LOCK #6 FRANKFORD TO LOCK#8

DAY 30  MON, JULY 4, 2011

CLEAR AND COOL L60 H75
DEP. FRANKFORD 08:40 ARR. LOCK #8 12:30
D 18SM/608.2

Since we have plenty of time, we again decide to do a short day. Today there are 2 locks over 18m. We travel thru some channels roughly 25’ wide with rocks on either side, so this can be nerve racking. The entire trip today seems to be thru narrow channels with few areas where it opens up. Some of the channels are thru rocks as mentioned, others thru marshland, some thru open water. In any case they all require hand steering and careful piloting. The reward is an early tie up above lock #8 on the west wall next to a small park in the shade of 6 maple trees.

The pic of Joe opening the gate is not real, but that is actually how the gates are open and closed, all by hand. Every lockmaster is responsible for keeping the lock clean and ready, and so far every lock has been perfectly groomed, clean, and just like a private park.

It’s like dying and going to heaven. Tomorrow we head for Campbellford, Ont.

UNDER THE SHADE OF THE OLD MAPLE TREE

TOTE THAT BARGE.............OPEN THAT LOCK!

EMPTY LOCK #8

9:30 pm TIME FOR BED