley Shoe store in BOBCAYGEON. We looked, but no purchase.

Houseboats are everywhere.

FENELON FALLS.

Along the Waterway.

FENELON FALLS wall ... Yes, the arrow points to Thistle :)

There was a nice bike trail in FENELON FALLS... We found out after our 10 mile ride that there are many black bear sightings along the trail this time of year.

Cheers... We decided that each of our last three posts were unique in their own way and happy we had the opportunity to visit all of them :)

Sunset at FENELON FALLS.

LAKEFIELD to LOVESICK

Every day on our Great Loop adventure is exciting and new...and then, there are a few days that go down in the memory bank  as awesome! This journey was one of those :).

We woke up in LAKEFIELD and decided to provision for a few days, as we really had no idea where our next port stop would be.

The port stop ended up to be LOVESICK LOCK # 30 on The Trent Severn Waterway (some how it's karma, as our Thirtieth Anniversary is this summer). LOVESICK LOCK is actually an island and very remote.  

We traveled for about 2 hours from LAKEFIELD and crossed two locks. It was unbelievably beautiful thought Clear Lake and Stony Lake ( appropriately named as the water is very Clear and very Stony ). The topography changed dramatically. Granite rocks now make it very challenging to navigate through the Waterway.

We enjoyed two nights on the Lock Wall with BBQ dinners and a campfires both nights. There was also enough time during the day for a few maintenance projects. 

One of our projects was to inflate our SUP boards. We went on a paddle (5 miles) back to Burliegh Falls and returned to Thistle - just in time to avoid a huge thunder and lightening storm. We learned the next day that lightening hit the Burliegh Falls Lock and caused a power loss. The Lock was closed most of the following day.

This was our favorite stop on the Trent Severn Waterway to date !

Looper Tip: Visit with your dock neighbors. We met a wonderful family at LOVESICK and shared information while their children enjoyed our SUP's ...Thanks! 

The Market at LAKEFIELD and Burliegh Falls is the best :)  

Flannigans Butcher Shop in LAKEFIELD was great ... Steak and chicken BBQ's at the Lock. There was a Subway next door ... Tempting with Lobster (we passed)!

Up early to to provision and push off the wall from LAKEFIELD to LOVESICK.

Beautiful ....

It was yellow canoe day :)

Hell's gate (Ontario) very tricky navigation! 

A Church on an Island (after Hell's Gate)?

Stony Lake... Some of the rocks are actually named. The "Spoiler" is one of them.

Lots of navigation buoys ... What does this one mean?

LOVESICK projects ... Marking our anchor chain at 25 foot increments in Red White and Blue.

LOVESICK LOCK. 

Good Morning... Sunrise prior to departure XO

PETERBOROUGH to LAKEFIELD

We are thrilled to be back abroad Thistle to continue Loop Life :) It was wonderful to be home in Laguna Beach for a week but, for this summer, Thistle is where our hearts are!

We enjoyed PETERBOROUGH one last day, and accomplished a few errands as well as some basic provisioning. 

Thursday morning we pushed off "A" Dock, and had a long and exhausting day, crossing seven locks that were completely full of boaters (Yes, exhausting, but we both had big smiles). The most exciting Lock was number 21, The Peterborough Lift Lock. It is the highest dual hydraulic Lift Lock in the world. The Lock Lifts boats 65 feet!

We docked on the LAKEFIELD Lock wall about six hours later. Thursday was beautiful weather, sunny skies and warm temperatures. On the lock wall we met a very interesting Looper couple from Huntington Harbour (almost next door to our home in California). They actually took their boat through the Panama Canal in order to start the Great American Loop (quite impressive)!

LAKEFIELD is a charming town with many restaurants, pubs and unique shops to explore. 

We are now traveling in a more remote area, so please be patient with our next blog post, as wifi is very limited in this part of North Anerica.

Looper Tip: Peterborough Marina was a perfect place to dockThistle while we flew home for a week. The Marina owner, Don runs a very professional and safe operation with a friendly and helpful staff...THANKS!

While we were home, a Canadian friend sent a picture of us crossing the Peterborough Lift Lock by SUP boards (on July 6th)!

