Aug 23-28, Peterborough, ON

We are heading from Hastings to Peterborough this morning, proceeding at a slow cruising speed of 8.5 knots (about 10 mph) so we can enjoy the scenery (and we get good fuel efficiency at slow speed).

Rice Lake

Boat house

Entrance to the Otonabee River

Approaching the lock at Peterborough

The trip is about 40 miles and takes us the first twenty miles through Rice Lake, which is about a mile wide and has beautiful hills all around, and then the last fifteen miles through the Otonabee River which reminds us of the rural intercoastal waterways in Georgia with a dug canal look and marshy areas beside the canal. There is one lock just before we arrive in Peterborough but the lift is only about 6-8 feet.

Exiting the lock at the higher level.

Note lock tender personnel hand cranking lock open (red and white shirt on left and white shirt on right. (Click on any picture to enlarge)

We arrived in Peterborough about 2 PM and are greated by a 100 foot high water fountain spray in the middle of the lake as we enter the town. The Peterborough Marina is right downtown and we seem to be in walking distance of most things in town. We have internet access and 50 amp power. Looks good. It is a scorcher this afternoon now that we are not cruising on the water. Temperature feels like it is the low 90's.

The 100 foot water fountain at Little Lake

Peterborough Marina

Outdoor bandshell with a few early birds

The town of Peterborough holds an evening free concert at the marina Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer followed by their famous "Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights". Tonight is Saturday and the last show of their season. They said at the marina office that they expect 8,000 people here tonight.

Baloon man performs for the children

The concert headliner is a rock and roll band from England called "Sweet". The "Festival of Lights" is a nice 10 minute fireworks show to conclude the evening. The concert was well attended and the crowd loved the show. Their were a few vendors including food and soft drinks but no beer. Very mixed crowd, young and old, and well behaved. Park was spotless in the morning.

Bandshell at dusk with the large crowd in lawn chairs

Peterborough is a medium sized town and downtown within walking distance of the marina.

Furniture store has a LARGE chair out front and sells Mennonite made wooden furniture.

Downtown Peterborough

Summer is short but flowers are everywhere

Ontario government building

Walked to the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough which showcases the "life and lore of the people and waterways before there was a Canada". Very good museum about canoes and canoe building from the time of the early native people though the time of the early explorers and traders to the present. Birchbark and seal skin to wood and fiberglas. Peterborough Canoe factory was one of the biggest and most famous and made beautiful wooden canoes. Museum on the site of the old Canadian Evinrude outboard engine plant in one of their old buildings. Evinrude plant is no longer here.

Canadian Canoe Museum is only 10 years old.

Met a retired school principal (volunteer) who told us stories about some of the exhibits. He made the canoes "come to life".

Linda has an eye exam in Peterborough with an Opthamologist to evaluate the healing of her cornea and as a precaution against another infection outbreak. Dr. McDonald says everything looks good. So we are continuing on our "Loop" adventure tomorrow.

Linda is all smiles after her eye exam