Day 353 July 11 38 mi Peterborough Marina Peterborough ON

8:10AM departure today......Weather looks great for Rice Lake......By the way it was 53 degrees this morning on the bridge....and according to the bill the alternator was rebuilt so we will see.....

Pretty sunrise

 

 

Friendly folks at Hastings Marina

 

 

Yes Captain that is a railroad bridge

 

 

One section is open Captain

 

 

Island cottage

 

 

We are 2 miles from Rice Lake

 

 

Summer Cottages

 

 

Beginning to understand about weekend traffic

 

 

Cameron Point

 

 

McCracken Landing

 

Rice Lake is nearly 20 miles long and 3 miles wide and was the site of extensive wild rice beds that the native population harvested.  Wild rice, which needs fluctuating water levels to survive, died out on the lake once the Trent-Severn Waterway was completed and the water levels became regulated.

This is the second largest lake on the waterway and when the wind is blowing can be a very rough crossing.

 

 

Today it is glass

 

 

Lots of canoes

 

 

Margaret Island...channel to port

 

 

Hickory Island with its own fire tower

 

 

Rack Island with a daymarker

 

 

Sugar Island, an Indian Reserve

 

 

We are on course...230 degrees for 9.5 miles across the lake

 

The reason you follow the channel is because a railway bridge between Harwood and Hiawatha was built across Rice Lake a long time ago.  Unfortunately the bridge was poorly constructed and because of extensive damage by ice break-ups, had to be closed in 1862.  Remains of the bridge cribs still lie across Rice Lake and it is important to stay in the channel here or you may lose a prop.  We see this marked on the chart and now we know what it means......

 

 

Mike, Marian and Midas on Midas Touch fishing

 

 

Marker to Otonahee River.....

 

 

Follow the channel....shallow and weedy outside them

 

 

This really is the way we go.....

 

 

Lovely old farmhouse on the port

 

 

that has been restored, complete with gingerbread trim

 

 

Campbelltown

 

 

Resort near Bensfort Bridge

 

 

More fishing boats

 

 

River narrows and winds with trees on both sides...pretty

 

 

Interesting

 

 

Unusual

 

 

Your own point

 

 

Big Farm

 

 

Lock 19 Scott's Mills  Mile 88.7 with a 8 foot lift

 

 

Duck catching a ride in the lock

 

 

Manual valves to open and close the lock

 

 

Lots of current coming/leaving the lock

 

 

Immediately after the lock is the final railway bridge

 

 

Peterborough on Little Lake

 

 

It's a Wedding

 

 

Centennial Fountain

 

We are staying at Peterborough Marina which is across Little Lake for the weekend.  Several loopers are here and harbor hosts Don and Freya are planning docktails for the evening....Guess I forgot to take pictures....