July 19…We were joined by several other boats last night…most we think are heading our direction…we left the wall at Campbellford to be first on the blue line…we need to get this day started. Weather is predicted to kick up a thunderstorm or two this afternoon. We are hoping to go 60 miles which is a rrreeeaaallllyyyy long day for us…even without the 6 locks.None of which would be a problem if we could start at o'dark thirty...but the locks don't open until 9...plus it's Sunday, good boating weather.  Plus in the chart for today is Rice Lake…wide open shallow water with warnings about crossing in wind and storms.  It’ll be tricky…because once we leave Hastings, we are commited to going all the way. There are no stops for us in between. We are truly getting a little homesick for Kelli Suzanne…Last time we did the Trent-Severn, she was aboard with us. Sure made those locks easier for all of us. Plus she is ever the entertainer!!! But alas, she’s home with a 2 year old…7 months pregnant…and probably missing her mother as much as mother is missing her.

Hot and humid…and we did just fine…everyone seems to think the weather will hold…and we make good time in the locks… on Rice Lake the wind is right on our bow…feels like 20 mph…but we are going almost 10 mph into it…Captain decided we needed speed. Storm clouds gathered so we made all the necessary preparations to deal with that…it look very ominous all around and, of course, we got only a few sprinkles.

Not to worry…we cruised into Peterborough around 6…woulda been earlier but we had to wait at the last lock. There are maybe 8 other Looper boats here…and the party is two slips over from where we docked… hot, tired and stinky as we were, they still wanted us there. Several are leaving in the morning…the others are saying they plan to leave on Tuesday…so we’ll probably have company on the rest of our trip.

Floyd plans to make another stab at dinghy repair in the morning…then we’ll visit the local marine store and tour the town. We are hopeful that the Hot Momma restaurant is still there…lunch??? Or supper???

But for tonight we are off to the Souvlaki Hut…we know it’s not great, but we’re not cooking.