The Trent-Severn Waterway is actually a collection of lakes connected by short canal sections rather than a continuous ditch running along a contour line. Most of the lakes are at different elevations so there are 44 locks to keep all that water from rushing into Lake Ontario or Lake Huron. All locks are in excellent condition even though they are about 100 years old. Maintenance is careful to preserve the authenticity and character of the canal and equipment as it was while assuring full function and easy travel. Each lock is the site of a small park with lawns, trees, flowers, picnic tables, rest rooms and sometimes a small shop, all tended by Parks Canada. The staff seems eager to help boaters enjoy their canal holiday to the max. They consider it to be part of their job. They are government employees. Amazing attitude. Unlike the canals in Britain, the lock machinery is operated by staff and the boater remains aboard to tend his lines. It's a good thing because every lock is different and some of the ancient machinery was built for a clientele in much tougher times. The Big Chute - the railway that takes boats out of one lake, up the hill, down another hill, and dumps into another lake was an interesting ride. Just move in and stop as ordered and they do everything.
The big lift lock at Kirkfield is quite the engineering marvel. Another even larger one, the biggest of the seven now existing in the world, lies a few days ahead at Peterborough. Too involved to explain here. You can check it out on the web.
The area is heavily forested with deciduous trees and must be spectacular in the fall. At this time of year, tree pollen dusts everything green. The screen that we use for the electronic charts and the computer keyboard require more regular dusting. One undesirable effect of the French Mafia attack on West Marine is the unavailability of dinghy glue. The inflatable dinghy is generally pressurized up to 30 psi. This takes tight seams and a special glue. I know it is special because I've tried everything else to stop a slow leak at a seam. West Marine had this invaluable commodity in stock but couldn't sell it to me (a non-French speaker) because of its deplorable lack of Frog talk. So now after a few days my dinghy goes soft. Easily pumped up but definitely an embarrassment. Snapping it with the finger is supposed to produce a "doink" but instead we get a sad "thud." A greater problem are the bugs. The crew has zero tolerance for mosquitoes. And deer flies or, for that matter, any other kind of kaefer (bug). A small spider has taken residence in a corner just outside of the aft cabin window. The crew tried to wash him out during routine cleaning but he always reappeared and we could see him spinning a new web outside the window. After I pointed out that he ate mosquitoes the crew began to think of him as a good bug because he did eat bad bugs. His name is Sidney. During the 3 hour crossing of a lake we encountered a hatch of little green flying things and also some smaller white flying things. Those non-biting but very bothersome things were everywhere for an hour or more. I tired of brushing them off and besides they left green marks on my clothes so I just cleared them out of my face. The crew hurriedly escaped below. Then a worrisome slapping sound began which turned out to be the crew in the cabin, in a borderline frenzy swinging the fligenklotcher (fly swatter). Such energy went into this endeavour that the fligenklotcher actually came apart leaving the crew defenseless and vulnerable. Sidney's cup overfloweth. His web was so loaded that he could finish less than half of the green things before he disappeared. Maybe he OD'd and went someplace to sleep it off. We hope he hasn't lost his taste for those yummy mosquitoes. So far, our contact with Canadians has been more than pleasant. Coming into a moorage where there are other boaters, we have almost too much help with our lines. They drop whatever they are doing and rush to help. Everyone makes an effort to wave, smile, converse, share cruise details, etc. While this boater's attitude is found elsewhere, it seems much stronger here in Ontario. No contact yet with Customs flunkies and RCMP cops who can be counted upon to take themselves too seriously but that is no different anywhere on this planet to say nothing of the biggest P.I.T.A. officials working U.S. airport security. If I ever end up in jail it will probably be at the insistence of TSA. Canada Day is the first day of July and this signals the start of the season up here. According to the lockmasters, the boat traffic has been surprisingly light. No telling what it will be this, the first weekend of the season and a long weekend to boot. The weather has been sunny and really hot and humid some days. Today is just right as was yesterday. The scenery is magnificent. The crew is happy and the captain well-fed.
