Life on Zingara

We woke up to another beautiful morning in Canada! and while wandering around the marina, Rick noticed the trawler, Actavus, (captained by the French couple, from the CROWDED locks 3-4 days ago) was anchored out in the surrounding harbor.  We tried to hail her using our VHF radio, but got no response.  By 10 o’clock, we notice that she had left.  Luckily, the new alternator was available early, and we left Peterborough Marina around noon. At the first lock (#19), the lock-master handed us a business card.  It was from the young French couple, Andre and Brigitte.  They were having problems with their radio; they heard us hail them, but could not respond. So they left their card/cell number at this lock, as they knew we, too, were going to Montreal.  I texted Andre, and learned that they were about 3 hours ahead of us, but were planning on staying over night in Hastings, lock #17.   Entering Rice Lake Another beautiful view of Rice Lake...

Still in Peterborough, ---but what a difference electricity, a good nights’ sleep, and a shower makes! Rick was in contact with Paul the repair-guy, while I was busy with cleaning/vacuuming, laundry, & groceries.  As the alternator could not be fixed, we had to buy another one that would be delivered around noon on Tuesday. So, THAT EVENING, Rick and I took a long walk downtown for dinner, but ended up at Riley's, a fun Irish pub,  not far from the marina. And that's all she wrote !

Lock #27,  through #22. I’m not sure what was going on with me today.  We left Burleigh Falls, in fabulous weather, This is not  a pictures of the actual falls, just some cool rapids along our way. Burleigh Falls are much bigger! and traveled through lots of lakes; some big enough for float planes! But I was in a foul mood --->  I was just so sick of this -- !   I was so frustrated, working all these locks -- I have to be very careful with the lines (ropes), especially because of my healing fingers.  At each lock, I (carefully, with my good hand) quickly throw the bow line to the dock hand, then quickly shuffle back to the stern (back) of the boat.  There, I weave the stern line under/around a cable, more or less with one hand, while watching carefully that I don't get pitched between the boat and the cement wall.  Once that is secure, I go check to see if Rick has grabbed the bow line from the dock hand. Then, I si...

Zingara is the little blue dot ...  As so much of our travels yesterday was through narrow, shallow, weedy waters, Rick spent the pre-lock-opening hour cleaning the long, green, sea grass out of Zingara’s strainers. Our boat brings the surrounding waters in through strainers to use to cool the engines.  I would have taken a picture of Rick, but due to his “lovely” attitude of finding these things completely clogged, I decided against it. But here's a picture of the sunrise! From Kirkland, we traveled through more narrow, shallow channels,  through Lake Mitchell (Joe & Darrell nicknamed it Stump Lake due to the large areas of dead, flooded trees), into Balsam Lake, and 7 more Locks (#35-28) along the Trent River Canal.  Of course, we didn't stop for shoes --- Damn! Hey, that's Actavus - the French couple! The two smaller boats, Joe & Cory, Darrel & Rachael, went home to Sturgeon Lake, so we continued on alone.  We...

We left Lagoon City and maneuvered the tricky entrance into the Trent River system.  Two smaller power boats followed us into the narrow, shallow (LOW water-depth - but fabulous scenery!) channel, edged with rocks, wild flowers, farmland, and woods.  Notice the "blue line" - it's the staging area before/after each lock, yet most also have gorgeous landscaping ! By 11:00 o’clock, we arrived at Lock #41 @ Gamebrigde.  Looking through the binoculars, nothing was happening/moving within the lock, although we could see 3 boats already staged inside.  Oh no – what’s wrong? Is something else broken?  It ended up that they were waiting for us. And the two boats behind us, too! For the next 4 hrs. and 5 more locks, Notice how you can see two previous lock in the canal behind us the 6 of us were packed like sardines into the locks. CROWDS  Rick talking with Ron, in front of us Cory & Rachael, sharing a laugh Zingara'...