July 24…Said good bye once again to Graham and Deb…we left Fenelon Falls right on schedule…down the walkway come Jim and Elaine…we invite them to ride through the lock with us. Not our best effort…but Jim is amazed at how slow we approach…his only experience is in a houseboat…lol… we encouraged them to meet us at the next lock as well. We locked through with another, small faster boat… which we see several times throughout the day.

Our next lock is Kirkfield Lift lock…the twin of the Peterborough lift lock…but this time we are going down 65 feet…and our entry into the pan faces out…much more of a roller coaster feeling. Jim and Elaine get to ride that with us…Elaine sits right out on the bow with me…we are both snapping photos the whole time…Jim handles the stern line like a pro…this is great stuff, but alas, they must head home. They do designate Dakota an official Canadian as he is still proudly wearing the bandana. We assure them that we will take it off shortly and then he can wear it every year on Canada Day.

Three more locks…a couple of swing bridges and a couple of very tight canals (one where we had to announce on the radio that we were entering…warning….and yet we met a rental houseboat in there. He got way over into the trees…and we managed somehow).  We’ve heard stories at the locks all day that the lock at Fenelon Falls was down. Also that the swing bridge going through Bobcaygeon was experiencing difficulties…Glad we are past all that. At 2:30, we arrive at our stopping point…lock #39…we stayed on the wall here in 2011…a lovely lonely spot. We are ready for lonely. We are at the top of a set of three locks…nice breeze and even a little shade. Dakota romps and Floyd attacks the dinghy…I’m in manicure mode.  Not much traffic but a few boats do pass…and then around the bend comes loopers MAZEL TUG and PENNY PINCHIN’ …to tie up and spend the night…there goes the neighborhood. Before we finish supper another local boat arrives and we make room for him. REALLY!! I make nice conversation but make excuses so we don’t have to gather, drink or eat with anyone. By 8, I’m done…in and almost down for the count.

Tomorrow we plan to have special breakfast. This time it will include the Canadian specialty ‘peameal’…some sort of pork bacon rolled in cornmeal…we shall see…then load the dinghy and head to Orillia. Weather tomorrow afternoon is supposed to include thunderstorms and we must cross Lake Simcoe, known for shallowness which is not good in wind and weather. The only locks we’ll encounter are the three right here. Coming up on Sunday will be the ever famous Marine Railway lock #44…google that one…we are almost done with the Trent-Severn Waterway.