The Big Bath Tub Lift

 Peterborough 

On Friday July 22nd we cruised 40 miles from Hastings down Rice lake to Peterborough Marina. We only had to transit one lock and that was right before we went to port. Rice Lake is a long narrow lake with a number of small islands, some with cottages that cover most of the land. Peterborough is a larger town with a lot of restaurants and conveniences that boaters like. 

I managed to get a much needed haircut just before happy hour. Dinner was had in town at Tassos, a Greek/Italian place where the food was plentiful and the taste was great. On Saturday there was a planned concert in the lawn right at the marina. The act was a rising country singer that they expected over 4000 people. We decided to press ahead to the next stop due to the some predicted weather and the fact there was a lot of Loopers at the marina. So Saturday morning we pushed off at 7:45 and headed to the famous Peterborough lift lock. This lock operates by two counterbalancing water chambers and uses no electricity. It was completed in 1904 and is still the highest of it’s type in the world. It raises boats over 65’ in under 2 minutes! It was a rush. A carnival ride for boats. The three crew from other two boats we were with decided to get on paddle boards and ride the lift down and then back up. When they came up there was a paddle club with 85 other paddlers that entered the lower chamber with them. While that was going on the lock goys invited us into the control room and even let us operate the switches. Super friendly guys. 

There is a group called “What Up Canada”.  Apparently these “influencers” on social media organize large groups of people to do tourist activities .This double decker cruise boat locked with is on the hydraulic lock.  I kept searching the crowd to figure out which guests were the “influences”,  

A kayaking club had a meet up the lock after us.  We counted about 50 kayakers.