A special post Birthday Dinner at Elements...Thanks :)

Our PETERBOROUGH favorites: One Eighty Hunter (fantastic new restaurant and pub), Fontaine Source for Sports (great job tuning our bikes) and music concerts at the Marina every Wednesday and Saturday nights all summer long. (Wednesday night was Canadian Rock and Roll - Northern Pike).

Filling up with Diesel at the Peterborough Marina (148 liters for a $192.25 total).

Back on the Trent Severn Waterway.

Thursday we traveled from PETERBOROUGH to LAKEFIELD - Red Line.

Entering the famous Peterborough Lift Lock with three other boats.

The Peterborough Lift Lock was completed in 1904. It was considered an engineering marvel at that time. Each of the two pans (pools) weigh 1,300 tons when filled with river water. With one pan going up and one going down, the two balance each other. It does not matter how many boats are in each pan. A boat in the Lift displaces it's own weight in water. When it is time to lower one pan, and raise the other, one extra foot of river water (130 tons) is allowed to enter the upper pan. This extra weight allows the upper pan to push down and raise the lower pan to the top level. Boats continually enter and exit the upper and lower pans and the process is repeated!

Modern Trent University along the Waterway.

Cottage Country with colorful summer flowers.

Charming  LAKEFIELD: Old boat lettuce planters, Christ Church put into service in 1854 and City Hall.

Fun Pubs ... Greg said this was the best urinal he has ever seen (an old beer keg)!

Date night ... Yes, that's us in the shadow XO.

Sunset from Thistle on the LAKEFIELD Lock Wall. 

 

 

 

TORONTO

With mixed emotions....On Monday morning we secured Thistle at the Peterborough Marina, and headed to Toronto for three days! We will miss her and "Loop Life". 

Toronto, located on Lake Ontario, is the fourth most populous city in North America, after Mexico City, New York and Los Angeles. It is also an international center for business, finance, arts and culture. The urban history of the city dates back to 1793 when British officials negotiated it's purchase and established the town of York. The town of York was ransacked in the Battle of York, during the War of 1812. York was renamed Toronto in 1834.

We have enjoyed a very full three days in Toronto...There is sooooooooooo much to do! It's been tricky to prioritize options to fit in everything? Some of our favorite outings the last few days:  2015 Pan Am Games, a U2 Concert, and exploring by bike Toronto's diverse districts, architecture and restaurants.

We are flying back to California for a week to check on our home, take care of business, open mail and enjoy the summer Festivals in Laguna Beach. While we are away, Thistle is in good hands and getting spa treatments, including a bubble bath and polish for the return of "Loop Life". (Please be patient, our next Blog entry will be in about 10 days...XO).

Riding our bikes to the the Peterborough Bus Station. Our bikes are at the local bike shop for a scheduled tuneup.

GO ticket to Toronto....about an hour ride on the bus and train to Union Station.

Our Hotel...It originally opened in 1929 with 28 floors and was the tallest building in Toronto. The beautiful Chateau style building is now an official Canadian Landmark.

The last two days we have had some extra excitement at the York ... The hotel is hosting The International Climate Summit of the Americas. We woke up yesterday to a large protest in front of the hotel, including a huge police presence with lots of secret service types standing guard in the hotel. This morning we were told that there are many important political dignitaries, including Parliament Leaders of Canada, Al Gore and California Governor Jerry Brown.

Historic Toronto, beautiful old buildings and parks.

Modern Toronto, lots of art and high-rise buildings.

Bike Share Toronto - we paid a $15 fee to use bikes for three days.  Once registered you receive ride code for bike use. The first 30 minutes are free, and we continually repeated the 30 minute time use over our three days in Toronto :). Bikes are located in bike racks all over the City.

There are many diverse Districts in Toronto... Here are just a few: Chinatown, The Distillery and the Water Front. 

U2 at the Air Canada Center...Great SHOW!

PACHI the porcupine is the official mascot of the 2015 Pan Am Games. Toronto is decorated with colorful flowers and ribbon. We also saw the Torch Relay Parade. 

We watched the USA vs CUBA Water Polo Game...USA won!

Thanks Toronto, until next time.