SUnday October 5

Sunday October 5,

Are we nuts?! We woke up and I swear there was frost on the grass in some places. The lockmaster (that’s a joke...most of these guys are students) arrived with his guitar and his lunch promptly and we waited and waited. Finally Rick wandered up to the building and the guy apologized. We weren’t sitting on the BLUE wall so he didn’t think we were ready.

Today was a day of wind and locks. We made 8 of them. After the first one,we caught up to a big Carver that was a captained charter (people hire the boat and its owner to drive them around.)We followed him through the canals and locks because he was familiar with the channels and would know where all the deep spots are.

When we got to the last huge lift lock at Peterborough, they were training a new girl!!! Now this is two great big pans about as deep as pizza pans compared to the boats they carry. We were at the top side with the Carver in front of us. (He would have gone over first in the wind!)  And we had to wait for 15 minutes for the bottom pan to load with a tour boat, and a couple of cruisers. AND they had the nerve to call us over the PA system and tell us to hurry up!

I don’t like heights so I’m not a fan of the big locks. It creeps me out when they stand looking over a 50 foot drop to chat with you! Most of the people today were great... they called ahead and got the next one prepared but a couple of them acted as if we were interrupting their cell phone calls. Two of them ambled around the stanchion talking and texting while they opened and closed the gates. I wanted to say something but we’re pretty distinctive so I’m sure they would call ahead to warn the next locks.

But the last little lock was very good.  Firstly, it was two women running it. One of them asked where we were headed for the day (it was only 3:00 p.m.) I said we were staying in Peterborough because we needed to do laundry and shower. She called the marina, arranged for a dock and sent us on our way over to the municipal marina to “Ben and Jen, really nice people.” She was right. Ben is going to pick up Rick in the morning and take him to get diesel (their pump is broken). And they were both very helpful.

So we are at the dock right in front of a Holiday Inn. I was SO TEMPTED to go get a room with a hot shower inside it!! But I am getting laundry done. I don’t think the hotel would do ten days’ worth for me. And we have to get the last load out of the dryer so we’ll have our shower at the same time. It will feel good to be hot for awhile! 

The forecast is for rain for the next three days, then sun. But the temperature is only going to 13Ÿ tomorrow. We have our rain gear and fleeces (thank you Geoff), and the windows are working well. The barometer is rising and that means a high pressure area of stable calm air is coming. Right, Brian? I need to get out my weather book and start reading again.

So we are going to watch a movie tonight if we can stay awake long enough... probably not. Tomorrow we go through Lock 19 first thing so w can’t leave here until 10am or 10:30 when it opens, then 35 miles to the next Lock through Rice Lake. . I will post again tomorrow if we are near internet access. Sometimes we find areas in the wilderness where we have full service then we get to a town with minimal coverage??!!

Take care and stay warm!