HASTINGS TO PETERBORO

DAY 35  FRI. JULY 8, 2011
OVERCAST AM MOSTLY SUNNY WARM PM  L60/H85
DEP.  HASTINGS 09:00  ARR. PETERBORO, LOCK #20 3:00 PM
D 37.3sm/690.2

Hastings Village Marina was a nice stop with a decent restaurant where you can get southern fried chicken wings for $12C. and cold beer.After a pump out we depart for a beautiful cruise through Rice Lake.The lake is dotted with several islands, some of which have cottages and some totally uninhabited.The water is flat calm and the scenery is beautiful.There is sometimes up to 3 sm between buoys so we can set the auto helm and just relax.At around mm 68 we enter the Otonabee R. which is also very scenic, but does require hand steering and very close attention to channel markers.The vistas here are more natural, occasionally interrupted by groups of summer cottages, small campgrounds, and even smaller fishing camps.Check out the pictures.As much as you try, it is simply impossible to capture all the natural beauty of the place.