Oct7 Hastings to Campbellford

Tuesday October 7, Hastings to Campbellford

Today was a very tiring day. The wind was absolutely horrid and cold. There were times when we couldn’t see through the rain. We can’t get the screens down completely because of the mast and when the wind comes across from the starboard it gets everything wet. We were thinking that we might split the window but I worked so hard to get them to fit, it kills me to think about cutting them up! But I can always get another piece of window material and re-make it. Or just add another zipper.

I was thinking last night that I’m just about at the stage where I’m not worried about what is coming...just trying to enjoy each day for what it is...then today happened! There were three step locks in a row and with the wind swinging us around, it was harrowing trying to aim for the centre of a space only 10 feet wider than the boat and not hit the wall with the furling and mast which stick out the front by an extra 3 feet.

For anyone who doesn’t know, I drive in and out of the locks. I have mastered the art of fine manoeuvring which means NOT hitting the wall, parking within a foot of it so Rick can get off without falling into the water and stopping the boat on a dime. [Hey, when ya’ got it, flaunt it!]  This started 10 years ago when we were bringing the boat up through the locks. I decided that I would drive because a] I’m clumsy and would probably fall, and b] didn’t want to try to stop 6 ½ tons of boat by grabbing a slimy rope hanging on the lock wall. I got good at it, so I do it, which means that Rick is the one standing on the deck in the rain or fog or sunshine and catching the slimy ropes, but he’s good at THAT!

Anyway, we got thorough 6 locks and a long stretch of Winding River against the wind and with the current which meant standing up waves. We stopped at Campbellford because we couldn’t make the next lock [10:00am to 3:30 pm is not a long time when you only do 5 miles an hour] so we are at the town dock and can have showers tonight. We have lots of stuff close by...NoFrills across the road, Can Tire 5 minutes away and a theatre if we wanted to go. There’s Senior Centre on the dock beside us as well. SO Rick just walked over to Can Tire again. I suggested he wear one of the raincoats with the reflective sleeves but he decided not to, and now it’s raining.  Should I go meet him with the umbrella?  Hmmm...no I don’t think so...no need for two of us to get soaking wet. Oh alright...Never mind he’s back!

So we walked through the downtown this afternoon looking for stuff and decided we would go for dinner. The trouble with a small town is you never know what you will find in a diner when it’s not an ESM or Kelsey’s. SO we stopped at the closest place called Be Our Guest. When we walked in it was like a pizza place. The cooks looked dup and asked for our order. We asked about gluten free and they sort of hesitated and said, Well, we have gluten free items...steak, chicken, salad.” I had really wanted a burger so we left. But outside we decided that chicken would be good so we went back in.  By the time we sat down and the waitress took our order [chicken souvlaki with Greek salad, veggies, rice and Greek potatoes], the place was FULL! ...old people, young people and a whole herd of ladies who apparently meet there every week. So we picked the right place! The food was awesome and the best part was we had to walk 5 blocks back to the boat so we didn’t feel guilty!

We have a bunch of small repair job to do, so if the weather is no better tomorrow (and it doesn’t look good) we are going to stay here another day. We can get the name on the back, letter the dinghy so we are legal crossing into the States.  We figure we will be in Trenton by Friday working on the government schedule.

So we’ll watch a movie tonight because we have shore power! And then we’ll crash.

Attached is a picture of one of the step locks at Healey Falls. 75 foot drop!