We left Peterborough Marina in the company of two other boats and we all waited for the Ashburnham Lock 20 (up 12 feet) to open.  We locked up and one mile further up the Trent Canal was the majestic Peterborough Lift Lock 21 (up 65 feet) – the ride up is just breathtaking, not only from the point of view but the speed and smoothness is unexpected.  

We were not sure how far we were going to go today – and had no plans for overnight dockage.  We thought we might make it as far as Bobcaygeon or maybe Young’s Point – the entrance to the Clear Lake.  No such luck.  After the Peterborough Lock, we joined the Otonabee River.  The next 5 locks were a slow slog over 10 miles.  We passed Nassau Mills Lock 22 (up 14 feet), then through the campus of Trent University, then Otonabee Lock 23 (up 12 feet), Douro Lock 24 (up 12 feet), Sawer Lock 25 (up 10 feet) and Lakefield Lock 26 (up 16 feet).  

The going was slow not because of traffic, but by the slow water fill of the locks – such that it took nearly 40 minutes per lock on average.  It is easy to forget that all the locks today are operated with 19th century technology and all the sluices and gates are powered by human muscle via cranks and turnstiles. By the time we reached Lock 26, we’d been traveling for over 5 hours in the muggy heat and decided along with our companions of the day to call it quits.  We called up the Lakefield Marina just past the lock and luckily they had a space for Salty for the night.  We had a stroll around the small town and had dinner at a Greek diner (Salty stayed at the dock).