Hit A Snag!

Making our way through Hells Gate!

Home on your own Island!

Burleigh Falls

Entering Hells Gate

Enjoying the falls!

Heading Up the Trent-Severn…….Hit a snag!

We started out the next morning like any other morning. We left early and were heading to Buckhorn Yacht Marina. Because of the heat, we had decided to stop at a marina and not anchor. We had wanted to go farther but we had a hard time finding a marina that had an open slip. Seems like everyone may have the same idea.
We weaved NautiNell through the tall red granite boulders in what is named Hells Gate. No matter the name, it was beautiful. There were islands after islands. What was so amazing was that there would be a house on the island all by itself. Can you imagine living on your own island and taking a boat to work every morning? This is quite common here. We also saw several little johnboat type boats running shuttle back and forth to the islands. What a life!
We made it to Burleigh Falls, Lock #28. This was just a small lock and we had no trouble UNTIL it was time to leave the lock. Our port engine wouldn't start. I guess NautiNell wanted some extra attention. Those at the lock helped guide us out on one engine. We tied up to the wall so Mike could investigate. Sarah, the Lockmaster, couldn't have been any more accommodating. They allowed up to stay there for free. Plus, she would come over and check on us now and then – bringing us cold water and Gatorade. After checking all other possibilities, Mike finally determined it was probably the starter. We decided that we needed to find a mechanic. Again Sarah came to our rescue. She gave us a name of one that just so happened to be at the marina where we had made reservations. Mike talked to Peter, the head guy there and was told they would send someone out within 30 minutes. Yeah right…… BUT in LESS time than that, here comes Ralph (the Russian) to check things out. He determined that the starter was shot and took it to Peterborough to have it rebuilt. Now this was on a Thursday – he said he would have it back to us on Saturday. That's service!!!
We made the best of it by taking long dinghy rides in the lake between the two locks. The lake is called Lovesick Lake. It supposedly got its name from a little Indian boy that was spurned by a little Irish girl. Anyway, the lake is about two miles long and is really pretty. Mike, of course, went fishing several times on it later. We also took our bikes into town. There wasn't much of a town there, but there was a restaurant and a general store. That worked for us!
On Friday, Peter called to tell us that the starter was too far gone to be rebuilt. It also had oil in it. Not good….. SO we had to purchase a new starter from someone in Peterborough and figure out how to get it to us. Peter said it would be a lot better (cheaper) for us if we could do that part ourselves rather than having one of his mechanics go get it. There again, Sarah came to the rescue! Her supervisor was coming to the lock this afternoon from Peterborough. He would pick it up and deliver it to us! Now isn't this going way beyond anyone's expectations! He brought it to us early Friday afternoon. Mike waited until Saturday morning to install since it would be cooler. Once it was installed, we were ready to go. Oh, back to the oil in the starter thing – Mike decided that he didn't want to take a chance and get oil in the new starter and have the same problem again. SO, we brought NautiNell to Peter to have them work on it. We got here mid-morning on Saturday. Of course, they wouldn't be able to do anything until Monday. They put us in a nice covered slip and couldn't be nicer.
When we got here we saw that Confetti was here. They are having problems with their transmission and are on their second week here. Sheeh! Hope we get to head out sooner than that!
We've been entertaining ourselves by taking the dinghy out to a restaurant that had a live band on the patio and borrowing Peter's car to go into town for groceries. We took a bike ride around Burleigh Falls. There is a place where the kids go and jump in the water and ride the rapids down the river. They have a ball. If I was only younger…… LOL! Of course, Mike has been fishing. I'm catching up on my reading and my blog! I'm hoping that I can get Peter's car tomorrow and do a little shopping – for something besides groceries!
It poured down rain this morning for hours. It was nice to be tucked away under a covered dock. It's been much cooler today too. I even had to break out a sweatshirt!
They have ordered the seal we needed. It should be in tomorrow. Hopefully, we will be fixed tomorrow and we can leave on Wednesday. Just making lemonade……!
Till next time!
Admiral "C"