Integrity Cruise

Day 102: Trenton to Trent Lock, Ontario

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Day 102: Tuesday, July 26th: Ruth wanted to get her hair cut this morning but the salon the dockmistress recommended was closed for some reason. Instead, we did some more grocery and liquor provisioning. Just as we got back to the boat a huge thunderstorm came through:

We filled the water tank, got underway and headed up the Trent River, which is the start of the Trent-Severn Waterway. This waterway is 240 miles long and ends up at Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. The first feature we saw was this long wall. It seemed to serve no purpose other than to corral boats into the approach to the first lock:

This sign officially welcomed us to the Waterway:

There was a railroad bridge just before the rather large lock; it was a busy line:

This first lock is nicknamed the "Greenhorn Lock" because it is the first lock many boaters have ever seen and many interesting things happen; it was our 73rd lock. The staff was ready for us:

Each lock has a name; this one is "Trenton". Clever?

The gate mechanism is different in these locks. The tenders walk around a sort of turnstile that cranks the gate open or closed:

As we were leaving the lock a freight train roared through:

Approaching the next lock and dam we encountered this low bridge. The lowest fixed bridge on the Waterway is 22 feet which Integrity can pass under without a problem; this one was 25 feet:

Approaching the second lock they weren't quite ready as they were lowering two boats:

"Sidney" is this lock (also spelled Sydney in places):

'Nother bridge, 'nother lock:

This lock had an interesting name; we never discovered the true source of the name. It has a lift of 28 feet making it one of the higher lifts:

Approaching the fourth lock and dam:

Meet lock "Batawa":

We should mention that severe thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon and evening; it began to look threatening as we approached Lock 5. This was our planned destination for today so we were in luck:

"Trent" is this lock; another clever name. The Lockmaster has quite a green thumb as you will see:

Trent has a rather large hydroelectric plant associated with it. All of the dams are "hydro" dams. The term "hydro" is used by the Canadians to mean "electrical power":

Just below the dam is what used to be rapids:

In the foreground is the outflow from the hydro plant; the distant dam has very little outflow today

The Canada Geese love the lockmaster's lawn and the lockmaster has been battling them for a dozen years. They make a real mess of the park-like grounds:

Here, the Lockmaster uses his riding mower to shoo a flock:

The lockmaster's house here is the original house where the lockmaster lived. This plaque tells about it:

The vines in this picture are morning glories. It is now afternoon, so no blooms:

Integrity is tied securely to the lock wall with the Captain is aboard. This is a very quiet and peaceful setting:

Total locks so far: 77

Position tonight: N44 11.150 W077 35.509

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