Kirkfield Lift Lock to Lock 39 Portgage

Date               July 31, 2011

Day                33

Departure     Kirkfield Lift Lock 8:45 am

Arrival           Lock 39-Portgage 12:00 pm

Miles               8.5

Cumulative  770.5

The Kirkfield Lift marks the highest point (in feet) of the trip.  From here on, it is all downhill.  In other words all locks will be going down!  Kirkfield Lift is similar to the Peterborough Lift except that it is more open.  We were the first boat in, so we were up close and personal to the front of the lock.  What a view!

Because this is still a holiday weekend in Canada, we don’t want to get to Lake Simcoe just yet.  Lake Simcoe is 20 miles long and 16 miles wide.  Its open water can create cruising hazards.  Thunderstorms can bring 8 foot waves and the breakwater entrance can be messy in westerly winds.  We need to make sure we have a good weather window and if not, a place to stay until we do.  So we are taking our time and not traveling too far today.  We are still traveling with Prowess and BraveHeart, with Prowess leading the way.  We traveled through Canal Lake which is a man-made lake with shallows, extreme weed growth in the channel and many submerged dead heads (logs just under the surface of the water).  We passed through the Hole in the Wall Bridge which was constructed in 1905, the channel widens a little here, however, all the navigation aids for the next 1.8 miles had been removed a few years ago!  Thankfully Prowess was in the lead!  After we arrived at Lock 39, we all decided to have a potluck dinner in mid-afternoon.  A little after 2 pm we sat down to an unplanned feast of red beans and rice, chili, pasta, salad and fresh homemade beer bread.  It was terrific!

The street goes under the lock.  Water (and the lock) in the cement tower labeled "Kirkfield".  This car will travel UNDER the actual lock!!

At the top of the Kirkfield Lift

Bob on the bow at the top of the Kirkfield Lift

The Hole in the Wall Bridge (notice red daymark on the left, Black/green on the right!)

Side by side in Lock 39

Pot luck lunch at Lock 39 with Prowess and  BraveHeart

Lock 39 Portage, emptying the lock