August 20-22, 2024. Chaffeys Lock and Jones Falls Lock

 Tuesday August 20, 2024  Col. By Island to Chaffeys Lock  16 miles and 3.25 hours

Worst of the wind is over.  Still gusts into the 20's, cloudy and cool with occasional rain showers. But we're ready to get moving.  Dropping the lines off the mooring ball is a breeze compared to our acrobatics getting the lines attached. Several locks today.  We finish crossing Big Rideau Lake and cut through The Narrows Lock 31.  This puts us up onto Upper Rideau Lake and the highest elevation we'll reach - 420' above sea level.  All locks now will be taking us down. 

Some nice open water deep passages today - just mind the islands.

Leaving the Narrows lock and swing bridge - just a 2' elevation change

Working our way around a few of the narrow man-made cuts

We cross this lake and then down Newboro lock 32.  We now have to get accustomed to the change in the navigation aids.  Red markers are on the port side instead of the starboard. Critical we get used to this as there are numerous narrow channels ahead and we're still on the Canadian Shield with its hard stone bottom - not a place you want to run aground.  Pass through Newboro Lake, Clear Lake and onto Indian Lake (can you tell why this is called lake country). We stop at Indian Lake Marina for a $56 pump out!  Family owned and a very nice couple run it and a small campground.  Feel better about the price after talking with them awhile and getting some Kawartha's ice cream at their store.  Just a bit further and we make it to Chaffeys lock.  It is crowded but we arrive early enough to still find a spot available for us on the wall before the lock.  

Tucked into our spot on the wall at Chaffeys lock

Spend the rest of the day exploring the lock and park, the museum housed in the old defensible lockhouse, visit the old town cemetery containing bodies of the town founders and numerous Irish canal workers who perished from malaria during the construction here.

Making the most of our time at Chaffeys - inspecting the lock

Irish canal workers who died of malaria buried with just a simple stone marker

Another defensible block house turned into a lockkeepers house then turned into a museum

Old gristmill now a private residence.  Interestingly, the water wheel is positioned
 horizontally under the house to enable year-round usage

 Dinner at the restored Opinicon Lodge.   This area was known for its fishing lodges and cabins during the steamboat tourist era. This lodge has been restored by the Canadian couple who created the Shopify app. The resort includes a small shop with homemade ice cream - so a double dose for me today!  Rainy weather and a full load of boats at the lock so we opt to spend a second day here hooked to power.  

Scenic pathway from marina up to The Opinicon Lodge

Main entrance with restaurant on the right, pub on left and
ice cream and pizza shop in a separate building off to the far left

I cannot lie - their homemade ice cream was very good.

Journey for August 20, 2024
Lake Country

Thursday August 22, 2024  Chaffeys Lock to Jones Falls Lock 7 miles and 2.5 hours

We had planned to jump on the blue line first thing to insure we got through on the first passage.  Locks open at 9 so we figured heading over at 8 would be fine. But a 40' Greenline headed over at 7:15. With the docks full we weren't sure how many boats would try to get in, so we fired the engines and lined up right behind them.  A houseboat settled in behind us.  As we were waiting a 55' Navigator came tooling down the channel hoping for that first opening too.  Lockmaster thought he could get all 4 of us in - I doubted it but we tried.  He had the Greenline go in first, starboard tie all the way in, then the houseboat in 2nd with a port tie up front.  Then us trying to squeeze in behind the Greenline.  Our anchor was touching his dingy davits and our swim platform against the gate outcrop.  No way would it work for us and the lockmaster agreed.  Navigator had to wait, and we got moved to the port side behind the houseboat. Got through fine and just a few miles to Davis Lock where the Greenline headed to the dock and tied up.  Gates were open so the houseboat and us went through easily.   

Another scenic cruising day

Loons are not uncommon up in the lake region. 
You hear them calling mostly at night

Not much further and we got to Jones Falls. This is a flight of 3 down locks.  We call them infinity pools.   When pulling in there is virtually no wall - barely a curb several inches high - and water is cascading over the gates in front of you.  When entering the lock you hand each line to the lock staff who bend down and wrap it around a cable and give the lose end back to you.  They are good at it and helpful but it's still nerve-racking waiting to see if the fenders will stay in place with such a small clearance. Then even more nerve-wracking to see water spilling down at you over the tops of the gates. 

Looking down the flight of 3 locks at Jones Falls

An unusual sight seeing water cascading over the top of the lock gates

We make it to the bottom and get permission to tie up for the night at the end of the blue line. We climb up to watch the locking process as several more boats come through, tour the rather large park area, visit the falls and check out the dam. One of the marvels of the canal construction it is 65' high and 350' across made from quarried stones hauled from 10 miles away then hand chiseled into uniform blocks and stacked without mechanical help.  At the time of construction in 1832 it was the largest stone arch dam in North America.  

Looking down the weir raceway and "falls" at Jones Falls.

The Jones Falls arch dam - still holding back water after 200 years

The Hotel Kenney is across a pedestrian bridge from the locks.  Built in 1888 as a fishing lodge it's being slowly restored. Owners obviously don't have the deep pockets of the Opinicon Hotel owners, but they're making a go of it.  Restaurant and pub are open for lunch and dinner so we opt to support the local economy with another dinner out. We had heard mixed reviews on the food/service, but both were fine for us.  Good sleeping weather with lows dipping into the upper 50's. 

Looking down at As You Wish and the Hotel Kenney from atop the locks

View from the lawn of the Hotel Kenney of As You Wish and the flight of 3 locks at Jones Fall

Swimmers beware!  Fish here are aggressive and will nibble
 on exposed freckles, moles, nipples, etc. 
Three crushed Cheerios instantly brought this group to the surface 

Journey for August 22, 2024