September 17th, Sunday
Lock #27, through #22.
I’m not sure what was going on with me today. We left Burleigh Falls, in fabulous weather,
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 sit at the back of the boat, and wait for the lock to do its thing-- either raise or lower. Then, as soon as Rick tells me to cast off, I had better be ready, to quickly un-cleat the line, un-weave it from around the cable, and pull the long, wet, slimy line through the chalk, with only 1 1/2 hands.
Well, today, I was so mad at Rick. According to him, I wasn’t/couldn’t do anything right! He complained when I couldn't get things done quickly or correctly enough.
Ya know, I didn't sign up for this sh*t!
I hadn’t had electricity or a shower for 3 days!
I just wanted to go home!
Oh yeah, I don’t have a home to go to ….
And we had so many lock to still go through ….
Meanwhile, Rick is stressed out because of a mechanical problem with one of the alternators (a thingy connected to the motor that charges the battery).
So, neither of us was having any fun.
During one of the many hurry-up-and-wait sessions at the locks, I realized that I should mention to Rick to call one of his buddies from the Detroit area. He could have one of them drive over to Peterborough (it can’t be that far, from Toronto ... ?)
And the buddy would stay and enjoy/help on Zingara, and I would drive their car back to their house. I could stay and relax and regroup in St. Clair Shores, Clarkston, Okemos, Northville, or Orchard Lake. I’d (have to) return to Zingara, wherever she was, in a week. That would make me happy, right? Right?
Finally, around 3 o’clock, we made it to the Peterborough Lift Lock! This lock, #21,
"is the highest hydraulic lift lock... [that floats you] "up the 65-ft vertical lift." This lock "works like a simple balance beam scale... You enter a large rectangular chamber .... Parallel to that chamber, but 65 feet up on a huge piston, is another twin- chamber.....When the upper chamber is filled with an extra foot of water - 1 foot equals 130 tons - the increased weight .... forces it to go down, while the lower tank rises on its piston, boats and all.... The trip only takes about 2 minutes to complete." it takes over 20 minutes to load all the boats into their chambers.
It was very cool! Such an amazing engineering feat! And it was built over 100 years ago -- Opened in 1904.
The large city of Peterborough was close by and would probably have someplace to repair the alternator. Rick called to get us a slip at the city Marina.
While we were docking, several other boat owners came out to help out with the docking (especially as they didn’t know what kind of captain Rick was, and were concerned about the safety of their own boats. However, as soon as we were tied up, the group of “helpers” stayed close to Zingara, as they were curious about her, and our travels. When Rick mentioned his concerns with the alternator, Stu, in the boat next to us, and Jeff, in the boat across the way, both vouched for a great repair man --- Paul. Stu even offered to take our alternator to Paul’s shop in the morning on his way to work!
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 sit at the back of the boat, and wait for the lock to do its thing-- either raise or lower. Then, as soon as Rick tells me to cast off, I had better be ready, to quickly un-cleat the line, un-weave it from around the cable, and pull the long, wet, slimy line through the chalk, with only 1 1/2 hands.
Well, today, I was so mad at Rick. According to him, I wasn’t/couldn’t do anything right! He complained when I couldn't get things done quickly or correctly enough.
Ya know, I didn't sign up for this sh*t!
I hadn’t had electricity or a shower for 3 days!
I just wanted to go home!
Oh yeah, I don’t have a home to go to ….
And we had so many lock to still go through ….
Meanwhile, Rick is stressed out because of a mechanical problem with one of the alternators (a thingy connected to the motor that charges the battery).
So, neither of us was having any fun.
During one of the many hurry-up-and-wait sessions at the locks, I realized that I should mention to Rick to call one of his buddies from the Detroit area. He could have one of them drive over to Peterborough (it can’t be that far, from Toronto ... ?)
Finally, around 3 o’clock, we made it to the Peterborough Lift Lock! This lock, #21,
"is the highest hydraulic lift lock... [that floats you] "up the 65-ft vertical lift." This lock "works like a simple balance beam scale... You enter a large rectangular chamber .... Parallel to that chamber, but 65 feet up on a huge piston, is another twin- chamber.....When the upper chamber is filled with an extra foot of water - 1 foot equals 130 tons - the increased weight .... forces it to go down, while the lower tank rises on its piston, boats and all.... The trip only takes about 2 minutes to complete." it takes over 20 minutes to load all the boats into their chambers.
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| driving up to the Lock with another boat |
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| Looking down at our "twin chamber" |
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| On our way down |
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| Passing by our twin |
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| The wall behind us at the bottom of the lock |
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| A houseboat followed us out of the lock. |
It was very cool! Such an amazing engineering feat! And it was built over 100 years ago -- Opened in 1904.
The large city of Peterborough was close by and would probably have someplace to repair the alternator. Rick called to get us a slip at the city Marina.
 |
| The city's 250-foot Centennial Fountain in the main harbor |
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| The wonderful sunset from the marina |
After a quick dinner at Jack’s, and a discussion about how this is supposed to be a vacation, and not a stressful event,etc. Rick surprised Stu by removing the damaged part from the engine. Stu picked it up the next morning.
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