Portage, ON Lock #39 - 7/18/12

Following Marc's Ark

We left the lock wall at 7:30 this morning with Marc’s Ark with no plans as to where we would stop for the night.  We knew we had several locks to go through as well as the Kirkfield Lift Lock (49 feet) which is like the Peterborough Lift Lock except it has a steel structure instead of concrete.

Old Folks Exercising

 As we passed through the first lock of the day on out port side above the lock was a group of seniors (about our age) doing exercises in the park. 
 

Indian Rock Statues

 The trip at first was in large lakes but very skinny channels to stay inside.  We bumped something a couple times in water less than 2 feet under our hull which makes me a little sick since we just changed our props.  Now we have another vibration!  Our Indian friends have made little stone statues on the rock walls of the channel.

Rocks - Port

Rocks - Starboard

 When the canal got really narrow you could see the rock walls on both sides of the boat very clearly.

Narrow Canal

Kirkfield Loft Lock

Into the Pan

 As we entered the pan we came in behind our friends from last night, Greg and Parin on second Intermission.  

Tied Up

 We tied our lines to the side of the pan and down we went then out the front when the gate dropped. 
 

All Steel Structure

Sailboat Stuck

 As we exited the pan we noticed a large sailboat from Norway that was stuck in the mud. 
 

Leaving Kirkfield

Hole in the Wall

Lock Wall Tie Up

 When we got to lock #37 there was 5 boats waiting then the two of us showed up along with the big sailboat and two 25 footers.  The lockmaster locked the first 4 through then the rest of us.
 

First Lock Down

Lock Wall Below

 The Parks Canada staff is very friendly and helpful.  When we inquired about space on the lock walls ahead of us for the night, they called ahead and found us 2 spots on the down side of #39 which they held open for us.  Everything else was full.  We locked through #39 with several other boats then they put the big sailboat through after raising the pool past the lock to accommodate their draft.  The boat actually got stuck in the mud inside the lock trying to get out.  Normally Canada will not let a boat go through the canal if their draft exceeds 5 foot and this sucker was 6 ½. 

 

Another Happy Hour

 We tied to the lower wall and walled to the upper side of the lock and enjoyed the company of 2 other loopers plus another couple that had tied to the blue line for the night.  A late swim in the canal and bed time approached.

N 44  29.896  W 079   08.001